If you have varicose veins, you are not alone. About a quarter of all adults in the United States suffer from bulging, twisted red or blue veins appearing near the skin’s surface on the legs and calves, according to the American Heart Association. Varicose veins are unsightly and sometimes painful. These diseased veins can also lead to poor circulation in the lower legs and can even result in painful sores near the ankles.

Fortunately, vascular surgeons offer a variety of vein treatment options to help you get rid of varicose veins.

Ways Vein Doctors Can Help You Get Rid of Varicose Veins

The vein doctors at your nearby vein clinic offer a variety of vein treatment options that help you get rid of varicose veins, such as:

• Laser ablation (EVLT)
• Radiofrequency Closure (Venefit)
• Nonthermal ablation
• Microphlebectomy
• Sclerotherapy
• Surgery

EVLT is a minimally invasive technique, in which vein doctors use targeted laser energy to heat the vein. This heating action seals the diseased vein to prevent blood from flowing through it. In time, the vein dissolves; nearby tissue absorbs the remnants of the varicose vein, leaving behind smooth looking skin. After varicose vein treatment, blood flows through nearby healthy veins.

Your vein doctor performs EVLT by inserting a small needle into the affected vein, somewhat like an IV. The surgeon then introduces a laser fiber into the vein, using ultrasound guidance to precisely position within the target vein. Performed with only a local anesthetic, laser ablation usually takes less than an hour.

The Venefit procedure, previously known as VNUS Closure, uses radiofrequency waves to heat and close varicose veins. Similar to EVLT, your doctor positions a small catheter into the diseased vein with the help of ultrasound guidance before introducing radiofrequency waves.

Nonthermal ablation uses chemical energy to close veins. Unlike laser or radiofrequency ablation, nonthermal ablation is heatless so it is faster, and more comfortable. Sclerotherapy also uses chemicals. Sclerotherapy with ultrasound guidance is effective for those hidden, smaller varicose veins that can lie deeper below the skin’s surface.

In microphlebectomy, doctors remove sections of varicose vein through tiny punctures in the skin. Surgeons perform this minimally invasive procedure in an outpatient vein clinic setting.

These minimally invasive procedures have largely replaced varicose vein surgery in recent times, but, in rare cases, surgery is the last option to get rid of varicose veins. Patients with complex or recurrent vein disease may require a surgical procedure, such as ligation and stripping, subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery, or thrombectomy.

If you want to get rid of varicose veins and reclaim smooth, beautiful skin on your legs, make an appointment with your vein clinic today.

Spider veins are a common type of abnormal vein that becomes more prevalent as you age.  Although spider veins can be embarrassing, spider vein treatment is available.

Do I Have Spider Veins?

Spider veins typically appear on the face, chest, and legs. They are small and may be blue, purple or red in color. These veins are close to the skin’s surface, and they also tend to be twisted. In most cases, spider veins cause no discomfort. If you notice veins anywhere on your body that match this description, you may have spider veins.

What Spider Vein Treatment is Available?

If you are diagnosed with spider veins, effective spider vein treatment is available. Some of the most common types of treatment for spider veins include:

Laser Light Therapy

During laser light therapy, vein doctors use a specific wavelength of high-energy light to force the blood in spider veins to coagulate. This procedure causes little discomfort and can be performed in a doctor’s office. Several sessions may be necessary in order to achieve optimal results.

Sclerotherapy

During this procedure, a vascular surgeon uses a thin needle to inject a special solution into spider veins. This solution irritates the walls of the vein, causing them to swell. Eventually, the vein collapses and fades from view. The number of injections per session may vary, and multiple sessions may be necessary in order to eliminate your spider veins completely.

Your First Appointment

If you think you may have spider veins and you are interested in exploring either of the treatment options above, call Northwest Vein & Aesthetic Center to make an appointment. During your first appointment, a vein specialist will perform a physical examination and collect information about your medical history. If you are a candidate for vein treatment, your doctor will also recommend various treatment options at this time. If you decide to pursue spider vein treatment, you can schedule your treatment sessions before you leave the facility.

