It’s not vain to want the best for your veins!
Dr. Samson performs a variety of specialized vein treatments. Your first visit will include a review of your symptoms, examination of the veins, and a full explanation of the treatment options available. You will receive a written cost estimate of the treatment options.
Watch the short video below of Dr. Samson talking about Varicose and Spider Veins.
What are veins?
Veins are blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart. The leg contains two sets of veins, the deep veins inside the muscle and the superficial veins that lie just under the skin. There are two main superficial veins; the greater or long saphenous vein which runs down the inside of the thigh and calf; and the short or lesser saphenous vein which runs down the back of the calf. There are also innumerable superficial veins that drain into these two veins. Valves in the veins prevent the blood from falling back to the feet in the standing position.
What are varicose veins?
If the valves are weak or break, blood collects in the veins in the lower legs. The pressure of this blood distends the veins making them bulge and become tortuous. When this happens to veins in the superficial system we refer to the as varicose veins. Varicose veins can be located anywhere but are usually found in the legs.
What causes varicose veins?
The cause of varicose veins remains unknown. Standing for long periods of time may contribute to varicose veins. As women are affected more often than men are, female hormones may play a role. A strong family history of varicose veins may also be a factor.
Do varicose veins cause pain?
Many patients with varicose veins remain symptom-free, or at most, have a sense of fullness and discomfort after standing for a long time. Some varicose veins may become painful during the menstrual period. Swelling of the ankles, itching and bleeding are much less common symptoms. Some patients ultimately develop serious swelling and a brown discoloration of the lower ankle sometimes associated with an ulcer. This complication is more commonly the result of a previous phlebitis (blood clot) in the veins. Sometimes phlebitis can occur in a varicose vein. Unlike such blood clots in the deep veins of the leg, a superficial phlebitis in a varicose vein usually does not pose a risk to the patient's health.
Is it safe to remove the varicose veins?
Most blood flow takes place in the deep veins. Varicose veins involve the superficial system so treatment to remove the veins is very safe. Even the main saphenous veins can be removed without any functional impairment. This is the reason that these veins are used by vascular and heart surgeons as artificial arteries for coronary or leg artery bypass operations.
What are "spider veins"?
Spider veins are not true varicose veins; rather, they are large and ugly skin capillaries. Most patients seek treatment of spider veins for cosmetic reasons.
Can I do anything to prevent varicose veins?
You probably will not be able to prevent varicose veins if you are predisposed to getting them, for example:
• A family history of varicose veins
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Prolonged standing
However, you may help alleviate the discomfort caused by varicose veins by:
• Avoiding prolonged standing. If you must stand, flex your feet or stand on your toes 2-3 times per minute.
• Elevating your legs above your heart for 1/2 hour 2-3 times daily.
• Controlling your weight.
Can varicose veins cause ulceration of the ankles?
Open sores of the ankle region can result from varicose veins although this is unusual. Usually, this problem only occurs when the patient also has leaking valves in the deep veins of the leg. The treatment for these ulcerations involves compression to squeeze the blood back to the heart. Dr. Samson has developed a new treatment for these ulcers. It is called the Jobst UlcerCare® and is used worldwide.
Treatment Methods for Varicose Veins
MICROPHLEBECTOMY:
This revolutionary procedure is also known as Ambulatory Stab Avulsion Phlebectomy (ASAP). Varicose veins are removed through 1/8" incisions and no stitches are necessary. Surgery is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia and scarring is minimal or non-existent. Results are immediate and normal activity can be resumed promptly. Microphlebectomy procedures last from 15 minutes to 2 hours.
SAPHENOUS LASER ABLATION:
This new treatment has revolutionized our ability to treat varicose veins where the main superficial vein is contributing to the continued enlargement of the varicose veins. Previously, this would have involved a stripping operation or saphenous ligation. With this technique, the saphenous vein can be obliterated in the office. The laser fiber or heated wire is inserted using a simple injection technique, often without any incisions.
Under ultrasound guidance, it is pulled back out of the vein with the tip of the laser fiber heating the blood. The heated blood causes the vein to scar down and ultimately disappear.
