I Have Varicose Veins. What Should I Do?

If you're wondering, "I have varicose veins, what should I do?", please review the following items in order.

First, you should have a detailed Doppler ultrasound examination performed by an interventional radiologist experienced in varicose vein treatment to determine your diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment. For example, in centers not specialized in this field, Doppler examinations are often performed only when the patient is lying down, rather than standing. This, however, does not reveal the actual disease and is an inadequate examination.

Unfortunately, we observe that many varicose vein patients are condemned to unnecessary treatments due to misdiagnosis. Ideally, the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of varicose veins should be carried out by the same physician. Only in this way can a sound treatment be achieved.

After a detailed Doppler diagnosis is made, your physician will discuss the appropriate treatment options. They will usually recommend modern treatment methods over conventional surgery. In recent years, conventional surgical treatments have become less preferred except in unavoidable cases.

Main disadvantages: These include the requirement for general anesthesia, the risk of venous clots and nerve damage in up to 5% of cases, a delayed return to normal life, and the recurrence of varicose veins in approximately half of patients after surgery.

Among modern methods, Endovenous Laser Ablation is the most preferred method, with medium and long-term results reported as 93-100% successful in scientific publications. The minimal side effects make this procedure even more desirable, allowing you to return to daily activities immediately, allowing you to walk home after the procedure, and being performed under local anesthesia with Doppler guidance in just 40 minutes. Furthermore, the recurrence rate after treatment is significantly lower than surgery.

In light of all this information, if your varicose veins are suitable (which is suitable for 90% of patients), an appointment will be scheduled for Endovenous Laser Ablation and, if necessary, complementary ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy. Patients coming from abroad or outside Istanbul can have both diagnosis and treatment performed on the same day if they specify in advance.

With a detailed Doppler examination, we personally identify and pinpoint all causes of reflux and damaged veins that cause varicose veins. Following the examination, we create a detailed vascular map of your veins. Following diagnosis, we perform Doppler imaging-guided local anesthesia and treat all damaged veins and varicose veins using modern methods tailored to your needs.

We typically treat varicose veins with Endovenous Laser Ablation to eliminate the cause of varicose veins, followed by ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy to help you completely eliminate your varicose veins.

The process for patients seeking Endovenous Laser Ablation treatment for varicose veins in our Radiology Department is as follows:

Patients schedule an appointment with the Interventional Radiology Department for Non-Surgical Varicose Vein Treatment by phone or in person.

On the day of the appointment, they fill out a form detailing their complaints and other existing conditions. They meet with our interventional radiologist face-to-face, explain their concerns, and undergo an examination. A color Doppler ultrasound is performed, which identifies damaged veins causing varicose veins, and these vessels are mapped before the procedure.
Our patients are informed about treatment options based on the color Doppler ultrasound findings, and informed consent forms are signed.
Treatment appointments are usually scheduled for a separate day (if specified at the time of appointment, patients traveling from abroad or other cities can have the ultrasound and treatment performed on the same day).
Based on the Doppler ultrasound results and the resulting vascular map, patients are treated with one or more of the following methods: endovenous laser, foam-liquid sclerotherapy, or percutaneous RF. Depending on the type and extent of varicose veins, the procedure may require one or more sessions.
Patients are invited for a follow-up visit one month after treatment. During this visit, the treatment results are reviewed, any complaints are heard, and the color Doppler examination is repeated to check for closure of leaking veins. If additional treatments are necessary, they are administered with Doppler guidance.