Varicose Vein Treatment
In many cases varicose veins do not need treatment, because they give little to no complaints. But attention! Varicose veins only become worse, they will never simply disappear. With the years they will grow and eventually give symptoms. With this in mind and with the knowledge that an early treatment will benefit the cosmetic outcome, early treatment, even in legs without symptoms, is justifiable. Especially with the modern techniques without the need for a hospital stay and the little to no uncomfortable recovery time. These less invasive techniques are available at our Center and can be done fairly quickly and on an outpatient scale.
A first line of treatment is the use of compression stockings. This may prove effective for your condition, together with exercising, losing weight, not wearing tight clothes, elevating your legs, avoiding long periods of standing or sitting. But these are only temporary solutions and are helpful in the prevention of symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease condition.
Here are some procedures that we can offer you in finding a more definite solution for your varicose vein leg:
- Sclerotherapy
This form of treatment is a non-surgical procedure in which a solution is injected into the problem varicose veins or spider veins in order to cause its disappearance. Several different products are used in this treatment option. - Foam Sclerotherapy
This form of treatment is a non-surgical procedure in which a specially made “white foam” solution is injected into the problem varicose veins or spider veins in order to cause its disappearance. This procedure is done with the help of Duplex sonograghy to identify and control the distribution of this product in your diseased veins.
- Ambulatory Phlebectomy ( Müller Phlebectomy)
This procedure involves making tiny punctures or incisions through which the varicose veins are removed. The incisions are so small no stitches are required to close these openings. - Transilluminated Powered Phlebectomy
The TIPP treatment is a minimally invasive procedure for removing varicose veins that is performed using the TriVex® System. Transillumination is a unique feature - much like a flashlight placed under the skin - that allows a surgeon to see, accurately target and remove varicose veins, then visually confirm the extraction. - Endovenous Laser Treatment( EVLT)
EVLT works by heating the inside of the vein, which causes it to seal shut and disappear. This treatment requires that a very thin laser fiber be inserted into the diseased underlying vein. - Laser and Pulsed Light Treatment
This form of vein therapy involves a light beam that is pulsed onto the veins in order to seal them off, causing them to dissolve. Successful light-based treatment requires adequate heating of the veins. Several treatments are usually needed for optimal results. - Vein Ligation
During this type of vein surgery, incisions are made over the diseased vein and the vein is tied off. This is done in order to cut off the flow of blood to the varicose vein, which in turn causes it to become less visible. - Vein Stripping
Vein stripping involves tying off of the upper end of the diseased vein and then removing the vein.
All the above mentioned treatment options or combinations are outpatient procedures performed under local anesthesia. Rarely a light sedation is needed.
Please also remember that current treatments for varicose veins and spider veins are highly successful. However, it's possible that varicose veins can recur. Next to the importance of hereditary factors in varicose vein disease, we also now know that surgical procedures and especially the high ligation technique are prone to recurrence of varicose veins. We mention this technique but nearly never perform it anymore. The Endovenous Laser technique( EVLT) is in many instances superior to the former procedures.
Endovenous Laser Therapy
This is an important new development in the field of varicose vein treatments with this method of treatment the removal of the diseased vein is not necessary. A stripping or high vein ligation and stripping is no longer necessary. Instead the diseased vein is elegantly closed from the inside using laser energy. This with the big advantage that the whole procedure can now be performed with local anesthesia. Through a small incision at the level of your calf, the laser fiber is introduced and with Duplex Sonografy assistance guided up to your groin. The diseased vein is than closed with the laser light. In the following weeks your body will eliminate the closed vein. Initial studies support our opinion that this new technique will not have the short and long term disadvantages of the classic surgical vein ligation or stripping intervention. Furthermore the postoperative recovery time is minimal and there is no down time from work. The cosmetic results after EVLT are excellent.
Dr. Harry Spoelstra has already more than five years of experience with this innovative technique. In the early days with the 980nm and now with the latest 1470nm Radial EndoLaser. The whole procedure is now easily performed with local anesthesia and without any significant discomfort. Are you interested in a first informative consultation without any obligations, please feel free to contact us.
Venaseal (Sapheon closure system)
The VenaSeal™ Sapheon Closure System is a unique, minimally invasive treatment that uses a safe-for-the-body medical glue to quickly and effectively treat varicose veins. Unlike other treatments, it does not require anaesthesia to be injected into the leg via multiple needle sticks (tumescent anaesthesia). With VenaSeal there are no pre-procedures drugs involved, so patients can return to their normal activities right after the treatment. Unlike heat-based procedures, with VenaSeal there is no risk of skin burns or nerve damage. VenaSeal usually does not require any post-treatment pain medication or uncomfortable compression stockings.
Using ultrasound, a doctor will guide a tiny catheter through a small access site in the skin and into the diseased area of the vein. Next, the VenaSeal dispenser delivers a small amount of medical glue to close the vein. Once the affected vein is closed, blood is immediately re-routed through other healthy veins in the leg.
Is this safe? Yes. The VenaSeal™ treatment uses a formulation that is specifically designed for the treatment of varicose veins. This formulation is based on an adhesive that has been used safely and successfully by doctors for over fifty years.
VenaSeal™ Sapheon Closure System is the only treatment to use a medical glue to close the vein, which eliminates the need for multiple needle sticks of anaesthesia and pre-procedure drugs. Unlike other varicose vein treatments, there is virtually no downtime and little to no discomfort. After the procedure, a small bandage will be placed over the access site and you should be able to return to your normal activities!
We also offer full Treatment Abroad Packages. Come and visit Belgium for a few days of sightseeing, enjoy the special cities of Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels and have your legs treated in the meanwhile. For our English visitors we also have back-home post-treatment follow-up solutions.
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Healthy Vein and a varicose Vein
Pre and post Endovenous Laser Treatment