Varicose veins are the most common vascular disorder. For many years the treatment of varicose veins has been either benign neglect or disfiguring surgery. For millions of men and particularly women, various veins represent troublesome daily irritation. Now we have new, safe, effective treatments to eliminate varicose veins and spider veins along with the symptoms they cause.

Varicose veins are a natural sequence of the aging process, our upright bipedal posture and the pull of gravity: there is not much we can do to stop any of that. Women are especially predisposed to develop varicose veins because of hormonal cycles and pregnancy. Genetics, too, play an important role in the development of varicose veins. The symptoms can vary quite a bit, with many people having no symptoms at all. For other's, legs may feel full, heavy, achy, tired, itchy or hot. Venous reflux, the cause of varicose veins, can make the involved leg feel enlarged and can cause edema. Spider veins can tingle, throb or pulsate. The symptoms may vary with hormonal cycles or daily activities. Varicose veins can cause significant skin changes that may start as mild freckle staining but progress to large brown patches, hard woody skin, eczema, or even ulceration.

Varicose leg veins may look like twisted bulging vines. They result in aching, tired legs, burning, throbbing, itching, swelling, muscle cramps and restless legs. These veins may occur in almost any part of the body but are most often seen in the back of the calf or on the inside of the leg between the groin and the ankle. Left untreated, symptoms are likely to worsen, with some possibly leading to venous ulceration and blood clots. This can eventually lead to loss of life or limb.

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Spider veins are especially common. Spiders are little sprawling dark blue veins that may present themselves in a road map, star burst or fanned out fashion.

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Reticular veins are deeper, darker veins that form bluish networks that crisscross over the thighs and lower legs. Reticulars are larger veins than spiders and the are usually the source of spiders.

ELAS

ELAS is the FDA cleared Endoluminal Laser Ablation of the Greater Saphenous Vein. This procedure is very quick, one-time, minimally invasive and causes little or no side effects. it is shown to be highly effective in eliminating varicose veins and is the alternative to the old method of stripping the vein.

During the 35 to 45 minute procedure, the patients is lying flat. A local anesthesia is used allowing the patient to be awake, alert and comfortable. A laser fiber is threaded up the vein to the source of the problem. As the fiber is withdrawn, laser energy heats the inside of the saphenous vein, causing it to collapse and seal shut. After the procedure, the varicose leg is relieved of pain and the vein is eliminated. A compression bandage is placed on the leg and the patient is walking right after the procedure.

Until recently, the removal of varicose veins required the actual stripping of the vein - a surgical procedure that requires an overnight hospital stay, a painful recovery period and possible scarring from incisions and post-operative infections.

The FDA-cleared laser ablation of the greater saphenous vein procedure may sound complicated but it's actually a very quick, one-time, minimally invasive therapy, which causes little or no side effects and has shown to be highly effective in eliminating varicose veins

During the 45-minute procedure, the involved area of your leg is anesthetized and a thin laser fiber is placed into the affected vein. Your physician will then deliver laser energy via the fiber to damage and eventually eliminate the vein. This relieves the varicose leg pain as well. Once the laser energy has been applied, the fiber is removed and a compression bandage is put on your leg. Walking immediately following the procedure is encouraged, and normal activities can be immediately resumed.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

This is the method of removing larger varicose veins safely, effectively and permanently. It is an in-office procedure performed under local anesthesia. The large varicose veins are extracted through tiny incisions These incision are so small, suturing is not required and scarring is minimal. Most patients only require local anesthesia. A compression bandage is applied after the procedure and needs to be worn for 72 hours. Once it is removed, the patient will be fitted with compression hose to be worn for the 2 weeks following the procedure. Most patients are able to resume normal activities but need to refrain from heavy lifting and running for the first week following the procedure. Ambulatory Phlebectomy is the mainstay treatment for small and medium sized veins such as spider veins, telangiectasias and venulectasias.

Getting Rid of Spider Veins

The D940 laser system produces the highly unique 940 nm wavelength, which safely passes through the skin and is selectively absorbed by the targeted blood vessel. The vein will gradually disappear, leaving the skin intact.

Men, women and even children, including light and dark-pigmented individuals, can be successfully treated. Your skin is cooled with ice or a cold compress (in some cases a topical anesthesia) to minimize the mild heat sensation. The length and number of procedures vary, depending on your particular circumstance, but usually last between 15 and 30 minutes each and are normally done in one, two or three appointments.

Side effects are uncommon and usually minimal. Patients often experience a slight redness following treatment, but this goes away within a few days. Your doctor will clearly explain what to expect and provide detailed instructions for you following treatment.

With Dr. Tapper's expert skill, the ELAS procedure effectively relieves pain and discomfort. The patient is back to normal activities within one to two days; and the minimal to no scarring, bruising and/or swelling gives a nice cosmetic result. The best news for many patients is they can be back out on the golf course in two days.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a procedure that injects a solution directly into the vein using a very small needle. The solution makes the veins collapse. This is usually performed on small and medium sized veins. Sclerotherapy is a simple and ingenious concept, but it's proper execution is an art that can take years to master. The goal is to trigger the targeted vein into destroying itself without damaging the surrounding tissue. It shrivels and fades away over time.

Treatment plans and protocols are individualized. All equipment and treatments are FDA approved. Dr. Tapper is the only surgeon in the area trained to perform endovenous laser ablation of varicose veins. The procedure known by the acronyms, ELAS or ELVT, is an elegant, minimally invasive way to obliterate varicose veins. Symmetry Laser Vein Center™ offers this treatment as an office based procedure using local anesthesia and the Dornier 940 Laser. This state-of-the-art laser is unique and, because of the wavelength of light emitted, it can be used on the face and hands as well as the legs.