Treatment Options

• VCSD Steps to Diagnosis
• Treating Leg Veins
• Closure
• Laser
• Sclerotherapy
• Ambulatory Phlebectomy
• Compression Stockings
• Other Treatment Options

Treatment Options

There are many options available to treat vein disease, depending on the type and stage of disease. The first step to determining which treatment option is best for you is scheduling a Vein Screening Appointment with Dr. Powell.

Remember, you should wait at least 3 months after pregnancy or major surgery before being treated for vein disease. People with suppressed immune systems, those with deep vein thrombosis or incompetence, and patients who can’t ambulate for other reasons are not good candidates for vein treatment. Below is a list of common treatments performed.

Closure
Closure® is a minimally invasive treatment for the pain and swelling caused by varicose veins. VNUS® Closure® is a clinically proven, minimally invasive procedure that treats varicose veins and their underlying cause, venous reflux, with little or no pain. Closure patients can walk away from the vein procedure and be back to everyday activities – either at home or at work – typically within a day.

Endovenous Laser Therapy
In the past few years, the use of lasers has become an accepted alternative to surgical stripping for the treatment of varicose veins. During endovenous laser therapy, a thin laser fiber is inserted into the diseased vein, generally through a small puncture in the skin above the affected area. Next, the physician uses an electronic device to deliver laser energy through the fiber. As the fiber is gradually removed from the vein, this energy causes the vein to collapse and close off blood flow. Endovenous laser therapy can be done right in a doctor’s office in less than 1 hour. Also, the procedure is minimally invasive, so the patient is encouraged to walk immediately afterward.

Sclerotherapy
In sclerotherapy, a chemical solution is injected into small or medium-sized veins near the skin surface causing them to become inflamed and eventually close. Sclerotherapy treatment often requires multiple injections per visit to the doctor and several visits may be necessary before the veins disappear.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy
Phlebectomy involves surgically removing medium to larger varicose veins near the skin surface by inserting a surgical instrument with a hook into small incisions in the skin and pulling veins out in segments. The procedure is often repeated 10 to 20 times per leg until all visible varicose veins have been removed. Phlebectomy is performed either as a stand-alone procedure or in conjunction with saphenous vein treatment.

Compression Stockings
For minor pain from varicose veins, compression stockings may be beneficial. Basically, they assist the leg in pumping blood back toward the heart. Compression stockings alone can help relieve symptoms, but they won’t make the varicose vein go away.