Varicose veins are widespread among the population; millions of people suffer from it.

They are painful and swollen veins that are twisted; they can be more than nuisances.

Of course, varicose veins can be painful, which could lead to other health problems in the future if ignored.

Are you someone who is suffering from varicose veins? Looking for cost details about the treatment?

Then Mykare Health has got you covered. In the following blog, we will discuss all about varicose veins and the treatment costs.

What are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins arise when the limbs’ blood vessels are weak or the valves inside them are damaged thus leading to over-filling of the veins. Usually blood vessels, in particular veins, are designed to bring blood back to the heart and the valves make certain that blood moves in the proper direction.

However, over time the valves in the veins become weak and the blood tends to stagnate in the veins thus causing swelling. The signs of varicose veins are mainly seen in the legs and feet because the pressure on the lower body veins is intensified when standing or walking.

Treatment of Varicose Veins

The good news, however, is that varicose veins can be cured, and this can be done by several methods based on the gravity of the situation, the lifestyle of the patient, and his or her choice. These may be in the form of self care or home remedies all the way up to medical treatments.

1. Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies

In severe cases of varicose veins, the doctor may advise his patient to undergo lifestyle changes to help decrease the effects of the condition.

These include

• Exercise: Chronic exercise aids circulation and lessens the soreness linked with varicosity.

• Compression Stockings: Specially designed stockings help the veins in the legs to pump the blood in the right manner by exerting pressure on legs.

• Elevating the Legs: Reclining also helps to move the legs higher than the heart, so blood can return to the heart easily/by force and pressure is lowered in the veins/s.

• Diet and Weight Management: Being on a healthy weight and eating the right diet could alleviate the pressure that is usually placed on veins.

Though a recline of the lifestyle might reduce the discomfort, it cannot eradicate varicose veins altogether, which is especially the case with severe cases.

2. Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is one of the most regularly used methods of varicose veins treatment especially for spiral veins usually for cases of small and middle sizes.

The immune system injects some solution such as normal saline directly into the vein. Thus finding the solution constantly irritates the lining of the vein and causes it to fall and be absorbed by the body. Blood is then diverted to better vessels in the body through angiogenesis.

Sclerotherapy is an outpatient procedure and in many cases does not require the administration of an anaesthetic.

Treatment of warts is not associated with many side effects and most patients can resume their normal activities right after the treatment. However, a number of sessions might be required to bring the assessments to the required level.

3. Laser Treatments

Another approach for dealing with varicose veins is through laser treatment, which is also non surgical. This treatment involves the use of light energy to shrink and close down the problematic veins. They do seep into the treated veins and fade away giving way, to an elegant, thin line after some time.

There are two types of laser treatments for varicose veins

• Simple Laser Treatment: Used in some procedures done on small veins just a little beneath the skin such as spider veins.

• Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT): This is a bigger laser therapy used in the larger veins treatment, than the previous one described above. A thin fibre is placed into the vein and the laser sends out short bursts of energy that closes the vein.

Laser treatments have been applied for various types of skin treatment because they are fast, relatively painless and do not necessitate diagnosis. Most of the patients can return to normal activities right after the procedure.

4. Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation ( RFA) is an endovascular intervention in which the veins are heated with radiofrequency energy to seal them.

RFA, like laser therapy, aims at minimising the vein by sizzling it so that blood stream can shift in wholesome veins.

In the course a thin tube called a catheter is-threaded through the puncture mark directly to the damaged vein.

The catheter releases radio frequency energy and the vein is heated to shut it down. In the course of time, the body can assimilate the treated vein.

5.Vein Stripping and Ligation

Vein stripping and ligation is a more invasive procedure that is used in cases of varicose veins in their advanced stage. Thus, in the course of the operation, a surgeon cuts the skin and takes out the pathological varicose veins or ligatures them.

This helps to stop the blood from stagnating in the veins and healthy veins which then relieves the circulation of blood.

The procedure is under general or regional anaesthesia and it takes a longer postoperative period compared with other interventions. However, it is very effective in dealing with large, badly affected veins.

6.Ambulatory Phlebectomy

Ambulatory phlebectomy is surgical intervention in which small varicosities are eliminated through tiny incisions in the skin.

It is normally done under local anaesthesia and the patient should be able to go about his/ her activities the following day.

The procedure of phlebectomy is usually applied to the cases with varicose veins which are on the skin surface, and cause pain or esthetic problems.

This type of treatment is virtually risk-free with very high statistical success rate, however, is not ideal for deeper or larger veins.

7. Foam Sclerotherapy

Foam sclerotherapy is a modification of the standard sclerotherapy process where foam is administered into the vein. This foam is denser than the liquid solution used in the standard sclerotherapy, hence suitable for use in larger veins.

The way it works is analogous to the standard form of foam sclerotherapy; it simply empties the vein by compressing it and resulting in reabsorption of the structure by the body.

The main positive outcome of foam sclerotherapy is that large varicose veins can be treated using this method without surgery. It is Rather invasive, However, patients recover from it rather fast.

Cost of Varicose Vein Treatment

Varicose vein treatment in India tends to be cheaper than in most developed countries in the western world. The price depends on the treatment type, hospital, and location, but typical costs are as follows

• Sclerotherapy: It costs anything between Rs 10,000 and Rs 40,000 per session depending on the treatment.

• Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT): It costs about ₹40,000 – ₹1,00,000 ranging from case intricacy and the clinic involved.

• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): ₹60,000 to ₹1,20,000.

• Surgical vein stripping: ranging between ₹ 50000 and ₹ 1,50,000 based on the hospital affiliation and whether it is done as an inpatient or outpatient surgery.

In general, these procedures cost less in India, however, there are cases when insurance will cover part of it only if the condition is needed medically. But the look or appearance oriented treatments are mostly excluded from the insurance cover.