Exploring the Latest Innovations in Varicose Vein Treatment

Five Key Points about Varicose Vein Treatment

• Minimally invasive treatments like VenaSeal, Clarivein MOCA, Varithena, EVLA, and RFA have replaced traditional vein stripping for varicose veins.
• VenaSeal uses a medical adhesive for vein closure with minimal discomfort and no need for compression stockings post-procedure.
• Clarivein MOCA combines chemical and mechanical action, requiring no thermal energy or extensive anesthesia.
• High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)is a promising future treatment, currently in clinical trials in the U.S.
• Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent complications like blood clots or skin ulcers, with personalized care advised.

For a long time, treating varicose veins involved painful surgery that didn't always work. The most common procedure involved removing the problem section of the affected vein and tying off the end, commonly called vein stripping. Patients had to stay overnight in the hospital, often suffering complications from general anesthesia and invasive surgery. Leg scarring was also common, but worst of all, varicose veins often returned with this treatment, with only a 50% success rate.

Thankfully, thanks to newer minimally invasive treatments, those suffering from varicose veins don't have to endure painful, ineffective procedures. Patients can receive the latest treatments in the office of their vascular surgeon, experiencing minimal downtime and discomfort.

Injectables are the Latest Approved Minimally Invasive Varicose Veins Treatments

You may qualify for a new treatment that involves injecting substances into varicose veins to dissolve them through various means. These injections are the most popular.

VenaSeal Tissue Adhesive Closure

This FDA-approved technique uses a medical adhesive to close varicose veins via sealing an abnormal saphenous vein (GSV). We perform this vein treatment by placing a thin tube inside the GSV using a local anesthetic. Ultrasound guidance helps position the adhesive delivery, with the adhesive placed along the length of the GSV, followed by compression to seal the vein closed. The procedure takes about one hour. Patients return to normal activities immediately and don't need to wear compression stockings. Venaseal has less post-procedure bruising and discomfort, and less potential risk to surrounding tissues and nerves. This adhesive contains cyanoacrylate, which doctors have used for years to close vessels in the body. Patient outcomes are as successful as radiofrequency ablation or laser therapy at two years post-treatment.

 Clarivein Mechanicochemical Ablation (MOCA)

This recently approved technique uses a special small catheter to deliver a sclerosant into the intended vein, along with a rotating wire to damage the vein walls to produce a better response to the drug. The process takes about one hour, and patients can return to normal activities immediately. This treatment needs no numbing injections along the treated vein's length, producing less bruising and discomfort and fewer potential risks to surrounding nerves and structures.

Varithena Injectable Foam

This prescription medication to treat varicose veins is delivered by placing ultrasound-guided small IVs to target abnormal veins produced by issues involving the great saphenous vein (GSV). This procedure takes about 30 minutes and also produces less post-procedure discomfort and fewer risks to surrounding tissue.

Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA)

EVLA is used to treat the large, internal saphenous veins (great and small saphenous veins) that often feed surface varicose veins seen on the skin's surface. This simple procedure, performed under local anaesthetic, uses ultrasound guidance to place a laser fiber inside the problem vein. When the laser fibre is activated, it damages the interior wall of the vein, making it collapse and seal closed. Unlike vein stripping, EVLA does not leave behind scars.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is very similar to EVLA in that it involves heating the saphenous veins from within. It is also performed under local anesthetic with no scarring or downtime. RFA treats chronic venous insufficiency, the medical condition that causes blood flow to reverse and pool. Generally speaking, patients will experience less discomfort with RFA than EVLA as thermal ablation occurs more gently via electromagnetic waves instead of laser energy. Pulsing radiofrequency energy gently causes the veins to close, improving blood flow in the legs and helping to eliminate painful symptoms.

What is the Newest Treatment for Varicose Veins?

A new varicose vein treatment may soon be available in your doctor's office. It's called high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), a technique that uses beams of ultrasound energy that precisely and effectively focus on problem areas in the body without affecting surrounding healthy tissue. As with laser treatment and radiofrequency ablation, doctors perform these treatments from the outside of the legs.

The FDA has already approved HIFU to treat certain cancers, uterine fibroids, thyroid nodules, Parkinson's disease tremors, and more. Other countries, including Canada, already use HIFU to treat varicose veins, but it is still in the clinical trial stage here. A clinical trial testing the Sonovein system to treat the greater saphenous vein disease has been completed, while the Sonoblate High Intensity Focused Ultrasound system continues to recruit those with damaged veins for further clinical trials. Once approved, it will give patients yet another effective treatment for varicose veins and venous disease.

Which Varicose Veins Treatment is Right for You?

The best treatment for varicose veins depends on whether you have larger varicose veins, smaller varicose veins, or a combination of both. Each option has pros and cons. Thermal ablation techniques are best for treating long, straight veins. Chemical ablation works well for patients with leg ulcers. MOCA works well in areas where varicose veins are close to nerves. These treatments all require patients to wear compression stockings afterward. With VenaSeal, you can leave your doctor's office and return immediately to your regular routine. However, some people have an allergic reaction to the glue.

When to Treat Varicose Veins

The short answer is anytime you develop them. Varicose veins simply can't perform their job anymore. Varicose veins won't get better on their own; you will eventually need treatment, so seeing a vein specialist as early as possible is in your best interests so you don't develop other health problems related to this condition, like deep vein thrombosis, blood clots or open sores. Some people wait until they have painful symptoms like burning, throbbing, swelling and painful legs, while others wait until their veins become an aesthetic issue. Working with a vein specialist can possibly help you delay the onset of additional varicose veins through lifestyle changes, but it won’t prevent them entirely.

VIVAA Can Diagnose Varicose Veins and Recommend Treatment

When you come to our Seattle-area medical spa, our staff will perform a comprehensive consultation, including taking your family history and noting other health conditions to help definitively diagnose varicose veins. Our practice aims to make you feel better and improve your health. Call our office today at 425-250-9999 to schedule your consultation or complete our online Request an Appointment form.