Minimally Invasive Treatment for Varicose Veins

Thanks to medical advances, the Scottsdale Vein Institute now offers an ultrasound-guided  laser procedure for the treatment of varicose veins. The VenaCure laser provides a effective and virtually pain-free way to treat painful and unsightly varicose veins.

• NO SURGERY
• NO DOWNTIME
• NO VARICOSE VEINS
   

Treatment Options:
 

Self-help Measures
Self-help measures — such as exercise, weight loss, avoiding tight clothes, leg elevation and avoiding long periods of standing or sitting — can ease pain and prevent varicose veins from getting worse. If the varicose veins don't respond to self-help measures or if they are more severe there is new technology allowing for clinic-based outpatient treatment.

Treatment Options For Varicose Veins
 

Sclerotherapy
In this outpatient procedure, the clinician injects spider veins along with small and medium-sized varicose veins using a solution that allows the vessels to close. The process seals the veins, permitting  your blood to reroute to healthier veins.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy (fluh-BEK-to-me)
The smaller varicose veins are removed through a series of tiny skin punctures. Local anesthesia alone is used in this outpatient procedure. The incisions are 1-2mm and to not require sutures.  Steri-strips are used and the incisions generally heal such that the incisions are not visible.

Vein stripping
This procedure involves removing a long vein through larger incisions. This, too, is an outpatient procedure for most people, but usually requires a general anesthetic. Usually, you are able to resume normal activities in 2 weeks or less.  This procedure is rapidly being replaced with newer imaging-guided laser or radiofrequency ablation of the greater saphenous ven.

Endoscopic Vein Surgery
This procedure is indicated mainly in  advanced cases involving leg ulcers (venous stasis ulcers). The physician uses a thin video camera inserted in the leg to visualize and close veins. Only small incisions are needed.  

Endovenous laser ablation with the Venacure laser 

In the Scottsdale Vein Institute, we perform endovenous ablation of the greater saphenous vein using a 980nm diode laser. A small skin incision (approx. 2mm) is made and using ultrasound guidance the greater saphenous vein is accessed with a small needle. Through this tiny incision a small catheter is inserted into the vein and the laser advanced into the vein. The ultrasound is used to precisely position the catheter in the vein. Local anesthetic is used around the vein to make the procedure virtually painless. The laser is then activated and the vein closed from the inside. The skin incision is closed with a small steri-strip and a thigh-high compression stocking placed. Patients are encouraged to walk and carry out their normal daily activities following the procedure. Many patients are back to work the following day.

Minimally invasive laser treatments for varicose veins are revolutionizing the vascular field. Innovative, safe, and effective treatments are currently performed in-office, with excellent long-term results.

© Scottsdale Vein Institute (2005)