OSHKOSH - Millions of women try to hide varicose veins. Now, there’s a groundbreaking treatment that offers relief fast. Tracy Yarnell developed varicose veins after giving birth five years ago. Not only did she find the veins ugly, they hurt! “It’s really hard to describe. It almost feels lie you're walking around all the time with a weight on your leg,” Yarnell said. So when Yarnell heard about a new minimally invasive treatment to get rid of varicose veins, she couldn't wait to sign up. “I’m hoping I will look 20 years younger of course,” Yarnell said with a laugh. Yarnell enlisted the help of plastic surgeon Dr. David Janssen, at the Fox Valley Plastic Surgery Clinic in Oshkosh. He says varicose veins are common, in women who had babies, and in people whose professions keep them on their feet. Or you can just blame mom or dad. “I would say the number one cause is genetic,” Dr. Janssen said. It used to be the only way to get rid of varicose veins was vein stripping...literally ripping a vein out of your leg. Dr. Janssen performed the new closure fast catheter treatment on Yarnell. First, the vein is scanned by ultrasound to make sure there are no problems. Yarnell gets local anesthesia, then a catheter through the vein. “It’s heating to 250 degrees with radio wave energy inside so it is essentially microwaving the vein from the inside out,” Dr. Janssen said. TODAY’S TMJ4’s Shelley Walcott: “So Tracy, I’m going to ask you again, how do you feel?” “Awesome, I mean I don't feel any pain,” Yarnell said. Within minutes…success. “And your procedure is done,” Dr. Janssen said. “Woo hoo! Yaaay!” Yarnell said. “So we'll wash up her leg next and put her in support hose. The total dressing for this operation is a band aid,” Dr. Janssen said. Yarnell walked out of the office, pleased with her pain-free procedure. “This is really incredible technology,” Dr. Janssen said. Yarnell says she is doing well, and was back to running and jogging, just days after her procedure.