Minimally Invasive Treatment Options

Skilled and experienced interventional radiologists and cardiologists use minimally invasive techniques, such as laser ablation and sclerotherapy to restore blood flow and improve the appearance of unsightly leg veins.

Minimally invasive procedures offer quick recovery time with rapid relief of symptoms and no scarring. The goal of treatment is to close down weakened veins so blood flow is rerouted to healthy veins. Then your legs can start to feel better and look better.

What are treatments for varicose veins and spider veins?

The skilled experts use laser ablation and sclerotherapy to treat varicose and spider veins. These minimally invasive techniques can be done in about 45 minutes with fast recovery, no scarring and immediate improvement in blood flow. These minimally invasive treatments usually are done every four to six weeks. During this time you may be asked to wear gradient compression stockings to encourage healing and decrease swelling.

For EVLT, your doctor uses an ultrasound image to map out your vein, then applies a local anesthetic. A thin laser fiber is inserted through a tiny entry point, usually near the knee, and laser energy is used to seal the faulty vein. Healthy veins around the closed vein then take over the normal flow of blood and the symptoms from the varicose vein improve. Usually, veins in the leg on the surface of the skin that are connected to the treated varicose vein also will shrink after treatment.

Your doctor uses ultrasound to map out the treatment area. Your leg is sterilized and local anesthetic is administered at the catheter entry site. A thin catheter is inserted into the vein and heat is then applied along the course of the vein. The blood is redirected to healthy veins, which return it to the heart. By eliminating the source of reflux, symptoms and swelling improve and varicose veins become less prominent.

During sclerotherapy, the physician injects a solution directly into the affected vein in your leg. The solution irritates the lining of the vessel, causing it to swell and stick together. The same vein may need to be treated more than once. This treatment for spider and varicose veins on the leg is very effective. Over time, the vessel turns into scar tissue that fades from view. Sclerotherapy is a well-proven procedure that has been used since the 1930s.