Varicose Veins - Vein Treatment Options

Varicose Vein Treatment and Spider Vein Removal Procedures Performed by Board Certified Doctor, Dr. Raffi Dishakjian.

The Los Angeles vein center, Nu Vela, offers several vein treatment options to patients in need of spider vein and varicose vein treatment. Veins that can treated at the Center include bulging leg varicose veins, spider veins, thread veins, nose veins, and facial veins. Dr. R. Dishakjian, a vein specialist and highly skilled phlebologist, will be delighted to assist you and offer expert advice on your treatment options, and work with you to create the best personalized treatment plan that fits both your condition and your budget.

Why to Choose a Phlebologist

Just like many areas of disease management, management of venous disease has changed tremendously in recent years and the scalpel is replaced by new minimally invasive technologies. Modern varicose vein treatment procedures require a physician's profound knowledge of the venous system, the ultrasound technology, lasers, and expertise in handling needles and catheters. Traditional vascular surgeons, who performed vein stripping surgery, didn't have enough expertise in handling the ultrasound technology and lasers; hence, the phlebology specialty was created. According to the definition given by the American College of Phlebology, a phlebologiest is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of vein disorders. In the year 2005, the American Medical Association, AMA, recognized phlebology as a separate self-designated specialty, the same as dermatology, vascular surgery, or any other recognized specialty.

Dr. R. Dishakjian is a board certified anesthesiologist and a phlebologist with long surgical operating room experience. Moreover, Dr. Dishakjian is a cosmetic surgeon and an expert in cosmetic lasers. Accordingly, besides being treated by an expert phlebologist, you can be assured of the cosmetic outcome. Please don't hesitate to call us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Dishakjian.

Vein Treatment Options Offered at the Center

Tailored to the needs of each patient, treatments include:

• Sclerotherapy for spider and small vein removal

• Foam sclerotherapy to treat bulging leg varicose veins

• Vnus® closure procedure - an alternative to surgical vein stripping

• Laser removal of small leg veins

• Facial Vein Treatment

Sclerotherapy for Spider and Small Vein Removal - Sclerotherapy is the standard treatment for spider veins and superficial small varicose veins that usually appear on legs, but may also appear on other parts of the body.

Sclerotherapy entails the needle-injection of a FDA-approved sclerosing solution into a targeted vein. The chemical takes effect right away collapsing the blood vessel within a few seconds. The body's natural healing process then re-routes the blood flow through healthy veins and the bothersome vein fades from view over a period of several weeks. The procedure is performed using the thinnest possible needles to minimize the pain of injection. In fact, most patients are pleasantly surprised about how painless this experience is. Typically 2-3 treatment sessions are needed for gradual fading of the treated veins. Compression stockings are also recommended for most patients after treatment, for 1-2 weeks.

Besides noticeable cosmetic benefits, sclerotherapy may also remedy the bothersome symptoms associated with spider veins, including aching, burning and night cramps. More about sclerotherapy...

SCLEROTHERAPY INJECTIONS FOR SPIDER AND SMALL BLUE VEINS

Foam Sclerotherapy to Treat Bulging Leg Varicose Veins - Ultrasound-guided foam Sclerotherapy is the latest innovative treatment for large, bulging, superficial leg varicose veins. These large veins cannot be treated with traditional liquid sclerotherapy; they contain too much blood which immediately dilutes the injected liquid sclerotherapy medication, thus rendering it ineffective. Foam sclerotherapy overcomes this problem by combining traditional sclerotherapy with a natural, soluble gas, to produce a shaving cream-like foam. The foamed agent does not readily mix with blood, keeping its full potency throughout the treated section of the vein. Foaming also gives the sclerosing agent a very large surface area of contact with the vein wall while using a relatively small amount of the liquid agent, similar to the foamed liquid hand washing soap in common use.

The procedure is associated with minimal to no pain, and involves the insertion of a catheter into the main affected superficial vein through which the foam is injected. The Duplex ultrasound imaging is then used to guide and monitor the spread of the foam. More about foam sclerotherapy...

