Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Varicose veins affect your quality of life, due to either the discomfort or the embarrassment they cause. But you’ve found a Brooklyn and Bronx vein center and a vascular specialist who can treat those veins for you painlessly and effectively. One of the treatments that Dr. George Bolotin at the Astra Vein Treatment Center recommends is radiofrequency ablation or RFA. This minimally invasive process uses sound waves to destroy the offending vein. Your blood finds another vein to flow through, and the varicose vein disappears over time. Call the vein clinic in Brooklyn and Bronx to schedule a consultation today.

What Is Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation?

Endovenous radiofrequency ablation, or RFA, is the newest technology for treating varicose veins. A minimally invasive technique, RFA uses a catheter electrode to deliver heat generated by high-frequency radiofrequency sound waves. The treatment causes your varicose veins to collapse and eventually disappear

The heat involved in RFA vein-ablation shrinks the collagen in the vein walls, generating a spasm within the vein that collapses it. The blood then begins to flow through adjacent, healthy veins. It’s a painless, outpatient treatment available at the Brooklyn and Bronx vein clinic, the Astra Vein Treatment Center. Dr. George Bolotin, an Interventional Radiologist who founded the practice, is a trained expert in radiofrequency ablation for varicose veins.

Why Is Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation Necessary?

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted, and usually purple veins that protrude from your skin. While they can appear anywhere on your body, they most often afflict your legs. Varicose veins develop when the valves in the veins fail. These valves are supposed to allow blood to only flow toward your heart, but once they’re damaged, the blood can pool, causing the vein to swell. Varicose veins can appear unsightly or be painful. Left untreated, they can result in more serious problems, such as:

• Venous insufficiency
• A venous stasis ulcer

If you’re suffering from varicose veins, you’re not alone. Approximately 26 percent of the adult American population suffers from the condition, and African American women suffer from more than average. Varicose veins are treatable at the Astra Vein Treatment Center, one of the top varicose vein treatment centers in Brooklyn and Bronx. Visit Dr. Bolotin to determine if radiofrequency ablation for varicose veins is right for you.

Are There Alternatives to RFA Vein Ablation?

The longer you go before RFA treatment of varicose veins, the larger your veins may become. Depending on the degree of severity of your veins, your vascular specialist may recommend a different treatment, such as:

• Endovenous laser ablation
• Sclerotherapy for varicose veins
• Ambulatory phlebotomy

Each treatment has its particular application, and Dr. Bolotin selects the most appropriate procedure for your particular case. Endovenous radiofrequency ablation isn’t well-suited to the largest varicose veins or the smaller spider veins. While RFA vein ablation can be more expensive than other techniques, it also results in fewer post-procedure complications.

What Happens During RFA Treatment for Varicose Veins?

The procedure itself is fairly quick. Depending on the number and size of your varicose veins, the procedure may take up to an hour. From the time you arrive at the clinic until you leave, you need no more than three hours, which includes both preparation and recovery time. You can expect a series of steps, including:

• You have to put on a hospital gown before the procedure.
• You’re directed to lay down on an x-ray table.
• Your Brooklyn and Bronx vein doctor uses an ultrasound to view your problem veins.
• The area around the varicose veins is treated with a local anesthetic.
• Dr. Bolotin pokes a small hole at the end of your vein.
• He then inserts the catheter into the vein.
• The catheter emits high-frequency heat in the form of sound waves into the damaged vein.
• Your vascular specialist removes the catheter from your vein while applying heat, so it closes the vein opening.
• As necessary, the procedure is repeated on other problem veins.
• Once he’s finished, he applies a compression wrap to the area to prevent any residual bleeding.

RFA treatment for varicose veins is a minimally invasive technique that requires a short recovery time. In fact, as long as you follow your doctor’s instructions, the radiofrequency ablation for varicose veins recovery lasts a week or less. Any discomfort is manageable; take any medicine as directed.

After your procedure, Dr. Bolotin may recommend wearing compression stockings, keeping your legs elevated, and moderate exercise, such as walking. Varicose veins can cause discomfort, lost productivity, and deterioration in your quality of life, but there’s no need to continue suffering. Contact Dr. George Bolotin at the Astra Vein Treatment Center today to schedule your initial consultation.