Lawrence J. Markovitz, MD Vein Treatments
After a comprehensive evaluation that includes an ultra-sound examination of the veins, our vein specialists will determine the optimal treatment for each patient's needs.
Treatments include:
- VNUS Closure™ Procedure
- Sclerotherapy
- Ultrasound Guided Foam Sclerotherapy
- VeinGogh™ Thermolysis
- Treating Venous Ulcers
The Closure Procedure
The VNUS Closure Procedure, an alternative treatment option to traditional vein stripping surgery, brings state-of-the-art technology to an age-old disease.
The Closure procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. Using ultrasound guidance, Dr. Markovitz will position the Closure catheter into the diseased vein through a small opening in the skin. The slender catheter delivers radiofrequency (RF) energy to the catheter, which heats the vein wall. As the vein wall is heated and the catheter withdrawn, the collagen in the wall shrinks and the vein closes. Once the diseased vein is closed, blood is re-routed to other healthy veins.
Following the procedure, a simple bandage is placed over the insertion site, and additional compression may be provided to aid healing. Dr. Markovitz may encourage you to walk at frequent intervals and to refrain from prolonged standing and strenuous activities for a period of time.
Patients who undergo the Closure procedure typically resume normal activities within a day.
Highlights of the Closure procedure
Click below to view a short video about the VNUS Closure procedure.- Relief of symptoms
- Resume normal activity within a day
- Outpatient procedure
- Local anesthesia
- Good cosmetic outcome with minimal to no scarring, bruising or swelling
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a cosmetic medical procedure used to treat varicose veins and spider veins. A tiny needle is used to inject a solution directly into the vein. The solution irritates the lining of the vessel, causing it to swell and stick together, and the blood to clot. Overtime, the body will absorb the treated vein. Mild discomfort may occur, and a cramping sensation may be felt for 1 to 2 minutes when larger veins are injected. The number of veins injected in one session is variable, depending on the size and location of the veins, and the patient's overall medical condition. Anywhere from one to several sclerotherapy sessions may be needed for any vein region. Medically prescribed support hose and/or bandages may need to be worn for several days to several weeks to assist in resolution of the veins. In general, spider veins respond to treatment in 3 to 6 weeks, and larger veins respond in 3 to 4 months.
Ultrasound Guided Foam Sclerotherapy
This form of sclerotherapy is valuable and effective in the treatment of larger tortuous veins and veins not amenable to VNUS Closure. The treatments are virtually painless and involve the localization of veins using ultransonic guidance and the injection and ultrasonic observation of a foamed sclerotherapy solution directly into the abnormal vein. This procedure is often used, when appropriate, as an adjunct to radiofrequency ablation.
VeinGogh Ohmic Thermolysis
The VeinGogh offers a superior solution for the treatment of fine telangiectasia (thread veins), spider veins and small angiomas. It can be used on any skin type and usually only requires a single 20-25 minute treatment. With the VeinGogh treatment, a fine hair-thin probe delivers a 'microburst' of energy to selectively heat the vein, coagulate blood within it, and collapse the vessel to facilitate body reabsorption. VeinGogh treatment offers an excellent alternative for fine thread veins on the face, nose, cheeks or anywhere else on the body. VeinGogh provides excellent results for the treatment of very fine spider veins on the legs, and is an alternative to conventional sclerotherapy for these tiny veins. The treatment relies on thermocoagulation to heat and close vessels instantly, in a procedure that often takes less than 15 or 20 minutes to perform and involves no downtime.
Find out more on the official VeinGogh website. Visit VeinGogh.com
Treating the Venous Ulcer (Treating Perforating Veins)
In the United States it is estimated that up to 1.8 million people are afflicted with venous ulcers which are the most common chronic wounds treated in wound care centers.1,2 More than half of the venous ulcers treated are recurring ulcerations, or wounds that might have healed before, but later return.
Conventional treatments for venous ulcer patients include the use of antibiotics, salves, and compression therapy. But these treatments have often resulted in high failure and recurrence rates.
Attempts to heal the skin without correcting the underlying venous insufficiency can lead to a delayed ulcer healing and recurrence.1, 3, 4, 5
The VNUS ClosureRFS™ stylet allows our practice to offer you a minimally-invasive option to traditional surgery for the venous ulcers on your legs. It is the only endovenous ablation device specifically cleared by FDA for the treatment of incompetent perforating veins, the most common origin of your leg ulcers. This outpatient treatment can be either the primary procedure or it can be performed in addition to another outpatient leg vein Closure™ procedure, using the VNUS ClosureFAST™ catheter, when chronic venous insufficiency disease of your large saphenous veins has been diagnosed.
Click below to see a quick animation of the ClosureRFS.
1 Barwell JR, Davies CE, Deacon J, et al: Comparison of surgery and compression with compression alone in chronic venous ulceration (ESCHAR study): Randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2004;363(9424):1854–1859.
2 Poblete H, Elias S: Venous ulcers: new options in treatment: minimally invasive vein surgery. Journal of the American College of Certified Wound Specialists (2009) 1, 12–19
3 Obermayer A, Gostl K, Walli G, et al. Chronic venous leg ulcers benefit from surgery: long term results from 173 legs. J Vasc Surg 2006;44:572-79
4 Nelzen O, Fransson I. True long-term healing and recurrence of venous leg ulcers following SEPS combined with superficial venous surgery: a prospective study. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2007;34:605-12.
5 Zamboni P, Cisno F. et al. Minimally invasive surgical management of primary venous ulcers vs. compression treatment: A randomized clinical trial. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2003;25:313-18.
For more information about varicose veins and available treatment options, contact us by filling out the form below.
