Houston vein treatment services to help you get rid of varicose veins
Do you keep your legs covered up with pants or long dresses because you are embarrassed by unsightly spider veins and varicose veins? Are your legs sore or painful, with a "heavy feeling" as if you have been on your feet all day? If so, you may be suffering from venous reflux disease. In addition to being uncomfortable, venous reflux may be a serious condition, which can eventually lead to leg ulcers.
Our Houston vein treatment center can help you get rid of varicose veins and spider veins without the need for invasive vein surgery (or 'vein stripping'). Under the leadership of our vein specialist Dr. Michael Bardwil, Texas Vein and Cosmetic Specialists, a leading Houston vein treatment clinic, offers a wide range of state-of-the-art alternatives to vein surgery. Our services, which include EVLT, VNUS Closure®, sclerotherapy, and ambulatory phlebectomy, are all provided in the convenience and privacy of our Houston, TX vein center.
At our Texas vein treatment center, Dr. Bardwil will find a minimally invasive treatment plan to help you get rid of varicose veins by targeting their underlying cause. At Texas Vein and Cosmetic Specialists we offer a wide range of alternatives to traditional vein surgery, so there is no longer any need to delay treatment for your problem veins.
We provide the following vein treatments:
Duplex ultrasound
Our Houston vein treatment clinic offers duplex ultrasound, a painless, non-invasive diagnostic tool to evaluate your veins and help us to determine the most effective, minimally invasive treatment options for you to get rid of varicose veins and spider veins. With duplex ultrasound, we can determine whether your vein disease is a purely cosmetic concern, or a symptom of a more serious medical condition.
Endovenous Laser Treatment at our Houston EVLT center
Endovenous Laser Treatment (also referred to as EVLT, EVLA, and ELVeS) offers another minimally invasive treatment to get rid of varicose veins. At our Houston EVLT center, we use duplex ultrasound to precisely locate the saphenous vein (the large, superficial vein of the leg and thigh). A tiny laser fiber is then inserted into the vein, directing laser energy at the vein wall, sealing the vein permanently. We perform EVLT at our Houston EVLT clinic using local anesthesia. The treatment involves minimal discomfort, and enables patients to resume their routine activities quickly.
Endovenous radiofrequency ablation (VNUS Closure®) procedure
VNUS Closure® (or RF closure – radiofrequency closure) is now the preferred treatment for many cases of varicose veins, replacing more invasive forms of vein surgery. In VNUS Closure® a small catheter is inserted into the affected vein and gently delivers radiofrequency energy as it is withdrawn. The radiofrequency energy causes the vein to seal shut, re-routing blood to healthy veins. VNUS Closure® is usually more effective than traditional vein surgery, and offers the benefit of faster recovery and fewer potential complications.
At our Texas vein treatment center, VNUS Closure® is performed under local anesthesia in the privacy and convenience of our office. Most procedures take about an hour, and most of our patients are able to return to work and other routine activities within a day. You may be encouraged to refrain from strenuous activities, to walk, and to avoid standing for long periods during the recovery period.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy (or Microphlebectomy)
Ambulatory phlebectomy is a treatment option for patients who are not candidates for VNUS Closure® or EVLT. In ambulatory phlebectomy, very small incisions are made along the length of the varicose vein, and the vein is then removed from the leg in short segments. The procedure is performed under local or regional anesthesia, and usually doesn't require stitches. After ambulatory phlebectomy, patients wear a bandage or compression stocking for a short recovery period.
Sclerotherapy at our Houston sclerotherapy center
Sclerotherapy is widely recognized as the gold standard for the treatment of spider veins. Sclerotherapy, which requires little downtime, is performed by injecting spider veins with an FDA-approved "sclerosing" agent. The vein closes down and eventually is reabsorbed into the body and disappears. Several repeat sessions at our Houston sclerotherapy center may be needed for best results. Dr. Bardwil can help determine when sclerotherapy is the appropriate course of treatment.
Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy
Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is highly effective in the treatment of varicose veins. Dr. Bardwil uses ultrasound technology to determine the exact location of the diseased vein and to precisely guide a needle into the vein. A sclerosing agent is then injected into the vein, causing it to close. The number of sclerotherapy treatments varies depending on the severity of the vein disease.
Venous Stasis Ulcers
Left untreated, varicose veins may cause venous stasis ulcers, the most serious form of vein disease. Venous stasis ulcers develop when constant pressure on diseased veins results in blood leaking into the surrounding tissue. A brown or reddish cast to the skin may be a sign of a venous stasis ulcer, and requires prompt medical attention. Our Houston vein center offers expert care of venous stasis ulcers.
Our Houston vein treatment center is convenient to many suburbs, including Katy, Sugarland, Clear Lake, The Woodlands, Tomball, Cypress, Galveston, Friendswood, League City, Sealy, and Columbus. If you live in the Houston area, there is no reason to live with the discomfort and embarrassment of vein disease. Contact Texas Vein and Cosmetic Specialists today to find out how we can help you get rid of varicose veins.
EVLT is a registered trademark of Angiodynamics, Inc. (Queensbury, NY)
Closure® is a registered trademark of VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. (San Jose, CA)
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