Ablation is a medical procedure that involves removing something from the body or its system. In the context of vein treatment, ablation means permanently closing a vein, effectively removing it from the venous circulation. There are several methods to achieve this. One common technique involves inserting a small tube called a catheter into the vein, which delivers heat to close the vein over time. Another method uses a special medical adhesive or glue to seal the vein. Both methods render the vein non-functional, meaning it remains in the body but no longer serves as part of the venous system because it has been permanently closed.
The majority of our patients have symptomatic varicose veins, which occur when the valves in the veins fail to work properly, causing blood to pool instead of flowing back to the heart. This pooling makes the veins bulge. We treat this by closing the veins using methods like glue or heat, which helps alleviate symptoms such as heaviness and discomfort, especially for those on their feet all day. Closing these veins can significantly reduce these symptoms.