Vein Treatments

Sclerotherapy Vs. Foam Sclerotherapy: What’s the Difference?

Sclerotherapy, Varicose Veins

Sclerotherapy Sclerotherapy is a tried and trusted technique used to permanently remove varicose and spider veins. However, this is not the only method used to remove varicose and spider veins. Foam sclerotherapy is also used, but what’s the difference? Well, let’s take a look at the difference between the two and how they are used in varicose vein treatment.

What Does Sclerotherapy Treat?

Sclerotherapy and foam sclerotherapy are both used to treat varicose and spider veins. Varicose veins can look like knotted ropes that bulge from the skin. These veins have been enlarged and are caused by weakened or damaged valves. Varicose veins can cause aching, burning, cramping, itching, and changes in skin color, and patients are often unhappy with their appearance.

Spider veins are similarly caused by damaged and weakened veins but do not come with the same risk factors. Spider veins are small, non-bulging veins that are near the surface and look like spindly purple branches or spider webs. While spider veins are usually asymptomatic, they are often considered undesirable by patients because of their appearance.

Sclerotherapy Vs. Foam Sclerotherapy

Before understanding foam sclerotherapy, it is important to know what sclerotherapy is. Sclerotherapy is a treatment where a chemical solution is injected into a varicose or spider vein to inflame it. This inflammation causes the undesired vein to collapse. While this may seem concerning, it’s an effective way to naturally redirect blood flow and nutrients to other healthier veins. The veins will immediately lose most visibility directly after the procedure and will fully dissipate after a few weeks.

Foam sclerotherapy is nearly identical to sclerotherapy other than the chemicals used to properly close off the affected vein. Both use a liquid sclerosing agent and directly inject it into the vein. However, foam sclerotherapy first whips the sclerosing liquid to increase its thickness and consistency. This technique may be more appropriate for larger varicose veins that need additional thickness.

How Our Team Can Help You!

Whether using foam sclerotherapy or traditional sclerotherapy, it’s important to have it done by a trusted establishment. That’s why Suffolk Vascular and Vein Center has been providing specialized care for over 25 years. Our specialty is with vein and arterial conditions, and that’s why people choose us as one of the leading providers for outpatient management of venous disease and varicose veins. So if you’re struggling with varicose or spider veins and looking for sclerotherapy of any kind, then contact us at 631-476-9100 today.

Can Taking Vitamins Help My Veins?

Vein Disorders, Vein Treatments

Smiling girl with a bottle of vitamins sitting at the kitchen table Many people want to find alternative medicinal strategies to treat various ailments. Some people rely on holistic remedies such as herbs and essential oils to address everyday aches, pains, and illnesses that come with life. One aspect of our health that can be easy to forget about as we age is our vein health, and finding natural remedies for venous diseases can be challenging. Some people believe that taking multivitamins can solve most of their health problems, but the true answer to this question can be complicated. Here at Suffolk Vein and Vascular, we work hard to provide you with comprehensive treatment strategies to help ease your vascular discomfort. If you’re wondering if taking vitamins can help improve your vein health, here are a few things that play a role in the answer and how our offices can help.

Is Your Diet Healthy?

Your diet can play a crucial role in your vein health. A high salt, fat, and cholesterol diet contributes to many vein issues. If you want to take better care of your veins, it’s essential for you to avoid foods such as:

  • Processed meats
  • Fried foods
  • Refined carbohydrates
  • Alcohol
  • Canned goods

Reducing or eliminating these food items can help get you on track toward healthier veins.

Can Multivitamins Do The Trick?

Again, many people believe that multivitamins are the answer to their vein concerns. Although multivitamins can help you access essential minerals your body needs, they aren’t always the answer for treating every condition, especially venous diseases. Research suggests regular consumption of vitamins C, K, and E can help with circulation. However, taking vitamins should not be relied on to treat progressive stages of venous disease.

Treating Poor Vein Health

If you deal with venous issues such as spider veins, varicose veins, and other issues, it’s essential to speak with a professional. Suffolk Vein and Vascular offer patients many minimally-invasive treatments to help you eliminate troublesome and unsightly veins. Also, our professionals can provide the guidance you need to help you make sound lifestyle choices, including diet and exercise to help protect your veins. To learn more about the treatment options at your disposal, please get in touch with us and schedule a consultation at one of our 3 locations by calling us at (631) 476-9100.

Sclerotherapy Vs. Foam Therapy: Which is Better?

Sclerotherapy

Varicose veins on a legs of woman If you have varicose veins, the is a strong chance that you’re looking for the most effective means to get rid of them. The rise of modern medicine has given rise to many treatments for varicose veins, such as sclerotherapy. 

Procedures like sclerotherapy consist of methods designed to collapse varicose veins safely and help your body eliminate the vein on its own. But a new form of sclerotherapy called Foam Sclerotherapy has caused a debate among patients that want to know which one is more effective at treating varicose veins. If you’re wondering which treatment is better, here are a few things you should know about each and if one may be the best treatment for you.

