LASER VARICOSE TREATMENT

A varicose vein is when the internal structures of the superficial veins deteriorate and become elongated, tortuous, and dilated. Veins are the vessels that carry blood back to the heart. The function of the veins is to transport the blood taken from the tissues to the heart. Unlike arteries, veins have delicate valves inside them. These valves ensure that the blood inside the veins flows towards the heart, that is, in one direction without leaking back. These valves ensure the one-way movement of blood towards the heart despite the effect of gravity and prevent backflow. Thus, even if a person is standing, the veins carry blood upwards to the heart.
Due to pregnancy, obesity or genetic reasons, these valves are disrupted due to blockage or prolonged pressure in these veins, and blood begins to accumulate backwards. This blood accumulation becomes visible as blue, purple or red from the outside of the skin.

Nerves and smooth muscles are found around these vessels. Pain occurs in varicose veins due to enlargement and continuous pressure. There may be complaints such as cramps that occur at night, itching, swelling, and pain after standing. In women, complaints related to VARICES may increase during pregnancy and menstruation.

What is the function of veins?

With each beat, the heart sends a certain amount of blood to the tissues through the arteries to meet the needs of the body. This clean blood gives the necessary oxygen and nutrients to the cells and collects the waste materials formed in the environment. The color of this blood is now darker and it is carried back to the heart by veins. Varicose veins are the enlargement of these veins in the leg.

Superficial veins: They are located under the skin and are visible to the eye. They can be thought of as side channels in our body that carry dirty blood to the heart. The most common disease seen in superficial veins is varicose veins.

Deep veins: They are located in the deep parts together with the arteries and are not visible to the eye. They carry 90% of the dirty blood in the legs. The most common disease in the deep vein system is blockage and valve insufficiency, also known as internal varicose veins.

Why do varicose veins occur?

Leaks in the valves inside the veins due to any reason (previous vein inflammation, excessive obesity, genetics, births, etc.) cause an excessive increase in pressure in the veins below, that is, in the legs. Over time, these veins, which are stretched more than normal due to high pressure, become enlarged, elongated and twisted; therefore, a tortuous appearance occurs. On the one hand, these deformed veins dilate and the valves inside them cannot come together, causing leaks downwards and bidirectional flow in the venous circulation. As a result, the high pressure reflected further down causes the formation of varicose veins in the veins here as well.

Who often has varicose veins?

In people who stand still for too long, these valves are easily damaged and varicose veins occur. Teachers, nurses, surgeons, police officers, dentists and waiters are at high risk. On the other hand, athletes who use their calf muscles a lot have a low probability of developing varicose veins. Although there is less risk of varicose veins in working while sitting for a long time, there is a risk of varicose veins.
Varicose veins can also be seen in secretaries and people who work in front of a computer for a long time. Varicose veins are 4 times more common in women than in men. The probability of seeing varicose veins increases with age.

There are 3 types of varicose veins anatomically:

• Thick and large, greenish main varicose veins
• Purplish varicose veins that form a network-shaped structure under the skin
• Red thread-like varicose veins

Varicose vein treatment methods

Varicose veins are recommended for patients with few complaints or patients with a high risk of surgery. In the treatment of varicose veins, 2 separate problems should be treated together. Visible varicose veins should be treated; however, perhaps the more important phase of the treatment is to eliminate the underlying problem that causes the pressure inside the vein to increase.

Thus, as the patient’s aesthetic problem is eliminated, the complaints of pain and swelling in the leg will also end.

Sclerotherapy (treatment of varicose veins with injections) is the closure and destruction of the vein by injecting a substance into it with very fine needles. Since these vessels are already diseased and non-functional, their closure does not create a problem. It can be used in varicose veins with a diameter of around 1-3 mm. The patient can walk home and drive after the treatment. It is recommended to wear varicose veins for 3-5 days after needle treatment. The success rate is high. Side effects are rare. Allergic reaction is extremely rare. Leakage of the injected drug outside the vessel can lead to discoloration. Bruises and swelling that occur in this area after treatment are temporary.

Varicose vein treatment with Nd-YAG laser

Laser technology has been used with increasing prevalence in varicose vein treatment for the last 5 years. Venous dilatations smaller than 1 mm in diameter can be destroyed by laser beams given from outside the skin. The laser procedure is easy and does not require special care. The patient can continue his normal daily life. It has now become quite easy to treat these capillary varicose veins using Nd-YAG lasers. It is possible to erase these blue, purple or reddish structures, which are quite disturbing aesthetically, with laser.

Capillary varicose veins that appear on the face, cheeks and sides of the nose with aging can also be treated with laser.

In surgical varicose vein treatment, the diseased varicose veins are removed with thin incisions or by means of a special instrument. Varicose vein surgery can also be performed under local anesthesia.

Prevention of Varicose Veins

The most important factor in the development of varicose veins is probably genetic predisposition. In addition, varicose veins can develop in individuals working in jobs that do not require movement. Preventing varicose veins is not an easy thing. There is no medicine that will prevent the development of varicose veins. Therefore, the most important measures that can be taken may be weight control, regular sports, not staying in a fixed position for a long time and using protective varicose vein stockings. The legs should be kept elevated at every opportunity. It is recommended that patients with varicose veins wear high-heeled shoes less often.