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Friday, August 07, 2009
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Endovenous Laser Ablation: an Answer to Varicose Veins
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Endovenous laser ablation, or Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT), is a treatment that helps patients suffering from varicose veins find relief. Using laser technology, endovenous laser ablation helps patients overcome the embarrassment of varicose veins and helps them find much needed relief from the pain often associated with this venous disease. This procedure helps to relieve the heaviness that patients often feel in the legs and gives patients the confidence to wear shorts and show off their legs without embarrassment.
Endovenous laser ablation uses laser energy to close the vein shut. This procedure is done without scarring, unlike many surgical procedures used to in the treatment of varicose veins and other venous diseases. The laser energy helps to shrink the vein walls and close the vein so that blood cannot flow through it any longer. The blood from the diseased vein is diverted to the other veins in the leg and the bulging ceases to exist. This procedure helps to eliminate the bulging at the source, brining success to many patients.
Patients in Washington with an interest in endovenous laser ablation will find more information from their physician or vein specialist, but understanding the process before a consultation can be very helpful. This allows the patient to ask the right questions so that the doctor can clarify any questions they may have after first reviewing the procedure.
EVLT takes about 45 minutes and uses a local anesthetic. The procedure is done on an outpatient basis, unlike some surgeries that may require an overnight stay in the hospital.
Possible side effects may include numbness, which in rare cases may be permanent, and less than one percent of patients develop deep vein thrombosis as a result of this procedure. Side effects are rare, but patients should always discuss the possible risks with a medical professional before receiving any treatment or undergoing any procedure.
There is no scarring following this procedure, although some patients may experience minimal pain following surgery. Most patients are encouraged to walk after receiving treatment and most recover quickly from the pain and other symptoms after the procedure. Patients may also experience minor soreness or bruising, which can be treated with over the counter, non-aspirin medication.
The success rate for endovenous laser ablation is high and most patients experience extremely favorable long-term results as well. Laser technology has become a valued alternative to surgery for patients suffering from a variety of conditions or ailments, varicose veins and spider veins being two of them. With the advances in the medical and laser technology fields, patients are sure to continue to reap the benefits in the form of excellent, effective treatments and procedures.
Patients in the Lacey, Washington area should locate a vein treatment clinic that uses highly advanced equipment and the latest, most proven treatments. This helps to ensure patient safety and increases the chance of patient success and satisfaction following treatment.
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Friday, August 07, 2009
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Sclerotherapy vs. Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy
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In Cincinnati, Ohio, patients suffering from spider veins should consider the potential healing powers of sclerotherapy and ultrasound guided sclerotherapy. The best resource for information regarding these and other treatments for venous diseases is always a physician or vein care specialist. However, educating oneself about possible treatments such as sclerotherapy and ultrasound guided sclerotherapy will allow the patient to ask all the right questions and go into a consultation or treatment session with adequate knowledge about their condition and possible treatments for such.
Determining the difference between sclerotherapy and ultrasound sclerotherapy is fairly simple. Sclerotherapy involves the use of an injectable solution that irritates the vein walls and seals the vein shut, thus eliminating the appearance of spider veins in most patients. A slight burning sensation may be present after the injections, but this usually lasts only a few seconds. Sclerotherapy is a noninvasive procedure that may be done on a lunch break from work. Patients are often able to resume normal activity following the procedure.
A few treatments may be required before the patient experiences a full recovery, but patients are advised to wait at least a few weeks before returning for treatment, as the benefits of each treatment may not fully appear until after a couple of weeks.
While sclerotherapy may be useful in eliminating spider veins that are already present, preventing the disease from reappearing is not possible through sclerotherapy alone. Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy may help to maintain control of varicose veins or spider veins. Varicose veins are not curable, but by using duplex ultrasound technology, vascular specialists are able to locate the diseased veins that cause bulging on the surface. The duplex ultrasound guides the placement of the injections and the number of injections required for each patient. The duplex ultrasound allows doctors to accurately locate the problem veins so that they can specifically target these veins.
Surgery and sclerotherapy alone may not be enough to help control and target the specific veins causing the problem. Using advanced ultrasound technology, many patients in Ohio have found success and are now, with the help of a vascular specialist, successfully managing their venous conditions.
Patients with further questions about sclerotherapy and ultrasound guided sclerotherapy should consult a physician as they are always the best resource for information and the best source to answer questions and address concerns.
Surgery and sclerotherapy now enjoy a higher success rate than in years past due to the involvement of duplex ultrasound in treating varicose veins and spider veins. For more information about surgery or sclerotherapy alone, patients should consult their doctor.
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Friday, August 07, 2009
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When Sclerotherapy May Be The Answer
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Spider veins can be an embarrassing and problematic condition for many people. The embarrassment they may cause can make going out in public a frightening experience. Patients suffering from spider veins often let it affect their social, personal or professional life, which can cause problems for some people, as they are relegated to wearing long pants in almost all social settings.
Finding a solution is key to these patients. Patients in Georgia should consider all of their options when dealing with spider veins and consider the pros and cons of each. Sclerotherapy is one such option that many patients turn to when spider veins, or in some cases varicose veins, become problematic and they want to rid themselves of them.
Sclerotherapy is an injection therapy that uses a chemical solution. The solution works its magic by irritating the vein so that it seals itself shut. A few treatments may be required to receive the full benefits of this therapy and the number of treatments depends on each individual case. Patients interested in learning more about this treatment should consult their physician or vein specialist.
Compression stockings may be required for a short time afterwards, but patients should consult their doctor about wearing them. Each treatment lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, during which tiny needles are used to make the injections. Minimal pain is common, although it is often only a burning sensation that lasts a few seconds. Sclerotherapy comes with a trusted safety record and most patients are able to resume normal activity after treatment. In fact, many patients are able to receive treatment on their lunch break and go back to work afterwards. Patients interested in sclerotherapy, however, should consult their physician about the possible risks or side effects of any procedure they are considering.
