This video shows the process to complete the treatment known as endovenous radio frequency ablation. The graphics in the video are incredibly easy to understand. You can see the various layers of tissue and understand the relative size of the vein.

A very small catheter is inserted into a varicose vein to be treated. The catheter has four directional prongs to contact all sides of the vein. Local anesthesia is used so the patient doesn’t feel any pain the treatment. Radio frequency waves are applied through heat to the end of the catheter. The vein walls react to the radio frequency waves by collapsing onto the catheter as its being removed. This effectively kills the vein that is being treated. It will slowly fade into the surrounding tissues of the leg.

Endovenous radio frequency treatment is a fairly common procedure but is slowly being replaced by EVLT, or endovenous laser therapy. The method using lasers is very similar but has a slightly higher success rate and is considered to be more comfortable for patients.