Endovenous Thermal Ablation Treatment
Varicose Veins Treatment
Varicose veins produce significant symptoms and can lead to serious medical conditions. It’s hard to believe that it was just a few years ago that the only remedy for varicose veins was through surgical vein stripping. This process involved surgery followed by a lengthy recovery period.
The good news is those days are over! Boulder Vein Center is pleased to offer state of the art procedures that will eliminate varicose veins. ClosureFast™ Thermal Ablation treatment is a clinically proven in-office procedure that takes about one hour. There is minimal to no scarring and no general anesthesia or hospitalization is required for this varicose vein treatment. Our patients can return to their normal routine quickly and the procedure is covered by most insurance carriers.
Thermal Ablation Vein Removal (Radiofrequency)
The picture above demonstrates the ClosureFast™ procedure
During your initial visit to Boulder Vein Center, you will be seen by one of our Registered Vascular Technologists for an ultrasound. This will be followed by a consultation with Dr. Richard Fox or Dr. Akin Beckley to determine if you are an eligible candidate for Endovenous Thermal Ablation (RF). Radiofrequency ablation is performed with the Closurefast technology. This is a minimally invasive treatment that uses heat to seal off the diseased vein so blood gets rerouted to nearby healthy veins. RF is utilized on the great and/or small saphenous veins if they are found to be incompetent or have reflux. RF of appropriate varicose veins shows clear patient benefits over surgery and other alternative treatments. Benefits include:
- Success rate of up to 98%
- Minimal-to-no scarring or hospitalization
- A low risk of complications
- A faster improvement to patients’ quality of life compared to laser ablation
- Excellent patient satisfaction
- Lower rates of pain, bruising and complications
Most patients report a noticeable improvement in symptoms within 1-2 weeks following their procedure. Endovenous Ablation was first pioneered in 1999 and is an FDA-approved procedure for treatment of varicose veins. Dr. Richard Fox was one of the first surgeons in Boulder to offer this procedure to our community.
Thermal Ablation Procedure Information
A local anesthetic is injected into the leg to numb the area. Once this is complete, a Closurefast™ catheter is inserted in advance to the treatment starting point in the vein. This is done utilizing ultrasound guidance. Radiofrequency is emitted through the catheter and the heat seals the vein as the catheter is withdrawn. The veins that are closed are superficial veins that handle less than five percent of the body’s blood flow. The blood is automatically routed to other, healthy veins.
The procedure itself takes about 45 minutes depending on how many veins are being treated in a single visit. This treatment has lower rates of pain, bruising and complications.
Some patients may experience temporary soreness or some slight swelling. This is treated effectively with over-the-counter pain relievers and typically subsides within the first five days. The small incision site(s) are covered with steri-strips and the leg(s) wrapped with ACE bandages or Compression Socks.
Learn More About Pre-Procedure Instructions
Learn More About Post-Operative Instructions
Varicose Vein Removal Frequently Asked Questions
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