Varicose veins are very common and generally appear as twisting, bulging rope-like cords on the legs, anywhere from the groin to the ankle.
They affect an estimated 40% of women and 25% of men.
Fortunately, there are new and exciting treatments for varicose veins that make solving your problem easier than ever.
Arteries carry blood from your heart to your extremities (hands, feet, head, skin), delivering oxygen deep into the tissue. Veins then return the deoxygenated blood (now bluish in color) back to your heart to be recirculated. Nearly 75% of the body's blood is found in your lower limbs (legs).
To return this blood to the heart, your leg veins must work against gravity. Muscles in the leg squeeze the deep veins to help push blood forward.
Small, one-way valves in the veins open to allow blood to flow upward towards the heart and then close to prevent it from flowing backward. While deep veins are assisted in their efforts by muscles, a second type of leg vein, lying outside the muscle layer and closer to the skin (superficial veins), is not. The largest superficial vein is called the Great Saphenous Vein (GSV), which begins at the ankle and ends at the groin. Varicose veins occur when the valves in these superficial veins malfunction.
The vein walls can lose elasticity (due to age or hormones), causing them to stretch. When this occurs, the valve may be unable to close, allowing blood that should be moving towards the heart to flow backward (called venous reflux). Blood collects in your lower veins, causing them to enlarge and become varicose. In this manner, faulty valves high on the leg may cause varicose veins lower down.
Dr. Goldberg will evaluate your anatomy to determine the best treatment option for you.
When it comes to treating varicose veins and returning to the activities you love, there's a new, nearly painless way. Varithena is a gentle microfoam treatment delivered in as few as 1-2 needle sticks. In clinical trials, patients reported pain at the injection or application site at a rate of 4.0%. For most people, Varithena improves both the physical symptoms related to varicose veins and their appearance.
Putting your needs front and center, this fast, minimally invasive treatment allows you to address your varicose veins your way—with little to no downtime. It's important to note that you should not undergo Varithena treatment if you're allergic to polidocanol or have clots in your blood vessels
Before the treatment, Dr. Goldberg numbs the injection site, and no additional anesthesia is required.
During the treatment, Dr. Goldberg administers a small amount of Varithena. The Varithena microfoam fills the desired section of the vein and treats the vein wall, causing the diseased vein to collapse. Blood flow is redirected to healthier nearby veins, and the microfoam disperses as it comes into contact with blood in healthy veins.
After
While allergic reactions are rare, a healthcare professional will monitor you for signs of an allergic reaction for at least 10 minutes. Our staff applies bandages and compression stockings to your leg. You'll wear the stockings for two weeks post-Varithena treatment. Since Varithena is minimally invasive and well-tolerated by most people, you're likely to return to most normal activities the same day. Avoid heavy exercise for 2 weeks post-treatment. For a month post-treatment, walk at least 10 minutes a day and avoid long periods of inactivity. Additional treatment sessions may be needed. The most common side effects include leg pain or discomfort, injection site bruising or pain, and potentially serious blood clots in the leg veins.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure that uses radio waves to destroy abnormal tissue. It's used to treat chronic venous insufficiency in the legs.
STEP ONE
The ClosureFast procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. Using ultrasound, your physician will position the catheter into the diseased vein through a small opening in the skin. The small catheter delivers heat to the vein wall, causing it to shrink and the vein to seal closed. Once the diseased vein is closed, blood will reroute itself to other healthy veins.
STEP TWO
Following the procedure, a simple bandage is placed over the insertion site, and additional compression may be provided to aid healing. Your doctor may encourage you to walk, and to refrain from extended standing and strenuous activities for a period of time. The average patient typically resumes normal activities within a few days.
