Treating Varicose Veins

Treating Varicose Veins
Anyone can develop varicose veins but there are treatments to help. Although pressure stockings can be worn (these should be fitted to you personally at the drug store, as ill-fitting pressure stockings can apply too little or too much pressure), most of our patients opt for either laser vein treatments or sclerotherapy.
Laser treatments involve the use of a special medical laser that can nonsurgically distribute a precise measure of energy to each vein through a laser handpiece. The light energy causes heat in the blood vessel (but not the tissues surrounding the vessel) to coagulate the blood. This is not painful and generally requires 2-3 treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart, after which you can resume your normal schedule. Eventually the appearance will improve, as the vein is no longer bulging. The photos at left illustrate the power of laser vein therapy for facial and leg veins.
Sclerotherapy is another option. Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution through a very tiny needle into the vein. The solution causes the vein to waste away and disappear over a few weeks. It’s very simple and involves only minor discomfort.
There’s no reason to suffer with embarrassing leg or facial veins. You have time, now before the summer comes, when a desire to wear shorts or a swimsuit will come along with the warmer weather!
To your health & beauty,
Gregory Chernoff, MD