What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are unsightly, uncomfortable veins that have permanently lost their ability to take the blood from the legs against the forces of gravity back up to the heart and lungs. As the blood falls and pools due to gravity, the reverse flow overfills these veins, giving them their typical bulging appearance. The swollen varicose veins cause aching, heavy tired legs, night cramps, itching and other symptoms. If left untreated, varicose veins may lead to the formation of blood clots or inflammation of the vein, and possibly skin ulceration. Varicose veins are not just a cosmetic problem. Each year approximately 150,000 Americans die from varicose vein-related complications and 2.5 million others become severely disabled due to varicose veins.

What causes varicose veins?
50% of adults over the age of 50 are in need of relief from harmful varicose veins. Heredity is a primary factor in 80% of varicose vein cases. Other contributing factors include pregnancy, obesity, standing for long periods and injury.

How are varicose veins treated?
There are several methods in which varicose veins can be treated. Typically a combination of several approaches provides the best possible outcome. The combination of procedures recommended is based upon the severity of your condition.

Conservative Treatment:
Special support stockings can be prescribed to slow down the progression of varicose veins. This is done for symptomatic relief, but this will not cure your condition. Often insurance companies require a “trial” of conservative therapy prior to approving medical necessity of treatment.

Sclerotherapy:
This procedure involves the injection of a solution into the diseased veins. The solutions work by causing the veins to shrink, close off and gradually disappear. The solution used is safe, and effective. No anesthetic is utilized. For larger varicosities, ultrasound is often used to guide the injections into the underlying diseased vessels below the surface of the skin. This allows the medications to be administered into precise locations safely and accurately, to achieve superior, long lasting results.

Endovenous Laser Ablation is where a laser fiber is inserted into the vein through a needle. The laser delivers heat energy which causes the vein to shrink and seal shut. This laser fiber is used to treat the larger underlying saphenous vein, which is often the cause of the bulging veins on the surface of the leg. In some cases, other treatment including Ambulatory Phlebectomy and/or sclerotherapy is also performed to achieve the best overall results. Most patients are able to return to work and near normal activities the very next day.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy micro-extraction is a procedure which allows for the removal of large surface varicosities through very small incisions that need no stitches. This allows the vein to be pulled up and delicately removed. With this procedure, a bandage and compression hose are worn for a several days. This minimizes swelling and discomfort and allows for proper healing.

Basic information about varicose vein treatments.
All patients are instructed to walk a great deal in the days following each treatment. This helps to re-route the blood through the deeper healthier veins. Compression stockings are used daily to assist in healing, reduce any mild discomfort and swelling which may occur during treatment. One of the best things about these treatments is that they are relatively painless. You can go right back to work, and your normal routine following treatment. Because mild sedatives are usually given during the Ambulatory Phlebectomy and Endovenous Laser Ablation procedures, you will need to bring someone to drive you home. You may drive yourself to all follow-up visits. These follow-up visits are very important. During these visits we assess the efficacy of treatment and evaluate your body’s healing response to the therapy. Often it is during this period that additional sclerotherapy, with or without Ultrasound guidance, is performed to insure the best long term results possible. These follow up appointments are the reason for our superior results.