It may take a few weeks to recognize the full benefits of this treatment, so patients are often advised to wait about a month between treatments.
Laser treatments are also available to treat spider veins. This option may be used if injection therapy is not possible on small spider veins or in other situations that are best discussed with a medical professional. Spider veins sit close to the surface, allowing laser treatment to be effective in eliminating veins that, in years past, would have required surgery to remove. Patients should discuss with their doctor the benefits of laser therapy and of sclerotherapy before deciding which is best for their individual case.
Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy is an option patients may be interested in as well. This procedure helps to control spider veins and maintain control after they have been eliminated. Unfortunately, surgery and sclerotherapy are unable to prevent new spider veins or varicose veins from forming. Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy may be helpful in doing so, however. Patients in Georgia that are interested in such a procedure should discuss the details of the treatment in a private consultation.
Controlling varicose veins or spider veins can seem like a tremendous mountain to climb for many patients. Help may seem out of the question or a long road ahead. With treatments such as sclerotherapy and ultrasound guided sclerotherapy, patients are finding out that getting rid of spider veins and varicose veins and controlling the disease is possible.
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Friday, July 31, 2009
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What is Endovenous Laser Ablation?
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Patients in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area are presented with a number of options when considering vein treatment clinics. Patients should be sure that the clinic they choose is outfitted with only the latest equipment so that their treatment is safe and effective. They should also inquire as to which treatments are offered. Patients should favor clinics who offer proven, efficient treatments using the latest technology and medical equipment.
One treatment that is commonly offered for venous disease is endovenous laser ablation. This procedure works by closing off the damaged area of the blood vessel and redirect blood flow to other areas in the leg. Unlike other treatments, this procedure does not remove the troubled vein, but rather closes it off. A local anesthetic may be used and the procedure is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. To begin, a laser fiber is inserted into the vein. The laser's energy shrinks the vein walls and closes off the defective vein so that blood cannot flow through it. This will help to eliminate the bulging often associated with varicose veins. After the damaged blood vessel is closed, the blood is rerouted to other veins in the leg.
The entire process takes about 45 minutes and is usually done right in the doctor's office. This treatment is newer than vein ligation and stripping procedures and is less painful. The recovery time for patients after endovenous laser ablation is also shorter than with these other methods. While a general anesthetic may be used for surgery, endovenous laser ablation requires only a local anesthetic and possibly a light sedative.
Compression stockings may be required for at least a week following the procedure. The doctor will follow up with duplex ultrasound to make sure that the vein is closed off and the procedure was a success. Patients that would like more information about this procedure should contact an Albuquerque, New Mexico vein treatment clinic for more information.
There are certain side effects that are often associated with laser treatments. These may include skin burns, skin color changes, a feeling of burning, pain or prickling after recovery which may result from nerve damage or some blood clotting in the vein or deep vein. The feelings of burning, pain and prickling and the blood clotting side effects are less likely than if the patient had undergone vein ligation or stripping, however.
This treatment is thought to be very effective and has a high success rate. Long-term success rates have not been properly documented, as it is a relatively new treatment. Doctors that have a great deal of experience in endovenous laser ablation tend to have higher success rates, as is true of most other treatments. Patients are advised to seek a medical professional that specializes in vein treatments and has a good deal of experience in the field. Patients in Albuquerque, New Mexico should consult their doctor if they have any other questions about this or other vein treatments.
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Friday, July 31, 2009
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Intense Pulse Light Therapy (IPL): A Bright Solution to Spider Veins
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Patients in Rockford, Illinois are presented with several treatment options when suffering from venous diseases. This can be an extremely embarrassing condition for many patients, which makes finding a solution a top priority. Often times, elevating the legs helps to relieve the pain associated with varicose veins, but patients are sometimes not satisfied with such a temporary solution. This leads them to seek out more effective and permanent solutions to venous diseases such as varicose veins and spider veins.
Spider veins are mostly of a cosmetic concern for some women. They are smaller than varicose veins and superficial to the skin. They do not come with other symptoms and any pain experienced is not from spider veins, but from another condition. If patients experience pain in the feet or legs, they should consult their doctor to determine the cause.
Abnormal blood flow and a weakening of the blood vessel wall are common causes of spider veins. Conditions that place pressure on the vein wall such as weight gain, pregnancy or prolonged sitting or standing may contribute to the development of spider veins. Spider veins may also be genetic and increase with age. Estrogen may weaken the walls of blood vessels, so pregnancy may be a factor in developing spider veins, most commonly in the second trimester.
The application of intense pulse light expands beyond treatment for spider veins. IPL has been used as an anti-aging treatment, to treat rosacea as well as other medical and cosmetic applications. Its value in vascular lesions deeper in the skin has been recognized by vein specialists in Rockford, Illinois and around the country. Thanks to this technology, countless patients have found relief from spider veins.
IPL may be an option for patients who have not found success using sclerotherapy or laser therapy as treatment methods. When these options do not treat the superficial vein, intense pulse light may be used by a vascular specialist.
The treatment works by selectively damaging or destroying small spider veins or vascular birthmarks. It is a non-invasive alternative to other treatments commonly used to treat spider veins. Using a handheld device, a pulse of intense and concentrated energy is directed to the blood vessels under the skin to effectively eliminate spider veins.
Patients looking for more information should consult a vein specialist in Rockford, Illinois. These medical professionals possess the knowledge and experience to answer any questions and address concerns that some patients may have regarding intense pulse light therapy.
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