Venous disease can be present in the absence of visible varicose or spider veins. It is beneficial for your health to seek specialized, professional assistance at a full-time varicose vein treatment center and follow the advice of the physician after they review your case.

There are many possible consequences of leaving your varicose veins or venous disease untreated, including skin color changes – the affected area may adopt a bruised look with a blue or brown tint near the veins. The area can also become itchy, dry and irritated, and lead to excessive scratching.

The unhealthy skin may lead to ulcerations (open sores) as well as excessive bleeding or bruising after minor injuries. Additionally, irritation can build due to the collection of waste products which would normally be removed by the proper blood circulation.

A more advanced condition is deep vein thrombosis, a serious condition which is the result of a blood clot development in one or more of the deep veins in the body. Symptoms include warmth, redness and swelling, often extending above the knee. Patients that are at a higher risk for this condition include those over the age of 60 and those that have undergone recent surgery with a history of prior deep vein thrombosis. Others include prolonged immobility and paralysis, as well as blood clotting disorders, obesity, pregnancy and postpartum.

To avoid advancing into more serious conditions, patients suffering from venous disease should consult a full-time, specialized varicose vein treatment center with board-certified physicians. Novi Vein is one of very few full-time vein clinics. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology in a world-class medical facility, Novi Vein offers the latest in medical care for the vein patient. Contact us today for a consultation and to learn more about treatment options.

Should I wait to have Endovenous Laser Ablation until I’m finished having kids?

It’s a personal decision. If you have treatment now and get pregnant, you could form a new vein that refluxes and new varicose veins. However, if that does occur, there would be less to treat vs. if you wait.

Is Endovenous Laser Ablation better long-term than Radiofrequency Occlusion?

Overall the recurrence rate is about the same, with both modalities having a high success rate and low recurrence rate.

How should I choose my Endovenous Laser Ablation provider?

Experience is most important. You should look for a practioner who is fully dedicated to venous disease, as opposed to one who is dabbling in veins. Board certification in a specialty that relates to veins such as interventional radiology, general or vascular surgery as well as Board certification in phlebology indicates at least some degree of proficiency. Perhaps most important is what other patients say about the physician as well as your gut reaction to the office.

Will I be able to drive home after endovenous laser ablation?

It’s safest to have someone drive you. You can drive the next day. Recovery is quick; you can expect bruising for two to three weeks.

Should I take ibuprofen after Endovenous Laser Ablation, or not?

As long as you don’t have a contraindication to taking it, Ibuprofen will help avoid the post-procedural pain.

What is the recurrence rate of varicose veins after endovenous laser ablation?

Less than 10% chance of recurrent reflux after an ablation.

A team of researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio has been awarded a $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. That money will be used to help study a common condition called artery curling.

UTSA scientists led by Hai-Chao Han, Ph.D. think they might be onto something big. They’re pinpointing the reasons blood vessels twist and turn. It’s a phenomenon known as artery curling or tortuosity.

“Arteries become abnormal,” explained Han, a biomedical engineer. “That can cause the blood flow to be affected. If it’s severe, it can generate a kin so this can even stop blood flow.”

Part of the work in the Cardiovascular Biomechanics Lab at UTSA involves manipulating vessels to make them curl and twist. The researchers use arteries from pigs, a byproduct of a slaughterhouse. They’ve designed a machine that mimics what happens in the body over time.

Computer models help them figure out how the cells in the walls of the artery are changing. “Once we can prove that, then we can find out some technique to treat it,” Han said. “Because if you know how it develops, then you can somehow intervene at even an early stage or a later stage.”

The twisting and curling can affect all sizes of vessels, from tiny micro vessels all the way up to the aorta. Finding a new treatment for varicose veins and twisted arteries could be important in battling one of America’s leading causes of death: heart disease.

After the five-year study, Han plans to publish his results. He’s hopeful his team will help discover new ways to treat a condition that may affect up to 40% of people in their lifetime.

Novi Vein’s advanced vein treatments offer the latest in vein therapy. Visit our Vein Treatment section for more information on the different methods and to answer questions on varicose and spider veins.

Polidocanol creates fibrosis, (the development of excess connective tissue in an organ or tissue as a reparative process), within the cell lining of blood vessels. This causes them to collapse, and eventually, the vein is then replaced by other types of tissue.

Adverse reactions to the drug include leakage, hematoma, bruising, irritation, discoloration, and pain at the injection site.

“Varicose veins are a common condition,” said Norman Stockbridge, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Division of Cardiovascular and Renal Products at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Asclera is indicated for the treatment of small types of varicose veins when the aim of treatment is to improve appearance.”

Varicose veins are swollen or abnormally twisted blood vessels that usually form in the legs, but they can also form in other places, such as the face. Heredity, age, and living in the western world are all known contributors to varicose veins. Women, especially if previously pregnant, are more likely to develop varicose veins.

Visit Novi Vein for more tips and information about varicose veins.

FDA press release.

1. Less complicated – no admissions, no hospital parking fees
2. You’ll still be covered by insurance
3. Ease of location – patients find they have easier access to vein clinics than hospitals, especially parking
4. If you choose a full time vein clinic, you should be choosing a vein specialist, offering you the most advanced and least invasive options for treatment
5. In-office vein treatments offer faster recovery time –patients walk out of the clinic after their procedure
6. Ease of scheduling
7. Pleasant environment – a more comfortable spa like setting than the typical sterile hospital setting

Novi Vein offers the most advanced and specialized treatments in varicose and spider vein treatment available today. Visit Novi Vein for more information on the different methods and to answer questions on varicose and spider veins.