• Sclerotherapy
• Microphlebectomy
• Endovenous Ablation
• Ligation and Division of Incompetent Perforators

Sclerotherapy consists of injecting a vein with a solution in order to close it down.  It is usually done for spider veins and some small reticular veins (the blue/green veins under the skin surface).  This treatment is performed in a short office visit and is relatively painless.  We use a variety of solutions depending upon the size and location of the vein to be treated.

Using a very fine needle the solution is injected into the vessel.  The solution destroys the inner lining of the vein, and the treated vessel can no longer function.  It shrinks and is eventually absorbed by the body.  You may require multiple sessions for different parts of the leg.  Many veins can be treated in one session.  Most of the time there is little or no pain although you may feel a slight burning or stinging sensation.  We recommend that compression stockings be worn for 72 hours after a session of sclerotherapy in order to compress the veins and limit the amount of bruising, staining, or recurrence.  Normal activities can be resumed afterwards with the exception of no hot baths for 72 hours.  Showers with warm, not hot water are acceptable.  

• Brown discoloration along the treated vessel (staining).  This is usually temporary.  Compression stockings help to limit the occurrence of this problem. 
• Allergic reaction to the solution
• Blood clot.  This would usually involve the superficial vein and would not pose a significant health risk.
• Scabbing or scarring
• Small skin ulcers
• Formation of new blood vessels around the treated area

Endovenous Ablation is a painless and minimally invasive procedure which uses heat to destroy the saphenous vein.  This has replaced vein stripping as an effective treatment for venous insufficiency.  This technique uses needle punctures to access and treat the vein.  Patients can resume normal activities immediately afterwards. 
Read more about this procedure on the web site of VNUS® Medical Technologies, Inc. and view a video about the technique.

We perform this procedure in our Westlake office.  You may eat prior to the procedure and drive yourself to and from the office as no sedation is required.  Pain is controlled with a local anesthetic which usually lasts 4-5 hours.  When the local wears off, most patients have mild discomfort if anything.  This discomfort is easily treated with over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Motrin, or aspirin.  We insist that patients remain active after this procedure with frequent walking.  Gone are the days of bed rest or downtime associated with vein procedures; just the opposite is now the norm!

We do recommend in addition to frequent walking that patients wear compression stockings around the clock for the first 48 hours and then in the daytime only for another 12 days.  Heavy lifting and hot saunas should be avoided during this time as well.  Plane travel or prolonged car rides are best avoided during this time, however, if necessary, trips can be taken as long as you get up every 30 minutes or so and walk briefly.  For patients who must fly we will provide a letter to the carrier so that an aisle seat and ability to move about will not be a problem.