Spider veins and varicose veins are often regarded as cosmetic issues, but the reality is vein issues are more than aesthetic concerns. Untreated varicose veins can cause aches, cramping, swelling, and a heaviness in your legs. Treatment addresses both the cosmetic and health concerns related to varicose veins and venous insufficiency.
While we offer surgical treatments for varicose veins here at Vascular Specialists, we also provide many different nonsurgical procedures at our Vein Care Institute in Tinley Park and Evergreen Park, Illinois.
Our nonsurgical procedures don’t require any incisions or sutures, and you don’t have to worry about a lengthy hospital stay. All of these procedures are performed here in our Vein Care Institute, and you can head home afterward.
Regardless of which nonsurgical procedure you choose, the end goal is the same: to improve the health of your vascular system, reduce pain associated with vein problems, and enhance the appearance of your legs.
Our team of surgeons and medical staff may recommend any of the following.
VenaSeal treats varicose veins by sealing the problematic veins shut. Once a vein is sealed, your blood can’t flow through it anymore; your blood then reroutes itself to other, healthier veins.
During the procedure, we use a catheter 一 under the guidance of an ultrasound 一 to administer this medical-grade adhesive to the troubled areas of your veins. Once the adhesive is in place, we apply a gentle external pressure to ensure the glue spreads evenly and seals the vein shut.
Even though we insert the catheter through your skin and into your veins, you don’t need any sutures. A simple bandage is all you need.
Venous ablation is another procedure that treats problematic veins by closing them down. Instead of medical-grade adhesive, however, ablation relies on thermal energy to first constrict and then seal varicose veins.
As with VenaSeal, we access your problematic veins via a catheter. We offer two types of ablation:
Regardless of which type of ablation you have, the process is the same: A wire in the catheter delivers thermal energy to heat the inside of the vein. The heat damages the vein, and blood flow gets redirected through other veins.
Sclerotherapy, like the previous two options, also works by sealing off your varicose vein. With this treatment, however, we inject a sclerosant (usually a salt-based solution) that irritates your veins. Eventually, this causes inflammation and scarring, forcing blood to reroute to other veins.
In all of these procedures, your body eventually absorbs the vein tissue and the visible veins fade away.
Determining the right type of vein treatment depends on what’s causing your symptoms, the severity of your condition, and whether you have any underlying conditions that may further shape your treatment plan.
Because the symptoms of varicose veins may overlap with other conditions 一 leg swelling can be a symptom of both blood clots and varicose veins, for example 一 we first conduct a comprehensive exam. We review your health history and your symptoms and analyze any vascular ultrasound images to further assess the extent of your vascular issues.
You might benefit from nonsurgical vein treatment if:
Nonsurgical procedures aren’t for everyone, and if that includes you, you’re not out of options. If surgical procedures are better suited for your needs, our expert team may recommend ambulatory phlebectomy, a procedure in which we surgically remove the affected vein.
To explore all of the possibilities for vein treatment, give us a call at 815-824-4406 or use our online appointment request tool to schedule your consultation today.
