Do you suffer from unattractive, painful and swollen legs?
Varicose veins are a frequently occurring condition with up to 40% of women and 20% of men likely to suffer from symptoms such as fatigue, pain and swelling of the lower limbs. Soft tissue breakdown leading to ulceration can result if left untreated.
If you have unattractive, enlarged blue or purple veins on the thigh or calf, this indicates the symptoms of venous disease. These are known as varicose veins.
You may also suffer from cosmetically unappealing spider veins. These too can cause concern as you may feel compromised in your attractiveness and quality of life owing to the existence of these highly visible, small veins on your legs.
What are varicose veins?
The medical term for varicose veins is varices or venous insufficiency. The key function of the venous system is to transport deoxygenated blood from the various organs & parts of the body back to the heart. In healthy veins, valves located within the veins prevent the venous blood from returning back down the leg. When these valves no longer function correctly the vein is termed ‘incompetent’ and venous blood collects in the veins, causing them to enlarge.
The result is visible ‘varicose veins’ that are the cause of the pain, swelling & discomfort you may feel in your lower limbs. This is an indication of malfunction of the venous system and should be investigated by a vascular specialist to help prevent potentially more serious problems arising later.
What are the Standard Methods of Treatment?
Besides compression therapy, the most common form of treatment of varicose veins is the surgical removal of the incompetent vein, known as ‘stripping’. This is an operating theatre procedure, performed under general anesthesia requires a 1-2 day hospital stay and a 3 week convalescence period.
Smaller varices can be treated using Sclerotherapy.
Why ELVeS™?
ELVeS™ (Endo Laser Vein System) is a gentle and quick solution to any vein related problems. This versatile system enables simple, effective treatment of a range of varices using the latest laser technology. The procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia and has the following advantages:-
- Minimal discomfort
- Short treatment time
- Excellent aesthetic results
- A rapid return to normal activities
Which varices can be treated with the laser?
Just FDA approved in June 2002; Endo Laser Vein System (ELVes: pronounced Elvis) has been introduced to North Bay California by Dr. Tom. The ELVeS procedure was developed by Biolitec, Inc. for the treatment of reflux (incompetent leaky valves) of the Greater Saphenous vein. This major superficial vein of the leg when incompetent is responsible for the development of most varicose veins. ELVeS is an effective alternative to traditional surgical stripping of the Greater Saphenous vein.
The Greater Saphenous vein is located by ultrasound. Then through a small needle puncture under local anesthesia a laser fiber is passed up the vein to the highest point of reflux (leaky valve). Laser energy passes through the fiber to cause the vein walls to close. Other large varicose veins that come off of the Greater Saphenous vein will either resolve without further treatment or be more easily amenable to other therapies such as Sclerotherapy or ambulatory phlebectomy.
Treatment time can be under 1 hour, performed in an outpatient setting. Daytime compression hose are recommended for two weeks. With no large scars there is minimal to no down time.
After treatment, blood no longer flows through the enlarged veins and the pooling and of venous blood no longer occurs. The treated leg appears smooth and glowing again. Ready to be shown!
In some cases after the procedure, the patient may experience a slight ‘pulling’ feeling along the treated vein. This is all part of the natural healing process.
Normal activities can be resumed shortly after ELVeS treatment, with the exception of vigorous exercise.
Excellent aesthetic & cosmetic results
ELVeS™ treatment is well tolerated by patients and shows impressive and convincing cosmetic results. As the procedure is minimally invasive, it leaves no scarring. Long term side effects such as skin discoloration or pigment changes have not been observed.
Pregnancy, prolonged standing, and heredity are the primary causes of unsightly and often painful varicose and spider veins. As we age, more visible leg veins frequently emerge and our existing veins become increasingly noticeable. Spider veins most commonly show up on the legs but can also appear on the face. There is a simple solution to this problem. A sclerosing solution—and a cosmetic procedure called Sclerotherapy!
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy was developed over 75 years ago and at present is one of the most prevalent treatments for spider and varicose veins. During the treatment, a sclerosing agent is injected into the vein through a tiny needle. Treatment can last from 15 minutes to 45 minutes, depending on the number of veins treated in a particular session. Upon injection, the solution replaces the blood in the vein, generating irritation and corrosion to the walls of the vessel. The body then initiates the natural healing process and the vein begins to decompose, shrink and eventually disappear.
What results will I see?
Gradual improvement will be noticed. Many patients experience 60% to 80% of the treated vessels resolved. During the consultation, you will be advised as to the number of treatments necessary to achieve desired results.
What are the side effects?
