What are your options for minimally invasive vein treatment?
You needn’t suffer from the pain and discomfort of varicose veins and spider veins as underlying vein disease, or chronic venous insufficiency, is easily treated. Thanks to advancement in technology, a top vein center in California, such as Vein Treatment Clinic San Diego, can now offer you the very latest minimally invasive vein treatments. Minimally invasive procedures are just as effective as traditional surgical treatments, such as vein stripping, but they have a much shorter recovery time and are less likely to cause any side effects.
The most suitable spider or varicose vein treatment for you will depend upon your individual needs and treatment goals. Your spider vein specialist will work with you to formulate an individual treatment plan. Minimally invasive vein treatment options include:
- Sclerotherapy
If you have no underlying vein disease, but have unsightly spider veins at the surface of your legs, then the most suitable treatment choice for you would be sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy works to destroy these spider veins, allowing blood to reroute through healthier veins. During the procedure, a varicose vein doctor injects a liquid, called a sclerosant, into your troublesome veins using a tiny needle. This liquid causes damage to the lining of the treated vein, causing it to collapse and be reabsorbed by the body. You can expect your spider veins to disappear within a few weeks after your treatment. A single round of sclerotherapy may reduce the appearance of spider veins by as much as 50-80%. Sclerotherapy is a painless procedure and allows you to resume your normal daily activities straight away.
If sclerotherapy is used for the cosmetic treatment of spider veins, it is unlikely that your insurance plan will cover the costs of your procedure.
- Radiofrequency ablation
Radiofrequency ablation, also known as VNUS or ClosureFAST, is a minimally invasive vein procedure, which uses thermal energy to heat the wall of the diseased saphenous vein causing it to collapse. The treated vein then closes and seals up, while blood flow is redirected through healthy veins.
During the procedure, a vein physician inserts a thin catheter into the dysfunctional vein under the guidance of ultrasound. After injecting a numbing solution through the vein, the vein doctor activates the catheter, delivering the radiofrequency energy. This entire procedure only takes between 15 to 45 minutes and requires no downtime. With a success rate of over 97%, radiofrequency ablation is an ideal alternative to other surgical procedures.
- VenaSeal
VenaSeal, or vein glue, is an innovative way of closing down diseased saphenous veins in the leg which are causing painful and unsightly varicose veins. VenaSeal medical-grade glue acts within seconds to fuse together the wall of the treated vein, so that blood can be re-routed through alternative, healthy veins. After a few hours, the problematic vein permanently hardens and is slowly reabsorbed and eliminated by the body. VenaSeal treatment has a 99% success rate, causes minimal pain and discomfort and requires no pre-procedure or post-treatment drugs.
- Varithena
Varithena, also known as polidocanol injectable foam, is a relatively new, cutting-edge varicose vein treatment. Varithena is a specialized solution of pre-made sclerotherapy foam which helps to improve the symptoms caused by or associated with varicose veins and also to reduce the appearance of large, bulging varicose veins. This procedure takes less than an hour and enables you to resume light activity straight after.
A top board-certified vein specialist at a reputable vein clinic, such as Vein Treatment Clinic San Diego, will provide you with high quality care and ensure that you get the best possible results from your minimally invasive procedure. Start your hunt for a good vein doctor today by performing a quick online search for a ‘vein center near me’.
What are the signs and symptoms of underlying vein disease?
While the most obvious symptoms of vein disease are the visible appearance of varicose veins and spider veins, there are also other, more subtle indicators of venous problems. It is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of vein disease and to keep a close eye out for them as receiving prompt treatment from a vein specialist at a reputable vein clinic can prevent a whole host of unpleasant complications.
Symptoms of vein disease can be progressive, often being mistaken for the normal signs of aging, and include the following:
- Chronic skin discolouration and other skin changes
- Leg ulcers, which typically develop on the shin or calf
- Heaviness or aching in the legs
- Throbbing, itching or burning around the affected area
- Leg cramps, or ‘charley horses’
- Restless legs
- Worsening leg fatigue
- Swelling of the feet or ankles
How is vein disease diagnosed?
During your initial consultation with a top vein center dr, your varicose vein physician will take a complete medical history from you and ask you to provide some details about your current symptoms. He or she will also assess you for risk factors and perform a thorough physical examination to look for unhealthy veins.
Your varicose vein dr will then use Duplex ultrasound, a combination of Doppler and conventional ultrasound, to obtain images of the veins within your legs and more information about how they are functioning. This diagnostic test should provide your varicose vein specialist with enough information to accurately diagnose any underlying vein disease and suggest an appropriate treatment to you.
Schedule an initial consultation at a vein center in California today
Vein Treatment Clinic San Diego is a state-of-the-art varicose vein treatment center offering a full range of minimally invasive vein treatments. Our Harvard trained, board-certified doctors, Dr. Billy Schoenfeld and Dr. Jasmine Koo, are highly skilled and experienced and passionate about offering a high standard of patient-centered care.
Located in the La Jolla neighborhood, near to Torrey Pines Beach state park and Westfield UTC shopping center, our San Diego-based clinic is highly accessible.
If you would like to know more about how minimally invasive vein treatments can improve your symptoms, then schedule a consultation with one of our leading vein specialists today.