Varicose and Spider Veins
Varicose and Spider Veins are treated by both Sclerotherapy and Laser. Sclerotherapy is usually painless. All varicose veins are treated in the office and patients can return to work immediately. No time off is necessary even for large Vericose vein. This is due to Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy in the office for large, tortuous varicose veins. Laser is also used for the treatment of some varicose veins, specially for spider veins and facial veins.Varicose veins are enlarged veins that are swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. They can be dark purple or blue, and can look twisted and bulging. Varicose veins are commonly found on the leg. They develop when valves in the veins that allow blood to flow toward the heart is damaged. As a result, blood returns back in the veins and causes them to get larger.
Spider veins are similar to varicose veins, but they are smaller. They are often red or blue and are closer to the surface of the skin than varicose veins. Spider veins can be found on the legs and face. They can cover either a very small or very large area of skin.
About 50 to 55% of American women and 40 to 45% of American men suffer from some form of vein problem. Varicose veins affect 1 out of 2 people age 50 and older.
Our office provides various types of treatment for varicose and spider veins described below. A consultation is necessary to determine exact nature of treatment and cost for each person. We offer free consultation for treatment of varicose and spider veins
Treatments for Varicose and Spider Vein
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a non-surgical technique that can treat most varicose and spider leg veins. A very fine needle is used to inject the veins with a specific solution containing substances that irritate the inner lining of the vein. In response, the veins close up, collapse and are reabsorbed. The surface veins are no longer visible. With this procedure, veins can be dealt with early on, helping to prevent further complications. For 1-2 weeks after treatment, you may experience some soreness, slight redness or bruising. After 2 weeks, if you have any pinpoint discomfort, or bruising, you may be experiencing "trapped blood" which is easily removed. Please call our office to take care of it.
Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy
This procedure is reserved for large varicose veins. With patients who have large varicose veins, there is a damaged valve deep in the leg where the superficial veins join the deep veins. With the use of ultrasound the location of the damaged valve is detected and injection of a solution is made near to the damaged valve to close the varicose vein. A compression dressing and stockings are used 24 to 48 hours after the treatment. This treatment has replaced the surgical procedure known as "ligation and vein stripping," which is done under general anesthesia with a painful postoperative course.
In contrast, ultrasound guided sclerotherapy is painless and done in the physician's office without any anesthesia, and the patients usually walk out of the office with no discomfort. Results are usually similar and comparable.
Laser Treatment
Laser therapy is primarily used in the treatment of the smallest of telangiectasias, commonly called spider veins or broken capillaries on the face. The laser emits a very specific wavelength of high-energy pulsed light that goes through the skin without damaging it. The light is absorbed by the red blood cells in the capillary, which causes the blood to heat up and collapse the the walls of the blood vessel, disappearing the spider veins within a few weeks.
Recovery
After treatment most patients can resume normal activity immediately. Pain is usually mild and no medication is needed. For some patients over the counter pain medication is adequate. After treatment for large veins compression stockings will be necessary for one to two weeks, especially during the day time.
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