McKeown Medical
167 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4SQ
Your guide to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment of varicose veins
Published by Dr Alex Vesey
Date posted — 2.10.24
What is radiofrequency ablation (RFA)?
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.
How does radiofrequency ablation (RFA) work?
RFA is a minimally invasive medical procedure used to treat varicose veins by using radiofrequency energy to heat and close off the affected veins. It is part of a group of techniques referred to as ‘endovascular’ procedures because they involve operating inside the vein rather than outside of it in the traditional approach. RFA involves inserting a small catheter into the vein, where radiofrequency energy is delivered, causing the vein walls to contract, collapse, and eventually be absorbed by the body.
How long has radiofrequency ablation (RFA) been used for 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.
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.
Expert Video
Dr Alex Vesey is our expert consultant vascular surgeon who heads up our varicose vein team. Listen to him explain the RFA treatment.
What is involved in having the RFA procedure?
Before: Before the procedure, you’ll first have a consultation with a specialist vascular surgeon who will assess your varicose veins from taking a medical history, performing a thorough examination and an ultrasound scan to assess the anatomy of your veins. This helps determine the best veins to treat and ensures that RFA is the right option for you. On the day of the procedure, you’ll be asked to wear loose-fitting clothing and underwear that you don’t mind getting antiseptic on. You will be asked to sign an informed consent form before you go into the treatment room (a copy of this will be emailed to you in advance so you have plenty of time to read before you sign).
During: The procedure begins with the patient lying down on the treatment table and the affected leg is then cleaned and sterile drapes are applied. The doctor then makes a small incision near the knee or lower leg to insert a thin catheter into the problematic vein, guided by ultrasound imaging for precise placement. The doctor then injects a high volume of dilute anaesthetic – known as tumescent anaesthetic – along the length of the vein to be treated. As well as providing anaesthesia, this also helps to absorb the heat that is delivered to the vein during the procedure and reduces the chances of injuring surrounding tissues, like nerves. The catheter position is then rechecked and radiofrequency energy is delivered through the catheter, heating the vein walls and causing them to collapse and seal shut. This process is repeated along the length of the vein, effectively closing it off. The procedure typically takes about 30 to 60 minutes.
After: After the RFA procedure, a compression bandage or stocking is applied to the treated leg to help reduce swelling and promote healing. Most patients can stand up and walk immediately after the procedure, which is encouraged to help circulation. You may experience some discomfort, bruising, or swelling, but these symptoms usually subside within a few days. It’s generally recommended to avoid strenuous activities for about a week, but most people can return to their normal routines within a day or two. We will arrange to see you back in the clinic to assess the results, typically a few months after treatment since this is how long it takes for the veins to be reabsorbed by the body and for us to be able to assess the outcome.
The benefit of endovascular treatment with Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) over traditional surgery
Endovascular treatment with 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 are so important to make sure you get the best treatment option for your particular condition.
Are there any newer, better alternatives to Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)?
VenaSeal™ is a more recent innovative and effective option for the endovascular treatment of varicose veins, gaining FDA approval in 2015. VenaSeal™ uses a medical adhesive instead of heat to close off problematic veins.
The procedure involves inserting a small catheter into the vein and applying the adhesive, which bonds the vein walls together, causing the vein to seal shut and be gradually absorbed by the body. Compared to RFA, VenaSeal™ offers several advantages: it requires no heat or tumescent anaesthetic injections, which can reduce discomfort and eliminate the need for compression stockings after the procedure.
Additionally, VenaSeal™ has an even quicker recovery time – often allowing patients to resume normal activities almost immediately. While RFA remains a highly effective treatment with a proven track record, VenaSeal™ offers the same levels of effectiveness with less pain, inconvenience and downtime which is why it now accounts for around 50% of varicose vein treatment in the USA.
We are the first clinic in Scotland to introduce what is now considered to be the gold standard treatment for varicose veins.
Interested in Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)?
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.
Related Articles
Varicose veins
RFA vs EVLA treatment for varicose veins
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) are two minimally invasive treatments used to effectively treat varicose veins, but...
Varicose veins
Everything you need to know about VenaSeal™ vein treatment
When it comes to treating varicose veins, VenaSeal™ has emerged as a revolutionary option that offers a minimally invasive and...
Varicose veins
Exploring different treatments to get rid of varicose veins
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that often appear just under the skin, primarily in the legs and feet.
1 / 3
2 / 3
3 / 3
Varicose veins
RFA vs EVLA treatment for varicose veins
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) are two minimally invasive treatments used to effectively treat varicose veins, but...
Varicose veins
Everything you need to know about VenaSeal™ vein treatment
When it comes to treating varicose veins, VenaSeal™ has emerged as a revolutionary option that offers a minimally invasive and...
Varicose veins
Exploring different treatments to get rid of varicose veins
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that often appear just under the skin, primarily in the legs and feet.
