Varicose veins are one of the most common — and visible — forms of venous disease and damage, affecting about 1 in 4 adults (23%) in the United States. Untreated, these conspicuous vascular distortions can progress from a minor cosmetic issue into a disruptive source of:
Whether your varicose veins are unsightly, uncomfortable, unwanted, or all the above, Dr. Laura Fernandes and our vein clinic team at Woodlands Heart and Vascular Institute can clear them from your skin in no time with RF vein ablation. Here’s what to expect.
Venous ablation is a minimally invasive, painless vein closure technique that uses various agents to collapse problematic varicose veins from the inside out.
Sclerotherapy is a type of vein ablation where we inject a chemical agent into the unwanted vein to force its collapse, closure, and clearance from the skin. This approach works well for small varicose veins and spider veins.
For larger or symptomatic varicose veins, radiofrequency (RF) ablation is usually the best closure technique. With this method, controlled thermal energy heats the lining of the vein, causing its collagen structures to contract and forcing the vessel’s inward collapse.
RF vein ablation takes about an hour. The preparatory and aftercare stages account for most of this time; the treatment itself takes just a few minutes.
First, we inject a local anesthetic near the planned insertion site to numb the area. If you’re nervous about the procedure, mild IV sedation can help you feel more relaxed.
Next, we use vascular ultrasound imaging to visualize the targeted vein in its entirety.
With the problematic vein in full view, we make a tiny incision over the pre-planned entry point. This minimally invasive opening is so small that it won’t require stitches later.
Then, we carefully insert a thin RF catheter through the opening in your skin, relying on ultrasound to thread it smoothly through your vein. The catheter contains a specialized tip that emits thermal energy when activated.
Once the catheter is in position, we activate its RF-emitting tip and slowly pull it back out of your vein. As we draw it backward, it sends uniform thermal energy into the vessel wall that causes it to contract, collapse, and seal shut in a matter of minutes.
Following catheter removal, we bandage the incision site. Inside your leg, your blood flow naturally reroutes itself to healthy, open veins. To promote optimal circulation, we apply a compression wrap to your treated leg.
At a follow-up visit (usually the next day), we confirm complete vein closure with a final ultrasound scan.
Wear your compression garment as directed (usually for 12 hours a day, for about six weeks). During that time, it’s also important to:
In the weeks after RF vein ablation, your collapsed veins form into harmless scar tissue that your body eventually reabsorbs. During the internal scar formation process, it’s normal to feel a pulling sensation in the treated leg area.
You can expect your treated veins to fade significantly — or disappear completely — within a few weeks. You can also expect improved circulation and full symptom alleviation.
Whether your varicose veins are a result of a long-term condition such as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) or the product of a short-term vascular strain event like pregnancy, RF vein ablation can clear them from your skin safely, quickly, and painlessly.
Ready to take the first step? Schedule an appointment at Woodlands Heart and Vascular Institute in The Woodlands, Texas, today — and find out why our vein clinic was voted the best varicose vein treatment center in the Houston area for 2025.