How Traditional Sclerotherapy Works

Traditional sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure designed to help relieve varicose veins. During the procedure, you receive an injection of a solution into the troublesome vein, causing its blood to reroute to other veins. After a few weeks, the vein collapses and eventually fades.

The procedure typically takes under an hour to complete without the need for anesthesia, and you can return home after a short observation period.

How Foam Sclerotherapy Works

Foam sclerotherapy works in a similar way to traditional sclerotherapy, as it also involves injecting a solution into varicose veins. But, there are crucial differences between the two. For instance, foam sclerotherapy involves injecting a foam solution into the vein to reduce its size. Also, foam sclerotherapy is generally used to treat more prominent varicose veins.

Foam sclerotherapy is also completed as an outpatient procedure and can help you get back to your regular activities quickly. 

Which One Works Better?

Based on the severity of your varicose veins, your doctor can help determine which treatment may offer you the most noticeable results. Some people believe that foam sclerotherapy gives them better results because they report rapid improvement of symptoms and feel that varicose veins disappear more quickly. But, it’s worth noting that these results can widely vary and should not be taken as the standard.

Whether treatment is more successful depends on your case, symptoms, and how your body responds to treatment.

A crucial part of finding out what is best for you begins with speaking with a qualified professional. 

Please call our office to learn more about your varicose vein treatment options. Schedule a consultation at one of our 3 locations by calling us at (631) 476-9100.

Treat Your Varicose Veins This Summer

Endovenous Laser Therapy

Young girl relaxing at home Unsightly varicose veins can ruin your summer plans. Going out is nerve-wracking If you’re self-conscious about showing your legs. To avoid painful removal procedures, you may think you have to live with varicose veins. But, answers are closer than you think. Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) is a minimally invasive procedure that can improve your quality of life. Here is what EVLT involves and how you can determine if it’s an option for you.

What Causes Varicose Veins?

Our bodies experience many changes as we age. When the valves in your blood vessels are damaged or weakened, blood collects in the vein. As blood pools in the vein, they bulge near the top of the skin, resulting in varicose veins.

How EVLT Treats Varicose Veins

Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) is an outpatient procedure that usually takes less than an hour to complete. EVLT uses a small incision to insert a fiber into affected veins to guide the laser surgery. Next, laser energy seals the damaged vein walls and re-routes the blood that causes varicose veins. With the blood re-routed, circulation improves, and your symptoms start resolving.

How EVLT Benefits You

Some treatments for varicose veins are invasive and have extensive recovery times. EVLT is a short-minimally invasive procedure with little downtime once completed. A local anesthetic makes the surgery 

 painless, and most patients report immediate symptom relief.

Recovery

After the procedure, you can get back to your regular activities immediately. However, you’ll have to take measures to ensure long-term results. You should avoid:

  • Standing or sitting for long periods
  • Heavy lifting
  • Strenuous activities
  • Hot baths

Risks of EVLT

Every procedure has the potential for risks, and EVLT is no exception. The chances of complications after an EVLT procedure, but risks can include:

  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Scarring
  • Infection
  • Bruising
  • And others

Is EVLT Right For You?

If you have varicose veins and are considering EVLT, talk to one of our professionals. Suffolk Vein & Vascular serves the Riverhead, Port Jefferson Station, and Hauppauge areas. Call any of our offices today at (631) 591-9003 (Riverhead), (631) 476-9100 (Port Jefferson Station), and (631) 979-0222 (Hauppauge) to schedule an appointment.

Foam Sclerotherapy Aftercare Tips

Sclerotherapy

Varicose veins on a female legs. If you have a problem with varicose veins, you may have chosen to have foam sclerotherapy to reduce or eliminate their appearance on your body. This procedure is non-invasive because it uses ultrasound to help guide the foam used to close the veins. 

The process will cause them to shrink and become less noticeable. In some cases, sclerotherapy may result in the veins disappearing completely.

Being non-invasive, some patients can return to their normal activities the same day as the procedure. However, as with any medical procedure you have done, there can be issues you will have to deal with afterward. The importance of caring for yourself is key to having a desirable recovery.

Avoid Hot Water

You will want to refrain from taking a hot bath or shower after your procedure. In addition, patients should avoid sitting in a sauna or a hot tub. Hot water can cause your skin to exfoliate, leading to some serious skin irritation after foam sclerotherapy. It can also lead to clogged pores, which could cause infections later.

Exercise

If you must exercise after your foam sclerotherapy, you should limit it to walking. Vigorous exercise or jogging will cause you to produce a lot of sweat. That can carry bacteria to the treated area, which may lead to skin irritation at the least and infection at the worst. You will be able to go back to your regular exercise regimen in 24 to 48 hours.

Ibuprofen

Any medical procedure could lead to a mild amount of pain. If you experience any, you should avoid over-the-counter medications such as Ibuprofen. Some of these drugs can cause an excess of bruising or bleeding. If you have pain following your procedure, let us know, and we will be able to give you medication that can help without causing worse side effects.