Vnus® Closure Procedure - An Alternative to Surgical Vein Stripping - At last, a minimally invasive and gentle alternative to painful vein stripping surgery for superficial venous reflux disease. The Vnus® Closure procedure is an office based procedure to treat the major superficial diseased veins that are in direct communication with the deep venous system. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, whereby a needle hole opening in the skin is used to thread a catheter into the vein near the knee. The catheter is then guided up the thigh and positioned using duplex ultrasound imaging. At this stage, radiofrequency is precisely delivered to the identified diseased vein. The heat energy generated by radiofrequency causes the vein wall to collapse permanently. Dr. Dishakjian will later treat the remaining side branches with sclerotherapy, foam sclerotherapy, or laser surgery, depending on their size and nature.

Studies have consistently shown the Closure procedure to be gentler than the alternative Endovenous Laser Ablation treatment (EVLT), with less pain, bruising and complications. More about Vnus® closure therapy...

VNUS CLOSURE OF SAPHENOUS VEIN AND FOAM SCLEROTHERAPY OF BRANCH VEINS

Laser Removal of Small Leg Veins - Laser Vein Removal may be an alternative or complimentary to sclerotherapy for the elimination of small veins and thread veins. During the procedure, a topical local anesthetic cream is applied to the area to be treated, and a brief laser beam is pulsed onto the skin. The beam heats the veins, degrades them, and seals them off. The treated veins may become temporarily inflamed, but will be absorbed by the body and disappear within a few weeks.

Dr. Dishakjian uses the advanced Cutera© and the Sciton Profile lasers for the procedure. More about laser veins removal...

Facial Vein Treatment - Even though facial veins are being treated with sclerotherapy, lasers and light based treatments are the best solution for facial reticular and spider veins. The problem with sclerotherapy around the eye is that the medicine that is being injected could travel backwards into vital structures of the head and can cause vision loss or blindness. Depending on the size of the vessel and the color, Dr. Dishakjian, a phlebologist and cosmetic surgeon, will either choose an IPL or one of the lasers intended for this purpose. Both laser and intense pulsed light are generally safe, provided they are handled by an expert physician. Occasionally, some degree of scarring and/or hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) can occur in dark-skinned patients. Fortunately, however, the range of patients who can benefit from this treatment is very wide.

All laser and IPL procedures for facial veins basically work behind the same principle. The laser's energy is selectively absorbed by red blood cells, and the generated heat destroys the vessels. Over time the remains are absorbed by the body and the targeted veins disappear.

Laser or IPL facial vein treatment procedures do not require any anesthetic, the skin cooling device attached to the hand pieces minimize the pain caused by the light beams. After the treatment, your skin will be red for a few days and depending on the laser and the type of vein that was treated, you may have some bruising and darkening of the veins. This normally resolves within 2-5 days, but in some cases it may take a number of weeks to do so.

FACIAL RETICULAR VEIN - LASER TREATMENT

NOSE SPIDER VEINS - LASER REMOVAL

What to Expect During Your First Office Visit

During your initial evaluation for vein treatment, information on your past medical history will be gathered and you will be asked to fill out a form that includes financial and insurance information, as well as a privacy disclosure information. During your meeting with Dr. Dishakjian in private, you will be asked more in dept questions regarding your vein-related symptoms and your medical history. After carefully examining your legs, Dr. Dishakjian may decide that further ultrasound or Doppler testing is in order so that he could evaluate the function in the valves in the veins of the leg. At this point, the doctor will discuss with you the treatment options that are most suitable for your condition, and give answers to the questions you may ask regarding necessity, cost, insurance, side effects or any other issues. It should be mentioned that most insurance plans, including Medicare, cover varicose vein treatments once the medical necessity is established.

THE DOCTOR ON ABC EYEWITNESS NEWS

Questions About Cost or a Treatment?

You may reach our Los Angeles medical spa and vein clinic by clicking the "Contact us" button at the top of the page, or by calling 818-832-4500. Our receptionist will be delighted to assist you with any enquiries regarding cost, additional information, or scheduling a free consultation session with Dr. Dishakjian, a cosmetic surgeon and phlebologist.