Treating Varicose Veins

Dr. Angelo Chachas is an experienced general surgeon who specializes in helping patients treat painful varicose veins in Salt Lake City and Draper, Utah. Dr. Chachas offers two forms of minimially invasive procedures to help get rid of varicose veins in the most comfortable way for you. Schedule a consult today, and stop hiding those legs!

Here is what you need to know about the treatment of venous reflux disease and varicose veins:

What is the procedure?

The procedure improves blood flow by sealing or closing the diseased vein. Rather than using tradition thermal heat to close the vein, the system delivers a small amount of a specially formulated medical adhesive to the diseased vein. The adhesive seals the vein and blood is rerouted through nearby healthy veins.

What are the benefits?

By using an adhesive to close the vein rather than heat, the procedure only uses one needle stick of numbing medicine versus multple. Compression stockings are also not required after the procedure. By eliminating heat and compression stockings, patients treated with the system experience less pain and brusing and have a faster recovery time.

What is the heat procedure?

The heat closure procedure is a minimally invasive treatment where a thin catheter is inserted into the vein through a small opening. The catheter delivers radiofrequency energy to the vein wall, causing it to heat, collapse and seal shut.

How long do the procedures take?

Either procedure takes approximately 45-60 minutes.

Do the procedures require any anethesia?

The closure procedures can be performed under local, regional or general anethesia.

How quickly after treatment can I return to normal activities?

Patients may resume normal activities immediately. For a few weeks following the treatment, your doctor may recommend a regular walking regimen and suggest you refrain from very strenuous activities or prolonged periods of standing.

How soon will symptoms improve?

Most patients report noticeable improvement in their symptoms within 1-2 weeks following the procedure.

Is there any scarring with either procedure?


How effective are the closure procedures?

Data from a prospective multicenter study has shown more than 97 percent vein occlusion one year post treatment.

What happens to the treatment vein left behind in the leg?

Over time, the vein will gradually incorporate into surrounding tissue.

Are the closure treatments covered by my insurance?

Many insurance companies fully or partially cover the heat closure procedure. Most insurance companies determine coverage for all treatments, including the closure procedure, based on medical necessity. Your physician can discuss your insurance coverage further at the time of consultation.

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