Wisconsin Treatment Options for Vein Disease

Injections (Sclerotherapy)

Sclerotherapy, a minimally invasive medical procedure, is commonly used to treat spider veins. During the sclerotherapy procedure, the patient is typically in a reclined position. Visual examination or ultrasound is used to identify the target veins. A very fine needle is then inserted into the vein and a FDA-approved sclerosing solution is slowly injected. 

The sclerosing solution irritates the lining of the vein, causing it to become inflamed. The inflammation then prompts the vein walls to adhere together. Over time, the injected vein collapses and ceases to be visible. As the treated vein becomes closed, the blood flow within it discontinues and the body automatically reroutes the blood through healthy neighboring veins. 

Light-Based Treatments

Light-based treatments, also known as laser therapy or light-based vein therapy, have become increasingly popular for addressing spider veins. Light-based vein treatments are based on the principle of selective photothermolysis. Different types of tissue absorb different wavelengths of light energy. Lasers are tuned to emit specific wavelengths that are primarily absorbed by the targeted tissue while minimizing damage to surrounding structures.

In the case of treating spider veins, the light energy is specifically absorbed by the hemoglobin in the blood within the veins. Hemoglobin absorbs the laser energy, converting it into heat. This heat causes coagulation and damage to the vein walls while sparing the surrounding tissues. The blood begins to coagulate and causes the vein walls to contract and seal shut. 

Over time, the immune cells begin to break down the injured vein, gradually absorbing and eliminating it. The dissolved vein components are then naturally processed and eliminated from the body through the lymphatic and circulatory systems.

For larger diameter spider veins (typically black and purple in color), 1064 yag laser is the gold standard to have the appropriate amount of energy to be effective in the vessel without causing damage. For smaller diameter spider veins (typically red in color), Broad Band Light (BBL) is utilized to treat the veins due to its ability to treat more vessels in less time. 

Endovenous Laser Ablation

Endovenous Laser Ablation, also known as EVLA or EVLT (Endovenous Laser Treatment), is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat varicose veins. The treatment harnesses the power of laser-generated heat to effectively target and manage diseased veins. This technique offers a modern alternative to traditional surgical methods. 

 A local anesthetic is administered to numb the area around the targeted vein for patient comfort. A small incision is made near the affected vein, and a thin laser fiber is inserted. This fiber is positioned within the vein under ultrasound guidance. The laser emits focused energy in the form of light, which generates heat. This heat causes the vein’s walls to contract and eventually collapse. The vein’s closure prevents the backflow of blood and reroutes it to healthier veins with functional valves.

Over time, the body’s natural healing processes take over. The treated vein is gradually absorbed by the surrounding tissues, and blood flow is rerouted to healthier veins.

Injections (Sclerotherapy)

Sclerotherapy, a versatile and widely practiced medical procedure, is particularly effective in treating smaller diameter varicose veins. Sclerotherapy injects a specialized FDA-approved medicine, known as a sclerosant, directly into the affected veins via a fine needle. 

The injected sclerosant triggers an inflammatory response within the vein. This inflammation leads to the formation of scar tissue developing along the vein walls. As scar tissue forms, the vein walls adhere to each other and collapse. Blood flow is redirected to healthier veins, and the treated vein gradually becomes less visible over time.

The collapsed vein is gradually absorbed by the body’s natural healing processes. Over a period of weeks to months, the treated vein disappears from view.