The procedure is performed in the office under dilute local anesthesia. It not only prevents pain, but also cools the surrounding tissue so that the laser energy does not damage surrounding tissues.
Patients can drive themselves home after the procedure, but they have to wear a surgical stocking for 2 days. There may be some bruising, but discomfort is minimal and responds to anti-inflammatory medicines such as Aleve or Advil which is routinely used for a week after the procedure. Many patients are able to return to work the same day.
Most insurance carriers will pay for this procedure if it is medically necessary. This treatment is generally safe, as complications of blood clots or numbness on the inside of the leg are very rare. : Although many “vein doctors” routinely do ablation of the saphenous vein this procedure is often not necessary. The saphenous vein may be required to be used as an artificial artery for patients who require coronary artery bypass surgery to prevent heart attack. Your doctor should discuss exactly why he or she thinks it should be ablated.
Dr. Samson now offers a new revolutionary treatment that treats the saphenous vein by gluing it together painlessly.
This procedure does not require local anesthesia and there is minimal bruising, however,
not all insurance carriers are covering the procedure at this time.
INJECTION SCLEROTHERAPY:
This procedure involves the injection of an irritant solution into the varicose vein. The solution causes the vein walls to stick together. Blood flow is routed to other veins while the body absorbs the varicose vein.
Stockings are worn for 2 weeks after the spider vein injection and 3 weeks after varicose vein treatment. This allows the vein walls to compress together during the healing phase. This procedure is seldom used because it provides inferior results.
Treatment Methods for Spider Veins
Spider veins are treated by either injections using a special FDA approved medicine or by using an external laser. In general, injection treatment also known as sclerotherapy works best and is less painful. The injected chemical irritates the spider vein and causes a tiny blood clot which causes the vein to die. Over time the patient’s body will dissolve the sider vein away. Patients need to wear a stocking for 1 day after the procedure, but will not have any pain afterwards. They can resume normal activity immediately. Although in general, results are excellent, in some people multiple injections are required and some patients may get some brown staining when the vein disappears.
Hand Vein Removal
It's True That You Can Judge a Woman's Age by Her Hands.
Distended or bulging hand veins can make your hands look old and tired. But now there is an office-based, stitchless procedure that can remove these unsightly veins and restore them to their youthful appearance.
This procedure is performed under local anesthesia with just a few mini-injections into the skin. We use a tiny blade to make incisions over the ugly veins. These veins have no pain fibers, so they can be painlessly removed. The incisions are so minimal that they do not require any stitches to close.
Steristrips and band-aids are applied and a custom glove is used as the dressing. This has to be worn continuously for 3 days and must be kept dry, but full hand motion is encouraged. Most patients will not require any post-procedural analgesics.
Are there any complications?
New techniques have made the treatment of varicose and spider veins very safe. Although life-threatening complications such as blood clots or allergic reactions are theoretically possible they are exceedingly rare and none of our patients has ever suffered one of these events. After vein injections, troublesome brown staining may result. Sometimes tiny new spiders in the form of a blush can occur. Both of these can be treated but in some cases they may be permanent. A very rare complication is a painful open sore at the injection site that may heal with a pale scar. External Laser can burn the skin or decrease the amount of pigment in the skin causing pale marks. Microphlebectomy may be followed by a painful superficial, not dangerous inflammation of the saphenous vein. Before you undergo treatment, the doctor will explain all side effects and discuss potential risks with you.
How much will it cost?
Treatment of varicose and spider veins begins with an initial consultation. This first visit will include a review of your symptoms, examination of the veins and a full explanation of the treatment options available. You will receive a written cost estimate of the treatment options. Varicose vein treatment costs range from $500 - $4000 per leg and may be covered by insurance.
Spider vein treatment varies from $300 - $330 per session and most patients require between 1 and 5 sessions. Because the procedure is cosmetic, insurance may not cover spider vein treatment.
Regardless of treatment method or type of veins treated, a surgical compression stocking ($93) will be required. Ultrasound scanning of the venous and/or arterial systems may also be needed. This is usually covered by insurance.
Since the procedure is performed at my office, there is no other cost.