What Types of Varicose Vein Treatments are Available?
Dr. Cutchen will choose the best type of treatment for your varicose veins after a full assessment of your venous system. All procedures are performed under local anesthesia only, right in the comfort and convenience of our practice. Treatments for varicose veins include:
Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT)
This laser treatment provides a fast, minimally invasive way to treat the diseased Greater Saphenous Vein, deep within the venous system. When this vein become dysfunctional, it can cause blood to back up in the superficial veins. A tiny laser fiber enters the vein and delivers heat that causes the vein walls to collapse. This treatment “closes off” this large vein with damaged valves, and reroutes the blood flow to healthier veins. This treatment has largely replaced more invasive surgery, such as vein stripping.
Endovenous Chemical Ablation (ECA)
This treatment uses an injected foam solution to close off the varicose veins. This method uses ultrasound to visualize and target varicose veins that lay deeper under the skin. The foam, also called a sclerosant, irritates the walls of the target vein and causes them to collapse.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy
Dr. Cutchen addresses the superficial “bulging” veins that are synonymous with the term “varicose veins” with ambulatory phlebectomy. This procedure uses incisions a fraction of an inch long to “hook” the problem vein with a special tool and remove it. This provides almost immediate cosmetic improvement. Ambulatory phlebectomy is often combined with other treatments to provide cosmetic improvements in addition to treating deeper venous issues.
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