1. Liquid Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins and Spider Veins

Liquid sclerotherapy is considered the first line of treatment for spider veins. It’s also used for small varicose veins. It’s one of the easiest treatments, and it takes just 15 minutes to complete. Sclerotherapy does not require anesthesia, so you can drive yourself home or back to work. Doctors inject a sclerosant into the vein, which acts like a detergent. It irritates the vein walls, which creates scar tissue, so blood can no longer enter the blood vessel. The vein then shrinks from sight. Book an appointment for liquid sclerotherapy at our award-winning New Jersey vein centers today.

2. Foam Sclerotherapy for Varicose Vein Treatments

Foam sclerotherapy is administered like liquid sclerotherapy, without anesthesia or surgical incisions. The difference is that vein specialists mix the liquid sclerosant with air to create a foam before injecting it in the vein. This technique is ideal for larger varicose vein treatments, since foam expands to fill bigger spaces more easily than liquid. Foam coats vein walls rather than rushing through the vein. This method enables doctors to treat large veins without increasing the dosage too much. Ask our New Jersey vein specialists whether you’re a candidate for this minimally invasive procedure.

3. Pre-Mixed Foam Sclerotherapy for Larger Blood Vessels

Pre-mixed foam sclerotherapy involves a sclerosant that arrives at the doctor’s office already in a foam concentration in a sealed canister. This is the most powerful form of sclerotherapy. It’s pre-measured, which takes the guesswork away from doctors creating the foam by passing it back and forth through syringes. Pre-mixed foam sclerosants move and deactivate quickly, so they aren’t for small, short veins. Some insurance companies don’t cover this method since it’s a tier above traditional sclerotherapy. But if your veins are eligible, and you have coverage, it’s an excellent technique for treating varicose veins.

4. Mechanochemical Ablation with a Rotating, Small Catheter

Mechanochemical ablation combines sclerotherapy with a specialty catheter for a dual approach. The vein doctor inserts a tiny catheter into the vein which releases a sclerosant and also rotates to disrupt the vein walls. This technique ensures that even the most stubborn veins collapse, so that blood can flow into healthy veins nearby. Like other sclerosant-based procedures, this does not require general anesthesia. Patients can walk around afterward and resume their usual routine. Visit our New Jersey vein doctors to learn more about this innovative method.

5. Vein Adhesives to Seal Varicose Veins and Spider Veins

Vein adhesives including cyanoacrylate glue have been used for decades in cardiac procedures and to stop bleeding during surgery. Now, vein specialists can use this medical glue to close off unhealthy veins. Like sclerotherapy, this treatment requires no anesthesia. Doctors simply cleanse the area above the vein and inject glue into the blood vessel. It creates a barrier that blood can’t pass through, so the vein is removed from the circulatory process and disappears. Like all of our minimally invasive vein treatments, there’s no downtime required for recovery.

6. Radiofrequency Ablation for Varicose Veins

Another excellent option for varicose vein treatments is radiofrequency ablation. This technique heats and cauterizes the vein so that blood is rerouted into viable veins that can pump it back to the heart. Since radiofrequency ablation is a thermal procedure, doctors inject tumescent anesthesia around the vein first to protect the surrounding area from heat. But this is not like general or spinal anesthesia. It will not restrict your movement or put you to sleep. Then, they’ll position the tip of a treatment device on the vein and activate it with radiofrequency. The vein is closed off, and proper circulation is restored. Vein doctors often used ultrasound guidance for this cutting-edge treatment, so choose a qualified medical center for veins, not a cosmetic center, if you’re interested in this procedure.

7. Endovenous Laser Ablation Instead of Radiofrequency

Some vein centers offer endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) instead of radiofrequency ablation (RFA). These two procedures use a similar process. But in this one, doctors heat the vein by activating a laser fiber, instead of using radiofrequency. Our patients often report that radiofrequency is more comfortable because it’s not as hot as lasers. So, we typically recommend RFA over EVLA. Both are effective ways to treat varicose veins without surgery or general anesthesia.

8. Laser Treatments at the Surface of the Skin

For small spider veins or facial vein damage, lasers can be applied to the surface of the skin. These aren’t effective against large spider veins or varicose veins, because lasers would need to be so hot to treat large or deep veins that they would damage the skin. Surface lasers can’t treat the valve failure in deep veins that often causes varicose veins and spider veins. If you have broken capillaries or tiny blood vessels in an area where it’s not easy to inject a sclerosant (for instance, near the eyes), then a surface laser treatment might be recommended. These are not advised for people with certain skin conditions.

9. Compression Therapy Before or After Treatment

Some patients ask if they can try compression therapy instead of vein treatment. Compression t can reduce some patients’ symptoms, but most people need a procedure to resolve vein damage. There are two instances when compression therapy can make an important difference. One is that some insurance companies require a trial of compression before they’ll cover treatment. If this applies to you, we’ll fit you with the right ones and provide the documentation your carrier needs. This can be a beneficial step in acquiring full coverage for your procedure. The other instance when compression is useful is after certain vein procedures. Patients with a history of blood clots or impaired circulation might benefit from using compression for a few days after treatment. This will encourage blood to flow into healthy veins, rather than collecting in a blood vessel.

10. Combination of Minimally Invasive Procedures

The best vein doctors in New Jersey can combine the latest vein treatment technologies as needed for flawless results. If you have both varicose veins and spider veins, you might want a dose of foam sclerotherapy in the varicose veins and a liquid sclerosant in the spider veins. Or you might want to use RFA for your larger veins and an adhesive in smaller ones. Our vein doctors offer a wide range of solutions, and we’ll explain them all to you. We’ll provide the treatment that appeals most to you and that will also work best for your veins. Visit our New Jersey vein centers in Clifton, Paramus, Woodland Park, Woodbridge, West Orange, or Scotch Plains to learn which of these 10 minimally invasive options is right for you!