Spider and Varicose Veins Removal - Vein Treatment Options

Leading Los Angeles Vein Treatment Center | Specialist Doctor, Raffi Dishakjian.

The Los Angeles vein center, Nu Vela, offers several vein treatment options to California patients in need of spider vein and varicose vein treatment. Veins that can treated at the Vein Clinic include bulging leg varicose veins, spider veins, reticular veins, perforator veins, thread veins, nose veins, and facial veins. Dr. R. Dishakjian, a vein specialist doctor and highly skilled phlebologist, will be delighted to assist you and offer expert advice on your treatment options, and work with you to create the best personalized treatment plan that fits both your condition and your budget.

Why to Choose a Phlebologist

Just like many areas of disease management, management of venous disease has changed tremendously in recent years and the scalpel is replaced by new minimally invasive technologies. Modern varicose vein treatment procedures require a physician's profound knowledge of the venous system, the ultrasound technology, lasers, and expertise in handling needles and catheters. Traditional vascular surgeons, who performed vein stripping surgery, didn't have enough expertise in handling the ultrasound technology and lasers; hence, the phlebology specialty was created. According to the definition given by the American College of Phlebology, a phlebologist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of vein disorders. In the year 2005, the American Medical Association, AMA, recognized phlebology as a separate self-designated specialty, the same as dermatology, vascular surgery, or any other recognized specialty.

Dr. R. Dishakjian is a board certified anesthesiologist and a phlebologist with long surgical operating room experience. Moreover, Dr. Dishakjian is a cosmetic surgeon and an expert in cosmetic lasers. Accordingly, besides being treated by an expert phlebologist, you can be assured of the cosmetic outcome. Please don't hesitate to call us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Dishakjian.

Vein Treatment Options Offered at the Center

Many patients will have more than one kind of vein problem and will require more than one kind of treatment to get the optimal results. Dr. Dishakjian, the phlebologist at the Center, is qualified to offer an extensive variety of treatments to meet the individual needs of the patient. In many cases, a carefully coordinated treatment program will be necessary to restore vein health, proper circulation and the desired esthetic results. Dr. Dishakjian will review in detail the various treatment options for your individual vein condition and the expected results of the procedures. Tailored to the needs of each patient, treatments include:

• Sclerotherapy for spider and small vein removal
• Foam sclerotherapy to treat bulging leg varicose veins
• VNUS closure™ procedure and EVLT - alternatives to surgical vein stripping
• Laser removal of small leg veins
• Facial Vein Treatment
• Microphlebectomy to remove medium-to-large veins very close to the skin

Sclerotherapy for Spider and Small Vein Removal - Sclerotherapy is the standard treatment for spider veins and superficial small varicose veins that usually appear on legs, but may also appear on other parts of the body.

Sclerotherapy entails the needle-injection of a FDA-approved sclerosing solution into a targeted vein. The chemical takes effect right away collapsing the blood vessel within a few seconds. The body's natural healing process then re-routes the blood flow through healthy veins and the bothersome vein fades from view over a period of several weeks. The procedure is performed using the thinnest possible needles to minimize the pain of injection. In fact, most patients are pleasantly surprised about how painless this experience is. Typically 2-3 treatment sessions are needed for gradual fading of the treated veins. Compression stockings are also recommended for most patients after treatment, for 1-2 weeks.

Besides noticeable cosmetic benefits, sclerotherapy may also remedy the bothersome symptoms associated with spider veins, including aching, burning and night cramps. More about sclerotherapy...

SCLEROTHERAPY INJECTIONS FOR SPIDER AND SMALL BLUE VEINS

Foam Sclerotherapy to Treat Bulging Leg Varicose Veins - Ultrasound-guided foam Sclerotherapy is the latest innovative treatment for large, bulging, superficial leg varicose veins. These large veins cannot be treated with traditional liquid sclerotherapy; they contain too much blood which immediately dilutes the injected liquid sclerotherapy medication, thus rendering it ineffective. Foam sclerotherapy overcomes this problem by combining traditional sclerotherapy with a natural, soluble gas, to produce a shaving cream-like foam. The foamed agent does not readily mix with blood, keeping its full potency throughout the treated section of the vein. Foaming also gives the sclerosing agent a very large surface area of contact with the vein wall while using a relatively small amount of the liquid agent, similar to the foamed liquid hand washing soap in common use.

The procedure is associated with minimal to no pain, and involves the insertion of a catheter into the main affected superficial vein through which the foam is injected. The Duplex ultrasound imaging is then used to guide and monitor the spread of the foam. More about foam sclerotherapy...

VNUS Closure™ Procedure and Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) - At last, two minimally invasive and gentle alternative procedures to painful vein stripping surgery for superficial venous reflux disease. The VNUS Closure™ and Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) are office based procedures to treat the major superficial diseased veins that are in direct communication with the deep venous system. The procedures are performed under local anesthesia, whereby a needle hole opening in the skin is used to thread a catheter (VNUS) or a laser fiber (EVLT) into the vein near the knee. The catheter or the laser fiber is then guided up the thigh and positioned using duplex ultrasound imaging. At this stage, radiofrequency or laser energy is precisely delivered to the identified diseased vein. The generated heat energy causes the vein wall to collapse permanently. Dr. Dishakjian will later treat the remaining side branches with sclerotherapy, foam sclerotherapy, or topical laser surgery, depending on their size and nature. More about VNUS closure™ therapy and EVLT...

