Varicose vein - noninvasive treatment - Risks

Risks:

These treatments are generally safe. Ask your doctor about specific problems that might occur.

The risks for any anesthesia are:

• Allergic reactions to medicines
• Breathing problems

The risks for any procedure are:

• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Infection

The risks of endovenous laser ablation are:

• Blood clots
• Damage to the nerve
• Failure to close the vein
• Opening of the treated vein
• Paresthesias (prickly, tingly skin)
• Pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in your lungs)
• Skin burns from the heated catheter
• Thrombophlebitis (inflammation in a vein with a blood clot that attaches to the vein)

The risks of sclerotherapy are:

• Blocked blood flow in the treated vein
• The solution leaks out of the vein into other tissue (this can damage surrounding tissue and cause ulcers to form)
• Vein irritation

The risks of any treatment for varicose veins are:

• Bruising or scarring
• Nerve injury
• Return of the varicose vein over time