Dr. Manley - Deja Vu Skin & Body Works

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Varicose veins and spider veins can be unsightly and cause pain, discomfort and swelling. Déja Vu has four treatment options to take care of these problems for you! Each patient’s treatment is individualized to whichever procedure(s) is most likely to be effective for his or her condition.

Patient Information on Varicose Veins

Eighty million Americans have either “spider veins” (telangiectasias) or varicose veins of the legs. Using a combination of the four technologies available at Déjá Vu, this common problem can now be safely and effectively treated in the medical office.

Damaged veins can take many different forms, from small surface veins to large grape-like clusters. No matter what size or shape, these veins are signs of vein disease and may be caused by faulty valves. And if left untreated, they could lead to more serious complications, such as ulcerations, blood clots or spontaneous venous rupture.

Now there are innovative and effective treatments to eliminate unhealthy veins. Fortunately, once the damaged veins are treated, your body will re-route blood flow into stronger, healthier veins, reducing vein problems and improving your circulation.

Types of veins:

Varicose veins. Varicose veins are also dilated vessels, but are usually more uncomfortable and harmful to your health than spider veins. In general, veins are responsible for pushing blood againist gravity back to the heart and lungs. The problem with varicose veins is that the blood flow from the legs back to the heart is diminished by 15-20%, making these veins a burden to your circulation.

The actual cause of varicose veins is inefficient, faulty vein valves. These valves don't close properly, allowing blood to leak back with gravity and pool in the vein. This causes the veins to bulge and stretch and result in many unpleasant side effects such as:

Spider veins. Spider veins are tiny red or purple dilated blood vessels that form when veins become enlarged and swollen with stagnant blood. Though smaller than most varicose veins, spider veins are often darker and more noticeable. This is because these veins are located just below the surface of the skin.

More common in women, spider veins may be triggered by pregnancy or hormonal variations and sometimes result in itching, restless leg and minor aches and pains. Non-symptomatic spider veins may be found on the face and chest as well as the legs. Although surface veins are mainly a cosmetic problem, they can also be an indication of more serious vein disease deep below the surface.

Causes of varicose veins. Many factors play a role in the development of varicose veins. The primary factor in over 80% of the cases is heredity. Other contributing factors include pregnancy, obesity, hormone therapy, standing or sitting for long periods of time, trauma to area, and gender (females are four times more likely to develop varicose veins than men).

Home treatment and prevention. When possible avoid prolonged sitting. Get up and walk frequently to keep the blood flowing in the legs. When possible elevate the legs above the heart. Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes by doing such activities as walking, climbing stairs, cycling or swimming. Move your legs frequently. The use of compression hose to provide external support to the superficial veins is very effective in slowing the progression of varicose veins.

Consultation: The first step in getting your veins treated is to call and schedule your initial visit. During the consultation, the affected areas will be examined and the next steps will be determined.

Depending on your case, a Doppler Duplex Ultrasound Scan might be necessary, and a separate appointment will be scheduled for it. This ultrasound provides a visual window, revealing the diseased, refluxing veins beneath the skin's surface. With this diagnostic capability, the providers can pinpoint the exact cause of varicose veins and customize a treatment plan for each individual patient and each damaged vein. Also, since the problem is dealt with at its source, the treatments are quicker, more effective and less painful than traditional methods.

Treatments:

Intense pulse light™. We use the VascuLight VL intense pulse light system from Lumenis™. This technology uses a pulse of light with a wider spectrum than a laser to eliminate spider veins on the legs or face. This system is also excellent for the treatment of tiny capillary vessels that are red, blue or purple in color. The pulsed light is selectively absorbed by the pigments in the blood located in the target vessels. The absorbed light heats the blood damaging the vein’s walls. The body breaks down and absorbs the damaged vein causing it to essentially disappear in most cases. There are no needles and each pulse covers an area of about one square inch.

Sclerotherapy. This procedure is most often used to treat visible spider veins and small varicose veins near the surface of the skin. A painless sclerosant is injected into the vein causing them to shrink, close of and eventually disappear. Although two to five treatments are often needed, the results are long-lasting.

Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy. This technique uses ultrasound technology to guide the precise placement of injections needed to treat larger varicosities. It is extremely effective because the solution is delivered to the exact source of venous reflux.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy. This advanced procedure is used to successfully remove large surface varicose veins. During the procedure, the diseased veins are pulled up and delicately removed through micro-punctures in the skin. There are no stitches needed for this procedure. This procedure is often a more efficient way of removing several surface veins than using multiple sclerotherapy sessions.

Endovenous Laser Treatment(EVLT). EVLT is another very effective outpatient treatment of the diseased greater saphenous veins, and is an alternative to surgical stripping. It is FDA-approved for the treatment of the greater saphenous vein. Using ultrasound technology for guidance, a small laser fiber is guided into the vein through a very small incision made into the skin. Once the laser fiber is in place, the fiber is gently pulled back sending out pulsed laser heat throughout the vein causing the vein walls to collapse and seal shut. Following the procedure, compression hose are placed on the treated leg.

Because vein disease is progressive and has no cure, we recommend regular follow-up of every type of treatment.

Surgery. When varicose veins become very large or when there is backflow in the thigh or knee veins, surgery to ligate (tie off) or remove the abnormal veins may be the best option for treatment. Patients with such veins will be referred to a qualified vascular surgeon for treatment. After surgical treatment, any residual varicosities may be treated with the above methods at our clinic.

Post treatment. Patients must wear compression stockings after all treatments. Multiple treatments may be required.

Insurance coverage. Medical insurance, including Medicare, often covers Endovenous Laser Treatments, Ambulatory Phlebectomy and the injection of varicose veins in the legs that are causing symptoms such as pain and swelling. We will file claims for Endovenous Laser Treatments, Ambulatory Phlebectomy, and Sclerotherapy with a patient’s insurance company for cases that are medically necessary. Laser and IPL treatments are usually considered cosmetic and are not billed to insurance.