Varicose vein treatments aren’t spooky

Halloween is coming up, and there are plenty of things to be scared of: ghosts and goblins, witches and skeletons, and even the prospect of a tummy ache from eating too much candy.

But there is one thing you don’t have to be afraid of: varicose vein treatments.

Some people recall the old-fashioned stripping surgery our parents and grandparents endured, a painful procedure that required three weeks of recovery and left scars.

While there are still old-school physicians who perform this type of treatment, they are few and far between. Today’s modern varicose vein treatments involve no incisions. And because we insist on having several options available to us, we offer a combination of treatments to tailor plans specific to each patient’s needs and condition.

Modern options include high-tech lasers, radiofrequency, liquids, foams and even a special medical-grade glue. Each of these procedures, in different ways, causes diseased veins to collapse and fade as the body naturally reabsorbs them. While varicose vein treatments do require compression socks, you don’t have to be afraid of wearing old-fashioned “grandma stockings.”

Today’s compression socks come in many styles and colors, from tie-dyed to striped and floral prints. 

If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, please give our office a call: • leg pain • heaviness or fatigue • itching, tingling or burning • inflammation • skin discoloration • restless legs syndrome.

There is nothing to be afraid of.

Dr. Sonja Stiller is a diplomat of both the American Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine and the UIP 2023 lead chair for scientific abstracts. She is the founder of the Center for Advanced Vein Care and Elite Vascular Wellness, a Tier 1 provider with Lake Health Hospital System. The center is at 7200 Mentor Ave. in Mentor. For an appointment, call 440-710-1140 or visit YourHealthyVeins.com.