Your guide to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment of varicose veins

If you’re struggling with the discomfort, swelling, or unsightly appearance of varicose veins, Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) could be the solution you’ve been looking for. This minimally invasive procedure uses radiofrequency energy to target and close off problematic veins, providing long-lasting relief with less discomfort and downtime than traditional surgery.

In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about RFA – from how it works to what you can expect during the procedure, what the recovery is, and the benefits it offers over other treatment options and the benefits some newer treatments like VenaSeal™ might have over RFA. Ultimately, there are lots of choices when it comes to treating varicose veins.

RFA was introduced in the late 1990s and early 2000s as an alternative to more invasive surgical treatments like vein stripping. Around the same time, another option known as endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) was also developed.

Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) employs a very similar technique by delivering heat to destroy the inside of the problematic blood vessels although it uses laser energy to deliver the heat. Both RFA and EVLA are similarly very effective, although RFA is associated with fewer side effects and is generally considered to be the superior method.

Endovascular treatment with Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) offers significant benefits over traditional surgery for treating varicose veins.

One of the main advantages is its minimally invasive nature, which involves only a small incision and causes far less trauma to the surrounding tissues compared to traditional vein stripping surgery. This leads to a quicker recovery time, allowing patients to return to their normal activities, often within a day or two, as opposed to the longer downtime required after surgery. RFA also typically results in less pain, bruising, and scarring which improves patient satisfaction both during and after the procedure.

Additionally, because RFA uses radiofrequency energy to precisely target and close off the affected veins, it reduces the risk of complications such as nerve damage, which can be more common in traditional surgical approaches. Not everyone is suitable for RFA – which is why your initial consultation and ultrasound scan assessment is so important, to make sure you get the best treatment option for your particular condition.

If you’d like to find out if Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) is the right treatment for you, the first step is to fill out our online consultation form. From there, our team will be able to arrange an initial consultation and ultrasound scan and we can work together to create a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs.