This is a very common question I am asked by patients requiring treatment of symptomatic varicose veins as a result of an incompetent great saphenous vein or small saphenous vein. In reality both methods are more similar than different and both are very different from traditional stripping.

Traditional stripping technique for saphenous veins

The traditional stripping technique was done in a hospital operating room requiring general or regional anesthesia and incisions and was associated with significant postoperative pain and disability and recurrence.

Endovenous laser ablation and radio frequency laser ablation for saphenous veins

Both endovenous laser ablation and radio frequency laser ablation are minimally invasive procedures performed without incisions. They can be performed in a doctors office with only local anesthesia by inserting a catheter into the vein using ultrasound guidance which is used to insure that the catheter and local anesthesia is placed in the correct position. They both then use thermal energy which is applied to the inside of the vein and destroys the vein using heat. With time the body will resorb the destroyed vein and it will disappear.

The difference between the two ablation techniques is the source of the heat. Laser is an anacroyn for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, amplifies a narrow beam of electromagnetic energy to create heat. The laser is used in different wavelengths which are absorbed differently by hemoglobin and water. The radio frequency device works using thermocoagulation which uses electrical energy to create heat.

The advantage of radio frequency technique for saphenous veins

The main advantage of the radio frequency technique compared to the laser according to reports has been less postoperative pain and bruising although slightly lower long term closure rates. However, with newer laser technology and longer wavelengths the pain profiles and leg bruising are now equivalent.
From a patient standpoint both techniques are pretty much identical. Patients should more concerned with the credentials and experience of the operator rather than whether the physician uses laser or radio frequency to ablate the vein.

Westchester, New York Spider Saphenous Vein Treatment

Let us help you decide the best treatment for your Saphenous Veins and ask us for Saphenous Vein treatment cost estimates, call our Westchester, New York office at 888-265-9597.

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Spider veins are small dilated veins that are easily seen on the surface of the skin. While they are most commonly seen on the legs they can also occur on the face. Spider veins are much more commonly affect women than men. They are most caused by heredity, hormonal changes involving estrogen and progesterone, standing, obesity, sun damage and pregnancy. When found on the legs, they can be located on the lateral part of the upper thigh. These veins are the rem ants of the embryologic venous system. They are commonly fed by a larger green reticular vein which can be associated with chronic venous insufficiency. It is important to rule out underlying superficial vein reflux which is considered to be a medical problem.

Treatment options for Spider Veins

While there are different modalities to treat spider veins on the legs currently available including laser and vein wave(TM), sclerotherapy remains the gold standard of treatment. There are two currently available FDA solutions for the treatment of spider veins, sotradecol and polidocanol. They are structurally related solutions with different concentrations and profiles. Either solution is directly injected into the surface spider vein with a very small caliber needle. The solution will cause a local inflammatory reaction within the vein and cause it to seal. It frequently requires multiple injection sessions, each lasting approximately twenty to thirty minutes to accomplish it’s goal. The vein will eventually fade and disappear as the body resorbs it, however, because of hormonal influences most women will form new spider veins in other areas of their legs.

Insurance coverage for Spider Veins

Spider veins are not functioning veins in the circulation. Spider veins are often painless but can cause burning or itching in some instances. The insurance companies consider the treatment of spider veins not a medical necessity and a cosmetic procedure. Because of this it is not a covered procedure. Cost will vary from office to office.

Westchester, New York Spider Vein Treatment Cost

The type of spider vein treatment used can be tailored to the patient. Let us help you decide the best treatment for your health and ask us for spider vein treatment cost estimates, call our Westchester, New York office at 888-265-9597.

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The Top 3 Treatments for Spider Veins

It is important to rule out any underlying superficial vein reflux which can be done by an ultrasound examination. This is because if there is significant superficial vein reflux present treating the spider veins would not be effective and also may increase the risk of skin complications.
The three main available treatments for spider veins are sclerotherapy, laser, and veinwave(TM).

