Modern medicine is constantly advancing, improving our options when pursuing treatments for whatever might be getting under your skin. When it comes to vascular health and vein treatments, new, innovative approaches to once-painful and very limited treatments have broadened the horizons for patients seeking relief from their uncomfortable symptoms. Gone are the days of vein stripping, long recovery times, and rolling the dice on whether your results will be permanent. This isn’t your grandparents’ world of vein care – let’s take a look at the new and improved options available for varicose veins and spider veins.
In the past, invasive procedures such as vein stripping and phlebectomy were used to treat the painful symptoms of varicose veins. These procedures were performed in hospitals, were quite uncomfortable, and required weeks of downtime while the legs healed. Results were not guaranteed, either: in fact, there was a 50% chance that varicose veins would return following a vein stripping procedure. Luckily, recent advancements in vascular health have all but eradicated vein stripping as a practice in favor of gentler, more effective treatment options. Minimally invasive vein therapies are quick, pain-free, and require virtually no downtime. You’re in, out, and on your way home with compression stockings within the course of an hour.
Varicose veins are categorized by their bulging, twisted appearance raised against the surface of your skin, as well as by the cramps, itching, burning, and restlessness they can cause as they progress to more severe stages of chronic venous insufficiency. Most insurance companies recognize varicose veins as a medical condition, and coverage is available for those who seek treatment.
With modern advancements in minimally invasive techniques, treatment can take as little as 40 minutes from the time you enter a vein clinic to the time you drive or walk yourself home. These new advancements are endorsed by the FDA and performed by board-certified vascular surgeons, physicians, and vein specialists at Metro Vein Centers. With no overnight hospital stays or extended downtime, modern advancements in vein care have made meaningful relief a possibility.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the first step in most vein treatment plans, and it lays a healthy foundation for the success of other treatment types. RFA is a varicose vein treatment that uses pulsating radiofrequency energy to improve the often painful or uncomfortable symptoms of vein disease. A vein specialist inserts a small tube into the unhealthy veins, and once the radiofrequency starts pulsating and emitting heat – none of which you will feel while under local anesthetic – the vein will gently close. Blood circulation will reroute through your healthier veins.
Sclerotherapy is often considered the “gold standard” in varicose vein treatment – and it can be used to treat spider veins, too. Sclerotherapy uses a concentrated, injectable foam. Once injected into small veins, the solution adheres to the vein walls and causes the vein to quickly close and be reabsorbed into the body. After treatment, circulation improves and the visible appearance of the target vein disappears.
VenaSeal, one of the more recent advancements in state-of-the-art varicose vein treatment, is a specially formulated medical bioadhesive. This is injected into a diseased vein via a small catheter (using ultrasound guidance to target the precise area of need). With only a single injection required for results, VenaSeal is easy, safe, and effective. It has been proven in clinical studies to have a 99% success rate after six months and is considered one of the best options for lasting relief from the symptoms of varicose veins. Compression stockings do not need to be worn following this treatment, as the bioadhesive hardens within the vein and provides healthy, graduated pressure from within.
Spider veins are largely considered to be a superficial, cosmetic concern, meaning that insurance companies are not often able to provide coverage for treatments. However, there are exceptions if your spider veins are symptomatic and evidence of vein disease is found in addition to the web-like veins. Both minimally invasive and 100% non-invasive treatment options are available for these pesky veins, with virtually no downtime. These treatments provide reliable, lasting results.
Cutera’s excel V+ Laser is a revolutionary new treatment technology that allows us to treat veins from the outside; there is no need for any small incisions or injections. Designed to minimize the appearance of small and medium spider veins on the legs, this treatment uses highly targeted lasers to eliminate unsightly and unhealthy veins at the surface of your skin.
Sclerotherapy, as mentioned above, can be used to treat spider veins as well as smaller varicose veins, and works by injecting a medical-grade foam into the surface-level pigment in your spider veins.
Relief and results are only a call away. At Metro Vein Centers, we put your comfort first. Our team of vein specialists customize care plans specific to your unique symptoms and lifestyle, ensuring you get the best results for your vein care concerns. We’ll work with you and your insurance company directly to make sure you have the maximum possible coverage for your treatments, and your initial vein evaluation is on the house. To schedule your free consultation with a board-certified vein doctor, give our patient care team a call at 866-353-5230 or schedule online. We’re here to help!