We Can Help

If you have decided that foam sclerotherapy is the course of treatment you want, we would be excited to help you. At Suffolk Vascular and Vein Center, founded by Dr. Robert M. Pollina, we have a team of specialists focused on helping our patients reach their goals to attain their dream appearance. Call us at 613-203-2284 for a consultation and let us help you get on the way to a new you.

Minimally Invasive Vein Treatments

Sclerotherapy

iStock 159737169 1 Vein health isn’t something that most people think about very often. Even when a person starts to notice a few spider veins or a little bulge in a vein in their calf or thigh, the concept of vein disease may not enter their mind. Spider veins and varicose veins are the two most common consequences of venous insufficiency, a condition in which the valves in small and larger veins do not work properly. While they are not preventable, these problems can be treated, and treated well with minimally invasive techniques. Here, we discuss a few. 

Compression Stockings

People don’t often think of compression stockings as a form of vein treatment. This is more of a remedy that can be managed at home, and should be when venous insufficiency is in its early stages. Compression stockings can be purchased online or at various pharmacies or medical supply stores. A doctor may also prescribe medical-grade compression stockings for more supportive care. Compression stockings work by narrowing the cross-section of a vein. With less side-to-side room, the valves in compressed veins are supported to close more efficiently. Better closure means less blood moving backward in the veins. 

Endovenous Radiofrequency Therapy

Endovenous treatment is delivered into the vein. Endovenous radiofrequency therapy works by delivering controlled waves of radiofrequency energy into a single vein at a time. Treatment is comfortably performed in the office using a tiny laser fiber. Ultrasound imaging guides the fiber to the affected area in the vein. Pulses of energy are emitted from the tip of the fiber, causing the inner walls of the vein to heat and collapse. Energy is delivered through the vein as the doctor slowly removes it to ensure adequate closure. 

Sclerotherapy

Many people have heard of sclerotherapy. This office treatment can be used to close spider veins and minor varicose veins. It is an injection therapy that is comfortable without the need for anesthetic. To close bulging veins, the doctor makes multiple tiny injections into the superficial vein, delivering a sclerosing medication. This FDA-approved drug is one that causes controlled inflammation within the vein, resulting in the walls sticking together. The vein collapses and gets absorbed by the body. 

Suffolk Vascular & Vein Center offers a variety of proven vein treatments. To discuss your options, contact an office near you. We proudly serve Hauppauge, Riverhead, and Port Jefferson Station, NY.

Does Insurance Pay for Varicose Vein Treatment?

Vein Treatments

Dermatologist Removing Patient's Vascular Veins with Laser. There is no good reason to live with varicose veins, but many people do. The idea that these ropy, bulging veins are merely a cosmetic problem is a misconception. For many people, varicose veins make daily tasks more than a little uncomfortable. The idea that varicose veins are cosmetic could cause a person who is a perfect candidate for vein treatment to put off seeing a vein specialist. Treatments that are performed for cosmetic purposes are not covered by insurance. Therefore, varicose vein treatment wouldn’t be covered, would it? Not so fast! This is the very thinking that could result in unnecessary pain and stress. Here, we answer the question that some never think to ask: will insurance pay for varicose vein treatment?

Criteria for Varicose Vein Treatment

We do understand why it can be easy to assume vein treatment would not qualify for medical insurance coverage. In some cases, this is true. Spider veins, for example, are more cosmetically concerning. They rarely hurt and do not turn into varicose veins. Fully developed varicose veins, on the other hand, can be disruptive to a quality life. Generally speaking, insurance companies, including Medicare, will extend coverage for vein treatments when they are deemed medically necessary. How do they decide? With various criteria such as the following.

  • Varicose veins are significantly symptomatic. 

If you have symptomatic varicose veins, you know it. They ache. They throb. Your skin may itch or burn or look discolored. Additional symptoms include skin ulcerations, phlebitis, and blood clots. Varicose veins can also be an underlying cause of restless legs syndrome. These are all indications that vein treatment may be medically necessary. 

  • Symptoms affect daily life.

Varicose veins that burn, itch, ache, and cramp can make it difficult to stand or sit for long periods. Some people with varicose vein symptoms have to take frequent breaks at work to put their feet up, even if they wear compression stockings. Being unable to work a full-time job is also a sign that vein treatment is medically necessary, as is being unable to stand long enough to cook meals or do household chores comfortably. 

  • Conservative treatment for 6-12 weeks.

One of the guidelines that seems to be consistent across most insurance companies is the requirement to have tried conservative vein therapies for a period of several weeks. Many companies require patients to wear medical grade compression stockings for 6 to 12 weeks before they will approve vein treatment like sclerotherapy or endovenous laser ablation. Medical grade compression stockings usually have to be prescribed by a physician. A vascular specialist may be the perfect doctor to do this. 

Suffolk Vascular & Vein Center offers state-of-the-art vascular and vein disease treatment. We serve all of Suffolk County. To schedule a consultation, contact an office near you. 

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