Which Vein Removal Treatment is Best for You: Sclerotherapy

Miami Sclerotherapy Treatments

In our last blog about the best vein removal procedures for summer, we explored one of the most popular vein removal methods, sclerotherapy.

But since Fox Vein & Laser Experts does not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to vein removal in Miami, it’s important we share with you some other effective vein removal methods. After all, when it comes to your health, we want you to be well-informed.

And when it comes to how good your legs look, we want you to be at the top of your game.

Fox Vein & Laser Experts is a leader in Miami vein and skin treatments, endovenous laser ablation, and other cosmetic vein removal procedures. While we may implore different methods of achieving desired results, our goal in any procedure is the same: to help you find relief from varicose veins, spider veins, and venous disease.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, having spider or varicose veins can affect more than your appearance. These veins can cause serious discomfort. Some varicose veins put you at risk for a complication like a blood clot or open sores on your legs. Minimally invasive treatments can get rid of or fade leg veins. Treatments can also diminish symptoms like pain and fatigue and prevent complications.

Whether or not you undergo laser spider vein removal or sclerotherapy for your leg veins is a decision one of our medical professionals will help you make, but it’s important to understand the differences ahead of time.

About Sclerotherapy Procedure

Sclerotherapy is the treatment of varicose blood vessels or spider veins by the injection of an irritant that causes inflammation, coagulation of blood, and narrowing of the blood vessel wall. In laymen’s terms, sclerotherapy is a method of injecting veins with a solution that helps them disappear – no surgery or downtime required. Sounds like a win, right? There are a few different types of sclerotherapy, however.

Foam Sclerotherapy

Foam sclerotherapy is performed by the injection of small amounts of solution which is rapidly mixed and agitated with small amounts of air in order to create a foamy consistency. The idea behind using the foam mixture instead of the liquid is to be able to target larger veins, instead of just the teeny-tiny spider-looking veins that form in clusters. The ideal candidate for foam sclerotherapy is someone with larger, underlying varicose veins that cannot typically be treated with liquid sclerotherapy.

Visual Sclerotherapy

The main difference between foam and visual sclerotherapy is the solution that is injected. With this type of sclerotherapy, a liquid-based formula is injected into the affected areas. This vein removal procedure is administered on patients who have less-advanced vascular issues, with areas of veins that are easy to see with the naked eye. This is when the vein specialist does not need any equipment to help locate the vein. In those cases, when the vessel is harder to locate, we may use ultrasound or a vein light to aid in finding the vein. When this is done, we can see an image on a computer screen or illuminated through the skin. This helps in making sure the procedure is administered with more precision. Ultrasound may be used in future appointments to confirm that the treated vein was effectively closed, as described below

Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy

This effective vein removal method is exactly what it sounds like – sclerotherapy treatment that is guided by an ultrasound machine, helping to take the mystery and guess-work out of the vein removal process. This is an ideal procedure for veins that run deeper and cannot totally be seen through the skin. The same sclerosant solution is injected into each vein to help  coat the veins and help diminish their unsightly appearance.

And when sclerotherapy vein removal treatment is not the best option for you, there is laser vein removal treatments at Fox Vein & Laser Experts.

What is Laser Vein Removal treatment?

Laser vein removal treatment is the method of treating deeper varicose veins. Otherwise known as Miami endovenous laser ablation, or EVLA, veins are removed without surgery or the need for cutting. This procedure is ideal for patients with large varicose veins that bulge from underneath the skin and cause pain and itching. As well, it is used to close veins in the legs whose valves are not working correctly.

How does EVLA work?

One of the most effective treatments for large varicose veins with a success rate of 98 -100 percent, endovenous laser ablation involves inserting a very thin laser fiber through the affected vein via a tiny catheter that typically is done with no incision and usually leaves no scar and requires no sutures. Small pulses of light energy are delivered as the fiber is pulled through the vein, gently heating is and causing it to collapse and seal shut.

During the treatment process, the blood from these veins is redirected and the veins become shrunken scars that fade over time. This treatment is fast and can often be performed in 20 minutes or less, making it an ideal procedure for a busy schedule.

Who is a good candidate for vein ablation?

Not all varicose veins are alike. This doesn’t always mean that just because you’re starting to notice these veins, vein ablation is the best way to lose varicose veins. Endovenous laser ablation is particularly good for people who are experiencing symptoms of pain, heaviness, tiredness, discoloration, sores and more painful varicose veins that cannot be treated by compression hose and other temporary measures.

Varicose veins are twisted and enlarged veins near the skin’s surface that typically develop in the legs and ankles. They are caused by weakened valves in the veins. Normally, the valves keep the blood flowing from the extremities to the heart. When the valves don’t work properly, the blood pools in the legs and increases pressure that causes the veins to become distended and weak. Varicose veins are usually not serious, but they are thought to increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot in the deeper veins. If a piece of that blood clot breaks loose and gets into the lungs, the result is a pulmonary embolism that can be fatal.

How long is the recovery period for EVLA?

Great news! Vein ablation treatment requires minimal downtime and recovery. Some slight bruising is normal and expected but patients are able to return to their normal activity immediately after treatment. Following a vein ablation, good circulation is key. You will be required to follow a regimen of daily walking or other exercise to promote healthy circulation in the legs as the body works to remove veins, and more importantly, to prevent clotting. Treating deeper underlying veins can often significantly reduce the risk of developing more superficial veins, but if further venous deficiencies occur in the future, treatment can be repeated.

To contact a vein specialist at Miami vein center, call us today! 954-627-1045