Aesthetic interventions are never far from the headlines and this week the media have been focused on comments made by the make up artist Bobbi Brown about her view of cosmetic procedures. I was on BBC Radio Scotland today talking about the issue.
My own view is that we should all age in the way we feel comfortable with - if you are happy with grey hair and wrinkles, then I absolutely admire you just as much as I admire those who feel differently and want a little help to keep the signs of ageing at bay. There is no right and wrong and there is no room for moral superiority. Just you be you!
Have a listen to the debate and let me know what you think in the comments!
I’ve been back in the clinic for a week and we are right into laser season!
Thank you so much to this lovely patient who has allowed us to share her pictures with you. She was concerned about sun damage and deep lines and wrinkles on her face, especially on her forehead, on her cheeks and around her mouth. She opted for full laser resurfacing which is unrivalled for repairing this level of damage to the skin, but does come with slightly more downtime compared to other laser treatments.
These after pictures are six weeks after this patient’s initial treatment, and while she’s still a little pink (little enough that light make up will cover it!), you can see the she already has beautifully refreshed skin and her deep lines have been significantly reduced.
The true results for full laser resurfacing are usually seen after six months so we’ll share some pictures of this patient then so you can see the final result, but she’s absolutely delighted with the improvement so far!
What do you think?
We often talk about the deep plane facelift being the gold standard technique for facelift, and we’re proud to have the talented @bramhallplasticsurgery performing it in the clinic.
Here’s Russell explaining how the deep plane facelift offers longer lasting and more natural results than other techniques. By lifting and repositioning the deeper facial structures rather than just tightening the skin, this advanced approach creates a result that looks natural, moves naturally, and continues to age beautifully over time.
If you have any questions about the deep plane facelift just send us a message, or you can see more about the procedure at the link in our profile.
Our 5ml protocol is designed for patients looking for a general refresh - perfect at the earlier stages of the aging process or a gentle start for those further into the process.
This lovely patient came to us with concerns about her nose to mouth lines, some lost volume in her cheeks and her jowls. We used the 5ml protocol to give her an overall rejuvenation which gives her a really natural result that we can build on in the future.
You can a see video of this patient’s treatment at the link in our profile.
What do you think?
This patient had deep lines and folds in her face which she wanted to address as naturally as possible, so went for our signature volumetric facelift - a fully non-surgical approach but can have significant results.
With this, we want to restore natural lift, structure and definition to her face and by carefully rebuilding volume where it’s been lost, we softened her folds and lines while maintaining a completely natural expression.
The patient is delighted is really pleased with her result so far - what do you think?
Here`s another fabulous result from our amazing consultant vascular surgeon, Dr Alex Vesey.
This patient was bothered by visible varicose veins around her knee. After treatment with foam sclerotherapy the veins have been cleared, leaving behind smoother, and healthier-looking skin.
If you have varicose veins that have been bothering you, now is a great time to have them treated. We use the minimally-invasive techniques to treat both the cosmetic and medical aspects of varicose veins, and can offer effective treatments with little to no downtime.
If you’d like to know more about how we can help with varicose veins, check the link in our profile.
Thank you to this lovely patient for allowing us to share her results.
She wanted some help with her jowls, so we used some filler to restore structure in her cheeks, chin and jaw. She was delighted with the immediate improvement.
What do you think?
If you`d like to know more about how we can address jowls, visit the link in our profile.
When four become five! The newest Cronin-McKeown decided she was so excited to meet her daddies and big sister that she arrived a month early. Despite almost giving her daddies a heart attack with her premature appearance, Ottilie is absolutely thriving and Ophelia already loves being a big sister ❤️
We posted this lovely patient`s selfie before and afters a few weeks ago and we wanted to update you now on how things look with the proper clinical photos, so you can really scrutinise the details. This patient had full laser resurfacing five months ago to rejuvenate her skin, before undergoing a deep plane face and neck lift and upper blepharoplasty with our fabulous plastic surgeon @bramhallplasticsurgery two months ago to complete her refreshed look.
Although selfie-style photos are a great indicator of a result, and what you normally see on social media, we always like to follow up with clinic photos because thats how you see the details!
The patient is over the moon with her results. What do you think?
Join us on Instagram to keep up with the latest results and expert insights from the clinic team.
Our dedicated team of experts are on hand to help you as you navigate your journey with us.
When you first make contact with us you will be assigned your own personal Patient Relationship Manager. They’ll start by understanding your needs and liaising with our doctors to book you an appointment with the most suitable specialist. For any additional questions or needs, you can message or call them anytime and they’ll be delighted to assist you. Our entire team is dedicated to providing you with the best possible treatment and care tailored to your needs.
Sign up to our newsletter
Keep up to date with the latest news from McKeown Medical and get access to expert insights, our latest before and afters and exclusive offers.
