Most people with venous insufficiency don’t need surgery. Instead, they find symptom relief with nonsurgical treatments. Wearing compression stockings, for example, can control swelling and help blood move through your veins by applying gentle pressure to your legs.
In addition to wearing compression stockings, your physician may recommend several forms of self-care, including:
- Caring for leg ulcers
- Increasing your physical activity
- Losing weight
- Taking breaks from extended periods of sitting or standing
- Using medications to treat skin changes and blood clots
If conservative treatments aren’t successful or leg pain or other symptoms interfere with your daily life, you may need an outpatient procedure to destroy, seal or remove damaged veins.
Rarely, some patients need a more invasive procedure called surgical bypass, which creates a new route for blood to flow around an unhealthy vein. If you need a procedure, your vascular specialist will determine the most appropriate option.