Varicose Vein Treatment Options

Varicose veins affect countless people across the United States and around the world. Although this condition is common, it can still be difficult to deal with on a daily basis. Many people find this condition to be both embarrassing and uncomfortable. In fact, varicose veins can cause a number of different symptoms, including pain, cramping, tingling, weakness, heaviness, restlessness and more.

Fortunately, there are several varicose vein treatment options available to help alleviate the symptoms of this condition. Some of these treatment options include:

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a minimally-invasive procedure designed to treat spider veins and smaller varicose veins. During this procedure, the surgeon uses a thin needle to inject a special solution into abnormal veins. This solution irritates the lining of the veins and causes them to seal off.

Laser Ablation

Laser ablation uses laser energy to treat varicose veins and force them closed. To deliver the energy into the vein, the surgeon uses a thin needle and a small laser fiber. Pain and recovery time are both minimal during this procedure.

Microphlebectomy

If you have larger, bulging varicose veins, you may benefit from microphlebectomy. During this procedure, your surgeon will make small incisions or punctures in your skin and remove the affected vein from your body completely. This procedure provides immediate cosmetic results and requires little to no recovery time.

Nonthermal Ablation

Nonthermal ablation is the newest treatment procedure that does not require heat. Instead, this procedure involves the use of nonthermal technology through the use of chemical energy to close veins. This procedure is more comfortable and faster than many of the other options available. Three types of nonthermal ablation are currently available: Venaseal, Varithena and ClariVein.

Radiofrequency Closure

Radiofrequency closure, also called “Venefit,” is the gold standard vein procedure and uses radiofrequency waves to treat varicose veins. To perform this procedure, a vein doctor uses ultrasound guidance to position the catheter precisely in the target vein. The physician will then deliver radiofrequency waves into the vein causing them to close.

All of these treatment options offer different advantages and benefits to patients. To find out which of these options may be best for you, make an appointment with a vein specialist. To schedule a consultation, please contact Northwest Vein & Aesthetic Center.

Spider Vein Treatment Options

The realization that you have varicose veins or spider veins can make your heart sink. These veins can make you feel self-conscious and reluctant to wear shorts, skirts and sandals for fear your veins will show. Varicose veins are knotted, dark-bluish veins in your lower legs, while spider veins are smaller, twisted, blue, red, or purple veins on your arms, legs, chest, back, or neck.

Varicose and spider veins can be unsightly, but they can also be a sign of a shortcoming in your circulation. If you have varicose or spider veins, you may need to visit a vein doctor for sclerotherapy or other options, such as microphlebectomy or laser ablation. Following is some basic information to know about your spider vein treatment options for varicose and spider veins, as well as what to expect you’re your vascular surgeon.

Sclerotherapy and Other Treatment Options

The ideal choice of vein treatment depends on the size of your varicose or spider veins, as well as what your vein doctors recommend. Here are some possibilities.

• Sclerotherapy is the use of injection of a chemical solution into the vein to make the vein walls collapse. This lets the blood flow away from the area so the vein disappears.
• Radiofrequency closure, or Venefit, which uses a catheter to deliver beams of energy to the vein. This destroys the vein walls and the varicose vein.
• Laser ablation, or EVLT, which uses laser pulses, delivered with a catheter, to seal up the vein. Blood can no longer pass through, so the vein disappears.
• Microphlebectomy, or removal of bulging skin surface veins through tiny punctures in the skin.

What to Expect from Vein Doctors

Going to see a vascular surgeon for vein treatment is not as big a deal as it may first seem. You can research clinics online, ask for recommendations from friends or get a referral from your regular doctor. Make an appointment, and be prepared to discuss your concerns and vein treatment options with the doctor. Then you can set a course of treatment that makes you feel comfortable. Northwest Vein & Aesthetic Center offers a no-obligation free screening evaluation where you can discuss treatments and explore different options.

The procedures are minimally invasive, and do not take very long – each session can take from 15 minutes to an hour. You will not need to abstain from regular activities such as walking. Often, you can continue working and go back to walking immediately. You can see results with one session, and it may take a few weeks or months to see final results, depending on the treatment type and on your own body’s response to the treatment.

There is no need to live with varicose veins or spider veins if they are bothering you. Find a vascular surgeon who is accepting patients, and make your first appointment. The rest of the process can be just as easy as that first step, and you may be very happy with the results.