Sclerotherapy Spider Vein Treatment

Sclerotherapy is a spider vein treatment technique where a scleroscent is injected directly into the vein using a very small caliber needle. Multiple injections are needed during a session which usually lasts from 20-30 minutes. Compression stockings are then applied and recommended for the next three weeks. Direct sun exposure to the treated area is recommened for two weeks. The solutions works by creating an inflammatory reaction within the vein which causes it to seal and then shrink. The body will eventually resorb it and it will disappear. It usually requires more than one session to be effective.

Laser therapy for Spider Veins

Laser therapy directs a focused pulsed light onto the veins through the skin. The heat is absorbed by the vein and causes it to collapse.

Veinwave Spider Vein Treatment

Veinwave(TM) is another heat based spider vein treatment which uses an ultra fine needle to pierce the very top layer of the skin directly over the vein and then thermocoagulation (heat) to collapse the vein.

New York Spider Vein Treatment

The type of spider vein treatment used can be tailored to the patient. Generally, sclerotherapy is considered the gold standard for treating the larger spider veins of the legs where vein wave (TM) or laser therapy is used for the small red veins of the face. Let us help you decide the best treatment for your health, call our Westchester, New York office at 888-265-9597.

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Removing Leg Veins is Not Dangerous

This question may be very simplistic, but it is a good one so let’s be very clear; It is not dangerous to remove leg veins. In order to explain why it’s not dangerous, let’s look at how leg veins work and how leg vein removal effects the human body.

How Leg Veins Work

The circulation system to the legs consists of arteries and veins.  The arteries bring blood from the heart to the legs. The leg veins drain the blood from the legs back to the heart. Having adequate blood flowing to the legs by the arteries is essential for the legs to remain alive.

Removing Superficial Leg Veins is Safe

Since the veins do not supply blood to the legs, some of them can be removed if necessary.

There are two systems of leg veins — the deep veins and the superficial veins. Both sets of veins have little valves in them every few inches down which prevents blood from going downwards because of gravity. The deep veins are the most important venous circulation of the legs. They run between the muscles and carry the majority of the blood back to the heart. These veins cannot be removed. The superficial veins run in the fat beneath the skin and if incompetent can be removed, for example in a varicose vein surgery,  and the remaining veins will compensate for them.

Have a question about Removing Leg Veins? Premier Vein Centers’ Westchester office has answers.

Please send us your Removing Leg Veins questions or any questions to our friendly staff via our online Contact Form. You may also contact us at our office on 280 N. Central Ave, Suite 70, Hartsdale, NY 10530

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The older procedure for the treatment of varicose veins was surgery for stripping the great saphenous vein which is the vein that goes from the inside of the ankle into the groin where it joins the deep vein.

It is usually performed in a hospital operating room with general or regional anesthesia. An incision is made at the ankle and in the groin and plastic wire is placed into the vein up to the groin. Another incision is made in the groin and the great saphenous vein is divided below where it enters the deep vein and the plastic wire is pushed through the vein so the vein is sticking out. A large cap is then screwed into the top of the plastic wire and the vein is tied underneath this. The vein is then removed by pulling the plastic wire at the ankle which causes the vein to invaginate or go inside of itself.

The leg is compressed with a heavy tape at the same time to prevent bleeding from its branches.This procedure results in a significant amount of trauma and bleeding to the surrounding tissue.

Varicose Vein Laser Treatment

The modern procedure for the treatment of varicose veins is known as endovenous laser treatment and is done in the comfort of a doctor’s office with local anesthesia only. The varicose vein laser treatment starts with the vein being imaged with ultrasound and after local anesthesia is applied to the skin, the vein is punctured with a needle. A small guide-wire is placed and a small tube is placed over the wire. The wire is removed and the laser fiber is then placed through the tube into the vein and advanced to below the junction of the deep vein.

This is all seen using ultrasound. The local anesthetic is then placed around the vein using ultrasound guidance. The laser is then turned on and slowly pulled back the length of the vein. This results in a destruction of the inside lining of the vein. The body is then able to resorb the vein with time and it disappears.

This varicose vein laser treatment procedure results in minimal trauma and bleeding to the surrounding tissue.

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