Radiofrequency Ablation Specialist

North Atlanta Vascular Clinic

General and Vascular Surgery located in Suwanee/Johns Creek, GA

If you suffer from varicose veins, radiofrequency ablation treats the underlying cause and not just the symptoms. The team at North Atlanta Vascular Clinic performs radiofrequency ablation at four locations in Suwanee/Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Cumming and Lawrenceville, GA. To learn more about radiofrequency ablation, call or book an appointment online today.

Radiofrequency Ablation Q & A

What is radiofrequency ablation?

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat energy to destroy incompetent veins. During this procedure, your expert provider at North Atlanta Vascular Clinic inserts a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into the affected vein.

The catheter sends heat energy into your vein, causing the collagen in the walls of the vein to contract and collapse. After this happens, the vein closes and blood that would normally flow through it gets redirected to a healthy nearby vein.

What does radiofrequency ablation treat?

Healthy veins contain valves that help push deoxygenated blood back to your heart. When these valves fail to work properly, blood pools or flows backward in the vein. This condition is called an incompetent or insufficient vein.

Radiofrequency ablation treats venous insufficiency, which is the root cause of other problems, such as spider veins and varicose veins.

How does radiofrequency ablation work?

Radiofrequency ablation eliminates or reduces the appearance of varicose veins by destroying the diseased vein itself. After the radiofrequency energy treats the insufficient vein, your body naturally reabsorbs it over time.

Varicose veins appear discolored and swollen due to the pooled blood trapped inside of them. Once the insufficient vein is closed or gone, the symptoms of varicose veins disappear. Blood gets redirected to healthy veins, improving your circulation.

What happens during a radiofrequency ablation procedure?

First, your expert provider at North Atlanta Vascular Clinic performs a physical exam and reviews your medical history to ensure you’re a good candidate for radiofrequency ablation. This treatment isn’t the best option for veins that are too narrow, twisted, or close to the skin’s surface.

If radiofrequency ablation isn’t an option for treating your particular condition, the team at North Atlanta Vascular Clinic may recommend another varicose vein treatment, such as sclerotherapy.

During radiofrequency ablation treatment, your doctor inserts a catheter into the insufficient vein through a tiny incision. They may use ultrasound for imaging guidance. The catheter heats your vein with controlled radiofrequency energy, which causes the vein walls to collapse and close.

The entire procedure usually takes less than an hour and doesn’t require a hospital stay. To find out if radiofrequency ablation is right for you, call North Atlanta Vascular Clinic or book an appointment online today.