Leg Vein Surgery vs. In-Office Leg Vein Procedures

Varicose vein surgery not what it used to be

If you have heard—or experienced--stories about standard vein removal surgery that happened prior to the turn of this century, it is understandable if you are concerned about seeking help from a qualified vein specialist for your painful varicose veins. There was a time when leg vein surgery only referred to vein procedures such as vein stripping, ambulatory phlebectomy, and vein ligation, painful procedures, likely involving general anesthetic, and definitely involving long and difficult recovery times.

The good news is that there is no longer a need for concern. Today, there is a range of minimally invasive, maximally effective procedures that can have you back on your feet with a much improved quality of life in very little time. Many of these procedures can be performed in a clinic, on an out-patient basis, with local anesthetic.

If you are experiencing the discomfort of varicose veins, it is a great time to get assessed by a qualified vein specialist to ensure that you are not also experiencing the effects of Chronic Venous Insufficiency.

There are treatments for varicose veins besides invasive leg vein surgery

At Advanced Vein Institute of Arizona, we do not perform ligation or vein stripping. We consider those to be archaic and outmoded treatments.  A qualified vein specialist at a modern vein clinic can assess your vascular health, and tailor a treatment plan to your specific needs, without the pain and discomfort of yester-year. Treatment options could include:

Medical Adhesive: VenaSeal™ Closure System.: VenaSeal™ Closure System. The revolutionary, FDA approved VenaSeal™ procedure uses a medical grade adhesive to close off diseased superficial veins. Blood is re-routed to other healthy veins in the leg, and the hardened veins are gradually reabsorbed by the body.

Laser Treatment: Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT). Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT). Endovenous Laser Ablation or Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLA/EVLT) utilizes laser heat to ablate, or destroy, an incompetent saphenous vein. It usually takes about an hour, is minimally invasive, and can be performed in-office.

Radiofrequency Ablation: ClosureFast Radiofrequency Procedure. ClosureFast Radiofrequency Procedure. Similar in approach to Endovenous Laser Ablation, radiofrequency ablation relies instead on radio frequency energy (electricity) to heat and collapse dysfunctional veins.

Sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is a very commonly used to treat small varicose and spider veins. Using a very small needle, a chemical foam or liquid, called a sclerosant, is injected into the offending vein where it acts as an irritant, causing the vein walls to collapse and be dissolved by the body.

 

You don’t have to suffer from the symptoms of varicose veins. Book your consultation and full exam with a qualified vein specialist today.

I have spider veins that hurt!

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | May 9, 2019 | Comments Off on I have spider veins that hurt!

Question: I have spider veins on my legs and they really hurt to the touch. Can that be dangerous to my health? Answer: In the large picture, pain associated with spider veins is not life threatening.  It would be worthwhile to have an evaluation by a qualified provider to see if these spider veins are…

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I have had a blood clot before and I am worried.

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Apr 25, 2019 | Comments Off on I have had a blood clot before and I am worried.
blood clot

I am scheduled for a right leg radiofrequency ablation. I have venous insufficiency in the saphenous vein and have had a blood clot before. Question: In 2006, I underwent an artificial lumbar disk implant. This failed causing artificial disk to move into the spine. While surgeon removed the artificial disk implant, he nicked the liac…

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Sclerotherapy before endovenous laser vein treatment?

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Apr 21, 2019 | Comments Off on Sclerotherapy before endovenous laser vein treatment?

My doctor said my vein is too large to have sclerotherapy performed first, is this true? Question: I have a few visible spider veins on my lower leg that I want treated with foam sclerotherapy. However, the doctor wants me to do endovenous laser treatment before the sclerotherapy. According to him, my vein is way…

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Same pain, new location

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Mar 21, 2019 | Comments Off on Same pain, new location
leg pain at night

I’m having the same pain that I had before my ablation procedure, except it is in a different new location. How long will this go on? Question:  It’s been 2 months since my GSV endovenous laser ablation procedure. I have the same pain that I had before the procedure, except it’s in a new location.…

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Circular wound with redness

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Mar 14, 2019 | Comments Off on Circular wound with redness

I recently had the VNUS procedure done (both legs, multiple veins).  Is it normal to have open, circular wound with redness and slight weepiness? Question: All of the other areas are healing nicely, but the area on my shin (a bit off center) has a much larger wound. It has been quite red in the…

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Compression socks make my legs hurt more, is this normal?

By Jason Babcock, MBA ACRP-CP | Mar 2, 2019 | Comments Off on Compression socks make my legs hurt more, is this normal?

Question: How big of a size do compression stockings come in?  Answer:  Compression socks should be comfortable and supportive. If the stockings are making your symptoms worse, it is likely that they do not fit you correctly.  There are numerous companies that make standard sized compression stockings. Some make 7 to 8 different sizes.  Additionally,…

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Get rid of my varicose veins

By Jason Babcock, MBA ACRP-CP | Feb 12, 2019 | Comments Off on Get rid of my varicose veins
get rid of my veins

Question: WHAT CAN I DO TO GET RID OF MY VARICOSE VEINS? Answer: There are numerous options to treat varicose veins. Some are considered medically necessary, while others are strictly cosmetic. Larger veins are treated in a myriad of ways depending on the provider you consult with and their proficiency in a given intervention. The…

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I injured my varicose vein over my knee, what should I do?

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Feb 12, 2019 | Comments Off on I injured my varicose vein over my knee, what should I do?
injured varicose vein

Question: I knelt down the other day and injured the large varicose vein over my knee. It bruised quickly and felt very sore, so I put a pressure bandage on it. Since then, the vein bruise has spread and is now about 12″ up my thigh. It is very red, and I’m not sure what…

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What Treatment Options Are Available For My CVI?

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Jan 15, 2019 | Comments Off on What Treatment Options Are Available For My CVI?
Compression Socks

Question: What treatment options are available for my CVI? I can’t sit or stand in one place and I have heavy, aching legs all of the time. I started to have achy, heavy leg feelings about a month after I sprained my right ankle and scratched my left knee last April. I was diagnosed with…

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Q&A: During my EVLT, I could smell and taste a slight “burning” odor plus I was dizzy during my procedure. Is that normal?

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Jan 10, 2019 | Comments Off on Q&A: During my EVLT, I could smell and taste a slight “burning” odor plus I was dizzy during my procedure. Is that normal?

Question: During the EVLT laser procedure I really didn’t feel well, especially when the laser was on. I felt dizzy and the smell of “burning” freaked me out. Even after I was done, it took me couple hours to feel normal again. Is that normal? Answer: The “odor” and sometimes a taste is normal during…

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About Jason Babcock, MBA ACRP-CP

Jason is the Practice Administrator and CEO of Advanced Vein Institute of Arizona. Mr. Babcock brings over 30 years of healthcare administration experience to the organization with a strong background in finance, business development, operational improvement and customer service to AVIA.