varicose veins

Veins procedure - treating spider veins

Endovenous procedures, utilizing radiofrequency or laser, are the mainstay for the treatment of venous insufficiency. These procedures are performed under local anesthesia with the addition of oral or intravenous sedation. The alternative to the these procedures is stripping of the saphenous vein which requires surgical incisions and is also associated with greater post operative pain and bruising. The Closure that uses radiofreuqency energy to occlude, or seal shut, the saphenous vein. Of the endovenous procedures, this is the most extensively researched and scientifically validated. There are no stitches involved, and most patients return to normal activity within a day or two.

treating spider veins

This procedure is used on spider veins and small and medium sized varicose veins. Veins are injected with a solution that causes the vein to collapse and the blood to "reroute" to healthier veins. The addition of new types of sclerotherapy, including Foamed and Glycerin sclerosants, have resulted in even higher success rates than previously seen. This procedure does not require any anesthesia and is performed in our office.

In this procedure, varicose veins, even very large ones, are removed through a series of tiny skin punctures. Local anesthesia is used for these procedures. A return to almost all activities is expected within 24 hours. Hand vein therapy is also available as a cosmetic procedure and can improve the appearance of bulging veins that become more prominent as our skin thins with age. The treatment may vary by individual and may include sclerotherapy, a procedure where the veins are injected with a solution that causes the vein to collapse and the blood to "reroute" to other veins. Mild hand swelling occurs for a few days, but recovery time is generally short with no restriction on activities.

While laser therapy has been shown to be somewhat useful in the treatment of very small and matted spider veins, results for the usual spider and small varicose veins has not been as good as the results with sclerotherapy. This is especially so with the development of new sclerotherapy techniques (i.e.. Foamed sclerotherapy) and solutions.