Currently the VNUS closure™ radiofrequency system is the only FDA approved technology to treat the shorter perforator veins of the legs. Perforator veins, which are short connecting veins located along the entire length of the legs, allow communication between the superficial venous system and deep venous system. When diseased and their valves malfunction, they allow reverse flow and channel blood directly from the deep veins into the superficial ones. The abnormal blood flow results in the formation of bulging superficial varicosities, thread veins, brown stains, and leg ulcers. Until recently, an invasive endoscopic procedure was the main method of eliminating the abnormal flow in these veins.

VNUS CLOSURE OF SAPHENOUS VEIN AND FOAM SCLEROTHERAPY OF BRANCH VEINS

Laser Removal of Small Leg Veins - Laser Vein Removal may be an alternative or complimentary to sclerotherapy for the elimination of small veins and thread veins. During the procedure, a topical local anesthetic cream is applied to the area to be treated, and a brief laser beam is pulsed onto the skin. The beam heats the veins, degrades them, and seals them off. The treated veins may become temporarily inflamed, but will be absorbed by the body and disappear within a few weeks.

Dr. Dishakjian uses the advanced Cutera© and the Sciton Profile lasers for the procedure. More about laser veins removal...

Facial Vein Treatment - Even though facial veins are being treated with sclerotherapy, lasers and light based treatments are the best solution for facial reticular and spider veins. The problem with sclerotherapy around the eye is that the medicine that is being injected could travel backwards into vital structures of the head and can cause vision loss or blindness. Depending on the size of the vessel and the color, Dr. Dishakjian, a phlebologist and cosmetic surgeon, will either choose an IPL or one of the lasers intended for this purpose. Both laser and intense pulsed light are generally safe, provided they are handled by an expert physician. Occasionally, some degree of scarring and/or hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) can occur in dark-skinned patients. Fortunately, however, the range of patients who can benefit from this treatment is very wide.

All laser and IPL procedures for facial veins basically work behind the same principle. The laser's energy is selectively absorbed by red blood cells, and the generated heat destroys the vessels. Over time the remains are absorbed by the body and the targeted veins disappear.

Laser or IPL facial vein treatment procedures do not require any anesthetic, the skin cooling device attached to the hand pieces minimize the pain caused by the light beams. After the treatment, your skin will be red for a few days and depending on the laser and the type of vein that was treated, you may have some bruising and darkening of the veins. This normally resolves within 2-5 days, but in some cases it may take a number of weeks to do so. More about Facial reticular and spider vein laser treatment.

FACIAL RETICULAR VEIN - LASER TREATMENT

NOSE SPIDER VEINS - LASER REMOVAL

Microphlebectomy, also known as Ambulatory phlebectomy, is a method of removing medium-to-large surface varicose veins through very small punctures that do not require stiches. The procedure, originally developed in Europe, is ideal for treating veins that are too large to treat with sclerotherapy and too close to the skin to safely and successfully treat with endovenous procedures.

Microphlebectomy is normally done in a doctor's office using a local anesthetic. Skin incisions or needle punctures as small as 1 mm are used to extract a vein with a phlebectomy hook. The hook is inserted into the tiny puncture in the leg, a section of the vein is hooked and then removed through the incision. By removing certain sections of the vein, the areas of the vein which are not removed will "clot off," eliminating the bulging veins for good. There is very little discomfort with the procedure and very little "down time" during your recovery. Most individuals are allowed to return to work and resume their normal activities immediately after the procedure. Compression during the following two weeks minimizes the swelling and discomfort and allows for proper healing.

What to Expect from Your Vein Center?

Each patient requires an individualized treatment strategy based on his or her unique circumstances. A systematic approach to evaluation and assessment helps guide a vein doctor workup the eventual treatment plan.

At Nu Vela, evaluation and assessment begins with Dr. Dishakjian, phlebologist and cosmetic surgeon, taking note of your medical history and collecting information related to your specifics of venous disease, including family history, predisposing factors (such as clotting disorders), symptom onset, and information about previous treatments. In conjunction with this history, Dr. Dishakjian may perform a physical examination of your venous system and suggest an Ultrasound test to collect essential and detailed information regarding your venous anatomy and function. Based on the assessment, the doctor will then discuss treatment options, necessity, cost, insurance coverage, side effects, and carefully coordinate an appropriate and customized treatment program to meet your specific needs and restore proper circulation and optimal vein health and appearance. It should be mentioned that most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover varicose vein treatments once the medical necessity is established.

THE DOCTOR ON ABC EYEWITNESS NEWS

Diagnostic Ultrasound for Evaluating Vein Disorders

Treatment failures for spider and reticular veins are often due to overlooking problems with deeper veins in the legs, such as refluxing saphenous and perforator veins. Only ultrasound can diagnose these problems. If the test is ordered and performed at a hospital or outpatient diagnostic center, it is often done by a technologist, who is not properly trained in evaluating the superficial veins. At Nu Vela, patients are not referred to an outside imaging center or hospital for ultrasound evaluation; Dr. R. Dishakjian, with extensive experience with the technology, personally performs all ultrasound evaluations.

VEIN TREATMENT AT NU VELA ESTHETICA

Questions About Cost or a Treatment?

You may reach our Los Angeles medical spa and vein clinic by clicking the "Contact us" button at the top of the page, or by calling 818-832-4500. Our receptionist will be delighted to assist you with any enquiries regarding cost, additional information, or scheduling a free consultation session with Dr. Dishakjian, a cosmetic surgeon and phlebologist.

Nu Vela Esthetica • 11200 Corbin Ave., Ste. 104 • Porter Ranch, CA 91326 • 818-832-4500