Answers

Replied on 10/15/2009

By: Laser Lipo and Vein Center  |  Thomas Wright M.D. F.A.C.P.
St. Peters, MO

Endovenous laser ablation treats a leading and prominent cause of varicose and spider veins. Usually [> 80% of the time] some sclerotherapy (injection treatments) is needed to "clean up" the remaining varicose and spider veins that are not reduced by the endovenous laser treatment. Occaissionally, less than 20% of the time, the treatment of the underlying reflux with the EVLT leads to enough improvement or resolution of the both spider veins and or varicose veins that no additional treatment is required.

Replied on 10/15/2009

By: Vein and Cosmetic Center of the Palm Beaches  |  Z. Catherine Navarro, M.D.
West Palm Beach, FL

Endovenous laser ablation, will treat large veins, and may reduce the appearance of reticular veins coming off that large vein. However, spider veins, need to be treated individually at this point, the gold standard for treating small spider veins is not laser ( superficial ) but instead injection sclerotherapy.

Replied on 10/9/2009

By: Bella MD Laser Vein and Aesthetic Center  |  David A. Engleman MD, FACC
Dallas, TX

EVLT will treat the Varicose veins and sometime this will improve the spider veins that are associated with that particular varicose vein. Not all spider veins are however associated with a varicose vein and would need to be treated separately with laser (YAG) or sclerotherapy or a combination of the two.

Replied on 10/9/2009

By: VeinSolutions - Austin  |  Emery W. Dilling, M.D.
Jeffrey M. Apple, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Austin, TX

EVLT or radiofrequency catheter ablation of varicose veins is very effective in treating varicose and spider veins if the small veins are coming off of the main saphenous vein. The greater saphenous vein and small saphenous vein, if found to be incompetent or malfunctioning, will usually be treated first prior to directed therapy at small varicose and spider veins. Many spider and varicose veins will simply go away after treatment of the main saphenous vein, as the source of the underlying problem is eliminated.

Replied on 10/9/2009

By: Vein Specialists Institute  |  Kenneth H. Jesser, M.D.
Palm Desert, CA

Endovenous laser ablation treats a leading and prominent cause of varicose and spider veins - usually some sclerotherapy (injection treatments) is needed to "clean up" the remaining varicose and spider veins that are not reduced by the endovenous laser treatment.

Replied on 10/9/2009

By: Innovative Vein  |  Paul Cheatum, M.D.
Wichita, KS

Endovenous laser treats the underlying large veins that are the source of bulging varicose veins and spider veins. The bulges and spider veins then have to be directly treated with sclerotherapy, surface laser (IPL) or phlebectomy (vein stripping). The EVLT is essential in eliminating these problems, however.

Replied on 10/9/2009

By: The Vein Treatment Center of NJ  |  Dean H. Wasserman, MD, FACS, RVT, FACPh
Paramus, NJ

To benefit from treatment, the vein must have characteristics including
large enough size to accommodate a laser catheter inside, and be
straight enough to navigate such a catheter.
Thus spider veins cannot be directly treated by this method, and only
some varicose veins are appropriate for EVLT.
However, as all of the veins are inter-connected, treating
appropriate larger veins may result in a diminishing of the smaller
veins "at the end of the line." Specific spider treatment is almost
always required, however treating the "tamed" spiders will be more
successful and easier.

Replied on 10/9/2009

By: Novi Vein  |  Jeffrey H. Miller, M.D.
Novi, MI

Endovenous laser ablation will treat the underlying cause of varicose veins. Sometimes this will improve some of the spider veins. Important to keep in mind is that the number one reason for spider vein treatment failure is that there is an underlying "leaking" vein. Hence, it is often helpful to have the ablation before entertaining spider vein treatment.

Replied on 10/8/2009

By: Vein Specialty Medical Clinic, Inc.  |  Khalil Fattahi M.D.
Board Certified, American Board of Phlebology
Campbell, CA

No, EndoVenous laser ablation is used only for greater saphenous vein
treatment at thigh level. Some physicians use it for treatment of
lesser saphenous varicosity which is an "off-label" application of
this treatment method. Spider veins are best treated by
sclerotherapy. It should be understood that sclerotherapy of spider
veins can be a complex task, and in no way should be trivialized.
Some seemingly simple spider veins can be rooted in reflux from deep
veins. therefore the initial evaluation must be done by an expert in
phlebology, and doppler and duplex ultrasound mapping must be
available and used at any medical office that engages in treatment of
spider veins.

Replied on 10/8/2009

By: General Vascular Surgery Group  |  Michael D. Ingegno, M.D.
San Leandro, CA

Ablation is for the larger varicose vein's feeding vein. Spider veins
are usually treated with injection sclerotherapy or sometimes with
surface lasers (which are different than the lasers used for ablation).

Replied on 10/8/2009

By: Heart and Vein Center  |  Rodolfo D. Farhy, MD
Royal Oak, MI

Endovenous laser is used to treat reflux on the large veins of the legs. It will improve and diminish the problem of varicose veins and spider veins but will not eliminate them. Most patients with a combination of varicose veins (large ones) and spider veins need a combination of endovenous laser and/or sclerotherapy and/or phlebectomy.

Replied on 10/8/2009

By: The Jacksonville Vein Center  |  Geoffrey L. Risley, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Alfred D. Harding, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.S.
Jacksonville, FL

Endovenous Laser will not change the appearance of your spider veins significantly. However, if saphenous insufficiency exists, then treatment with EVLT will make treatment of the spider veins more effective.

Replied on 10/8/2009

By: Vein Centers for Excellence of Kansas City  |  Craig I. Schwartz, D.O., FACOS, FICS
Kansas City, MO

Endovenous ablation is for varicose veins, more specifically for the underlying problem causing the varicose veins. It will not treat spider veins, although you may see some improvement in them after treatment, but the general rule is that spider veins will require separate, additional treatment after the varicose veins are taken care of.

Replied on 10/8/2009

By: Vein and Laser Specialist  |  Edward G. Mackay, M.D.
St. Petersburg, FL

The simple answer is that the endovenous laser is for varicose veins and
not spider veins. But it may be a part of a comprehensive treatment of
the leg and necessary before treating the spider veins for optimal
results.

Replied on 10/8/2009

By: Idalis Cosmetic Laser and Vein Center  |  Samuel Coor, D.O.
Lacey, WA

Endovenous lasers do not treat spider veins, they are too small to pass the laser into.
Endovenous laser can be used to treat varicose veins.

Replied on 10/8/2009

By: Makris MD Interventional Radiology Center  |  Angelo N. Makris, M.D.
Oak Brook, IL

No. Endovenous ablation treats bulging varicose veins. Spider veins are
treated with sclerotherapy.

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