Vein disease affects nearly 25% of the adult population. The symptoms can be anywhere from mild, moderate, or severe. Spider veins, varicose veins, leg swelling, leg pain, and even ulcers of the lower legs can be a result of vein disease of the leg. Fortunately, there are treatments for these conditions, all of which are offered at VITA.

The underlying problem with most vein disease in the legs, is incompetence of the greater saphenous vein. That is, the vein closest to the surface of the skin in the leg doesn't work as it was intended to. It normally only allows blood to flow up the leg, back to the heart, because of one-way valves in the vein. Those valves become broken, and don't work. This allows blood to pool in the legs, which in turn causes symptoms of vein disease, including leg pain and varicose veins

The first line of treatment of vein disease is usually a tight stocking worn during the day. We use medical grade stockings, called Jobst stockings. These stockings help the diseased veins to work better, and decrease the symptoms of vein disease. They can be knee high, thigh high, or full waist sizes, or they can be custom fit.

If the stockings don't work, then there is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure to treat the diseased vein. Laser vein ablation is a procedure where a small catheter (tube) is inserted with ultrasound guidance, into the diseased vein in the leg. Laser energy is applied, and this closes the diseased vein and stops the pooling of blood in the leg. Blood returns to the heart through the normal deep vein system, which is not effected by the procedure. The symptoms of vein disease go away with this procedure, and the varicose veins can be removed through a tiny incision if needed.

Sclerotherapy describes the treatment of small, superficial spider veins. This is the injection of a chemical agent that helps to close the small veins. Before this is done, however, it is best to look for the real cause of the problem, which is usually the reflux in the greater saphenous vein.

VITA’s vein clinic offers these treatments of venous disease. We have over 25 years of experience treating all types of vein disease in all areas of the body outside the heart. The procedures are performed in the privacy and comfort of our state of the art vein clinic. Recovery typically takes about one to two weeks.