In most cases, you will be able to resume regular activities immediately. However, excessive standing or vigorous activities are not advised for 24 to 48 hours. Following treatment, the affected veins may darken and the area may appear bruised. Support hose or a snug wrapping to the treated area will be recommended for two weeks. This application of pressure will help reduce side effects and aid in more effective healing and treatment. After the treatment of larger vessels, the affected area may appear pigmented but this is temporary and will fade over time.
Who is a candidate?
The physician or his/her staff will determine if you are a candidate. During your consultation, a review of your medical history will ascertain the cause and severity of your condition. Depending on the types of veins, a combination of different treatment modalities may be suggested.
How many treatments will it take?
Several treatments may be required to achieve the optimum result. In some cases as few as 2 or 3 treatments will fulfill the desired outcome.
What is treatment like?
The vessels in question will be examined and reviewed with you by the physician or medical technician. A treatment strategy will then be decided upon to eradicate these veins. You may be asked to stand while the problem veins are marked and photographed. The sclerosing agent will then be injected into the targeted veins. Discomfort is minimal and no anesthesia is required. You may be asked to wear support hose or a supportive wrap for a short period of time following treatment. This precautionary post-treatment measure will apply compression to the treated vessels to prevent recurrence.
Foam Sclerotherapy recently introduced in the United States is a new form of delivering the sclerosing agent used for large varicose veins. The foam solution has the consistency of shaving cream, which improves treatment in two distinct ways. First, the foam displaces blood within the vein, permitting the full strength of the sclerosing agent to be in direct contact with the vein wall for an extended period of time without any dilution effects. Second, the foam is visible via ultrasound imaging and can be easily tracked and guided to the source of the venous problem. Call for a complementary consultation to see if you are a candidate for this new treatment modality.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy is a method of removing varicose veins on the surface of the legs. It is done in the office under local anesthesia. This procedure involves making tiny punctures or incisions through which the varicose veins are removed. The incisions are so small no stitches are required. Veins are very collapsible such that even large veins may be removed through the tiny incisions used in this technique. The patient is able to walk following the procedure.
After treatment, a compression bandage and/or compression stocking are worn. Dr. Walter Tom will advise you how long to wear any bandages or hose. It is recommended that you walk after treatment. This reduces pressure in the veins, increases the flow in the veins and reduces the risk of forming a blood clot.
In recent years medical lasers have made great advancement in sophistication. Today, lasers are safely used for a wide variety of cosmetic non-invasive treatments. Laser Therapy treatment is extremely safe and effective on leg veins, as well as veins visible on the face, neck, and chest just about anywhere! Laser treatment also corrects benign pigmented lesions such as age spots, birthmarks, and tattoos. These non-invasive treatments are increasingly popular because they involve very few side effects, and you can resume your regular activities immediately following treatment!
Who are candidates for treatment?
Men, women, and children may be treated. Light and dark-skinned individuals can now safely and effectively benefit from Laser Therapy. Patients using blood thinners or afflicted with a serious illness generally are not candidates for treatment. Patients with dark suntans or photosensitivity disorders, diabetes, bleeding disorders, or currently taking photosensitizing medications may also be restricted from candidacy.
How many treatments are required?
The number of treatments necessary to resolve your vein concerns depends on the size of the vein and your body's ability to heal. During your consultation, you will be given an estimate of the number of treatments required to obtain optimal results.
What does the treatment involve?
Treatment may vary from 15 to 30 minutes. As a result of treatment, the walls of the veins are damaged by the laser's heat. The body next induces a healing process. The veins shrink and become less visible or disappear altogether. Medical studies have documented exceptional results on veins with laser treatments. Utilizing a laser allows customized treatment of virtually every small vein disorder, including deep veins and veins that do not respond to other treatment methods.
What are the side effects and is there "down time"?
The beauty of this treatment is that there is no down time involved. You can resume regular activities immediately. Pain is generally mild. Swelling and mild bruising can occur, but most always resolve over time. Limiting sun exposure will greatly minimize the risk of complications.
Which type of veins can Laser/IPL Therapy treat?
Laser/IPL Therapy treats many types of leg veins, including shallow spider veins and reticular veins.
Spider Veins are very small veins caused by a dilation of the small venules under the skin. This occurs when the pressure inside the vein increases enough to overcome normal resistance of the vein wall. The ability of veins to resist increased pressure is reduced in women when the body's estrogen level is reduced.
Reticular Veins are small, bluish-colored veins that carry blood to the skin venules and are larger than spider veins. These veins have thin walls and dilate with excessive venous pressure. When this occurs, they become large enough to be unsightly, but are not considered to be varicose veins.
Both spider veins and reticular veins respond extremely well to Laser/IPL Therapy.
