Vein Treatment Technology – What’s the Best?

Mar 16, 2018 | Advice

If you suffer from painful or unsightly varicose veins, we have only one question. Why? With advancements in technology, varicose vein treatments are safer and have a shorter recovery time than the previous standard of care. Gone are the days of painful, labor-intensive surgery (aka vein stripping). Modern procedures now include options such as heat technology, vein glue and sclerotherapy, to name a few.

Now is the perfect time to finally do something about your varicose veins. Here are some of the most popular and effective vein treatments currently available at Columbus Vein Center.

Heat Technology

Heat technology has been used to treat varicose veins for years. Two of the most common techniques are Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) and Endovenous Laser Ablation (ELA). Both of these procedures apply heat directly to the vein tissue, forcing the damaged vein to close. RFA and ELA are safe and extremely effective procedures that can be performed in less than two hours conveniently in the doctor’s office. Recovery time is relatively short, with patients generally returning to work the next day.

Varicose vein procedures using heat technology are minimally invasive

  1. A small laser fiber is inserted into the diseased vein.
  2. Laser energy is directed into the vein walls.
  3. The vein walls shrink and collapse.
  4. The body eventually reabsorbs the vein.
  5. Blood flow is redirected to healthier veins.

VenaSeal Closure

VenaSeal Closure is a non-thermal procedure used to safely and effectively treat varicose veins. This treatment uses cyanoacrylate glue, a medical adhesive that’s safe for the human body, to stop blood flow to damaged veins and naturally redirect it to healthier veins. The VenaSeal™ closure system requires no anesthetic, is virtually pain-free, and symptoms should improve immediately. The procedure can be conveniently performed in a doctor’s office, there is zero downtime, and compression stockings are not required.

Saphenous vein closure uses medical adhesive to treat varicose veins

  1. Medical cyanoacrylate glue is injected into the vein.
  2. The glue irritates the vein.
  3. The vein seals immediately.
  4. Blood is rerouted to healthy veins.
  5. A small percentage of patients may experience minor inflammation that can be controlled with anti-inflammatory medications like Ibuprofen.

What is cyanoacrylate glue?

Cyanoacrylate glue is a medical grade adhesive. When injected into a faulty vein, the glue mixes with blood or plasma and becomes a polymer. After the vein has been glued shut, it undergoes a hardening process (sclerosis) and will eventually be reabsorbed back into the body. This technique for treating varicose veins is safe and minimally invasive.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy can be used cosmetically to treat spider veins and medically to treat varicose veins. This procedure uses a chemical solution, or sclerosant, that is injected into the vein through a small needle. The solution causes the faulty vein to collapse, rerouting blood to nearby healthy veins. A patient may require more than one sclerotherapy session if receiving treatment for a large varicose vein or for spider veins. A more recent development is ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy, which allows doctors to find and treat damaged veins that are not visible on the surface of the skin. Sclerotherapy is extremely efficient, has a proven track record of safety, and takes less than an hour to complete. There is no anesthesia required, and no downtime.

Sclerotherapy treats varicose veins by injecting a solution

  1. A sclerosing solution injected into the damaged vein.
  2. The solution irritates the vein, causing it to seal shut.
  3. The faulty vein is reabsorbed back into the body.
  4. Blood is redirected to healthy veins.
  5. Treated varicose veins should fade within a few weeks.

Columbus Vein Center embraces advancements in varicose vein treatments and we are always looking for ways to provide less invasive, safer and faster procedures to ultimately ensure better patient care. We offer Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), Endovenous Laser Ablation (ELA), VenaSeal™, sclerotherapy, and ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy.

Contact the Columbus Vein Center to schedule a free consultation and find out which varicose or spider vein treatment is the right one for you.