Multiple Treatments For Vein Conditions
By Anthony Alfieri, DO, FACC
If you are seeking treatment for vein conditions like spider and varicose veins, you are probably thinking it will all be fixed in just one visit. Alas, that is just not the case. Veins do not disappear overnight. They need a lot of TLC. The reality is, you may need more than one treatment to get the best results.
There are several treatment options available like sclerotherapy, ablations, and laser therapy. Most are non-invasive and can be performed in your doctor’s office with little to no downtime. The number of times you will need vein treatment varies from patient to patient. Everyone’s veins are different sizes and at different stages. Typically, the more severe your veins are, the more treatments you will need. Below, we look at two different vein treatments and estimate how many times you will need them.
Sclerotherapy
What: A common treatment for spider and small varicose veins.
How: Your doctor injects a solution into the vein, which irritates the wall of the vein and makes the veins stick together so the blood cannot flow through it anymore.
Healing Time: Spider veins usually disappear within 3 to 6 weeks. Varicose veins take 3 to 4 months.
Number of Treatments: In most cases, patients typically need 2 to 5 treatments to completely eliminate the appearance of spider veins, especially if the veins being treated are large or if new veins reappear.
Radio Frequency Ablations (RFA)
What: A treatment for varicose veins and venous insufficiency.
How: RFA procedures use a catheter that is inserted into the vein. It uses a high-frequency radio-frequency current, causing the vein to spasm and collapse.
Healing Time: Within one week, patients may start to notice a difference in the prominence of their varicose veins, but complete results may take weeks to months.
Number of Treatments: Some patients may require several procedures depending on the severity of their varicose veins or if both legs are being treated.
Follow-Up Appointments Are Important
While it is necessary to get the proper number of treatments done to ensure you get the best results, it is also important to follow-up. These appointments help make sure your treatment is going in the right direction. This is also the time to address any concerns or questions you may have to your vein doctor.
If you do not schedule follow-up appointments or receive all of your vein treatments, you may experience the reappearance of veins or even health complications.
Skill Is The Key To Getting Best Results
The results you will see depend largely on the person performing the vein treatment. So, make sure you find a vein specialist that performs vein treatments regularly to get the best results possible.
At Delaware Advanced Vein Center, our medical staff has years of experience helping people with their spider and varicose veins. We would love to welcome you to our family of satisfied patients.
Contact us today to schedule a FREE virtual consultation and vein evaluation.
Delaware Advanced Vein Center
302-731-0001 www.delawareadvancedveincenter.com
40 Omega Drive, Building G, Newark, DE 19713
Bio
Anthony Alfieri, DO, FACC is a board-certified interventional cardiologist, who has been practicing in the New Castle County area for over 25 years. His efforts to improve the quality of life for all individuals – both men and women alike – who suffer from the effects of venous insufficiencies continues with the formation of Delaware Advanced Vein Center. Dr. Alfieri has found that for many people, having varicose veins is needlessly limiting and it is a common misconception that the treatment of varicose veins is painful and not worth the effort. To provide better care for his patients, Dr. Alfieri is now performing radiofrequency ablations.
