What are Varicose and Spider Veins?

Your veins carry blood from the capillaries in your body to your heart. In your leg, this means the blood has to flow upward, against gravity. These veins have one-way valves to prevent blood from back flowing. Over time these valves can fail to close tightly, this results in what is known as “reflux”, allowing blood to pool and cause the veins to become enlarged because they are congested with blood. These bulging and twisting veins are called varicose veins. Spider veins also result from a pooling of blood but they are red, blue or purple small and thin veins on the surface of the skin.

What Problems Do They Cause?

• Pain in the legs
• Fatigue, heaviness, aching, throbbing
• Burning, itching, cramping, restlessness
• Leg swelling can occur
• Eczema and inflammation
• Severe varicose veins can lead to ulcers
• Skin discoloration
• Cosmetically unappealing

When And How Are Veins Treated?

The most commonly asked questions are: “Do veins require treatment?” and “What treatment is best?” Veins are treated for two reasons: For symptoms such as pain or those that are cosmetically unappealing. There are generally two treatment options: conservative measures, such as compression stockings, or corrective treatment including Endovenous ablation treatment, Sclerotherapy, and Ambulatory Phlebectomy. In most cases a combination of these treatments will be utilized.

Endovenous Ablation Treatment

How is an ablation procedure different from surgery?

Traditional surgery involves general anesthesia, pain in the affected areas, and a lengthy recovery period. The medical ablation (laser or radiofrequency) technology eliminates all of that.

First, it’s “minimally invasive,” meaning a small catheter or fiber is inserted through a needle stick in the skin, into the vein. The entry point is extremely small, not even requiring stitches.

Second, there is little “recovery” to speak of. In fact, you’ll be up and walking as soon as it’s over, able to return to full normal activity by the next day.

Third, the risk for infection and other complications is extremely low. And there is minimal discomfort.

Schematic of Radiofrequency Procedure

How do these procedures work?

Radiofrequency Occlusion (Closure-Fast Procedure)

The radiofrequency occlusion is a non-surgical treatment of the refluxing vein. A small catheter is inserted, through a needle stick in the skin, into the vein. The catheter delivers radiofrequency energy to the vein wall, causing heat. The vein then collapses and shuts.

Schematic of Endovenous Laser Treatment

Endovenous Laser Treatment

The laser delivers just the right wavelength of laser energy inside the vein causing the incompetent vein to collapse and seal shut while your body automatically routes the blood to other healthy veins.

Either ablation procedure usually takes less than an hour to completer in an office setting with local anesthetic. Following the procedure a bandage and compression hose is placed on the treated leg prior to going home. Both ablation procedures are FDA-approved.

Varicose veins before and after an Ambulatory Phlebectomy (Individual results can vary)

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

Ambulatory phlebectomy is a technique used to remove surface varicose veins under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis in the office. Tiny incisions (stitches are generally not needed) are made in the skin and typically leave nearly imperceptible puncture mark scars. After the vein has been removed by phlebectomy, a bandage or compression stocking is worn for a short period.

Sclerotherapy

Spider veins before and after sclero-therapy. (Individual results can vary)

Sclerotherapy can be used to treat varicose veins but is mainly used for treating spider Veins. A tiny needle is used to inject the veins with a medication that irritates the lining of the vein. The veins then collapse and are reabsorbed. The surface (“spider”) veins are no longer visible. You may need anywhere from one to several sclerotherapy sessions for any vein region. Depending on the type and number of veins being treated you may have one to many injections per session. Compression stockings are usually worn for several weeks after the Procedure. The procedure is done in an office with minimal discomfort. Bruising and pigmentation may occur after the treatment. This typically disappears within 1-2 weeks. Although pigmentation almost always fades, it can last for several months.

What Results Can You Expect?

With the evaluation and treatment methods available today, spider and varicose veins can be treated at a level of effectiveness and safety previously unattainable. There are many underlying causes of varicose veins, so successful treatment of a particular vein problem does not necessarily prevent vein problems from recurring in the future.