Lifestyle Changes
Good skin hygiene, leg elevation, diet and exercise with weight loss are simple and helpful modifications. Low salt diet reduces water retention and swelling.
Compression Stockings
Wearing prescription, medical-grade, properly fitting support stockings is the most conservative approach, especially when the veins are causing uncomfortable symptoms or pain or when non-healing wounds/ulcers ensue. These can be purchased from a pharmacy or a medical supply store. They come in various sizes such as below-the-knee, thigh-high and pantyhose style.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Watch the videos below for demonstrations on the VenaSeal™ closure system and Covidien ClosureFast™ venous treatments.
Sclerotherapy Injections
Since the 1930s, injections of concentrated saline (salt) solution or a detergent injected into the veins make them harder initially and disappear eventually in 3-6 weeks. We use FDA-approved medication, Sotradecol®, with or without ultrasonic guidance, to treat spiders and smaller sized varicose veins.
Laser and Intense Pulse Light (IPL) Therapy
These devices use heat energy, with minor discomfort, to damage or destroy the abnormal vessels. Discoloration, staining and blister formation are their potential side effects. Lasers and IPL devices may be useful in treating these veins particularly on the face.
Vein ligation (tying off a vein) and venous stripping (removal of a long segment of the vein) are the most commonly used surgical modalities. Others include ambulatory phlebectomy and endoscopic surgery.
Endo-venous Ablation
Dr. Bokhari, Board Certified in Endovascular Medicine, specialize in minimally-invasive endovenous ablation therapy using various modalities including, but not limited to, laser, radiofrequency, clarivein and/or venseal to treat the symptomatic, chronic venous insufficiency caused by significant venous reflux. It is an outpatient, office-based, approximately a 45 minute procedure with no need for hospitalization or general anesthesia and minimal to no downtime that results in immediate recovery but long lasting results.
