Our Vein Treatments in our California Vein Clinics.
Are you curious about spider vein or varicose vein treatment at vein clinics in California?
There are several new options available! The hard part is deciding which vein clinic and treatment to try. This article is your comprehensive guide to making those selections. The doctors at California Vein Clinic compiled everything you need to know, including what each treatment entails, who it’s best for, and what the upsides and downsides are. Find your ideal solution below.
If you’re seeking varicose or spider vein treatment, you have many more methods to choose from than the previous generation did. Minimally invasive procedures have largely displaced vein surgery, making vein treatment a far simpler process than it used to be. Patients now watch veins vanish in a matter of minutes, without large incisions, general anesthesia, or a stay in the hospital. However, these tremendous advances require specialized training, so choose a qualified vein physician. The doctors at California Vein Clinic will help you sort through the choices to select the best one for you.
Before we describe the various treatments, let’s discuss why you have those unhealthy veins. Most patients with spider veins or varicose veins also have a problem called chronic venous insufficiency. This vascular disease is characterized by blood pooling in your leg veins, which imposes pressure on the vein walls. The pooling occurs when valves within veins fail to seal tightly, resulting in reflux or stationary blood within the veins. This condition requires a vein doctor for proper resolution. California Vein Clinic’s doctors know how to detect and resolve this issue, so spider veins and varicose veins won’t keep cropping up. A cosmetic or dermatological vein facility won’t suffice if you have chronic venous insufficiency, or other vein issues like blood clots or deep vein thrombosis. The success of the vein treatments listed below hinges on who administers them.
Vein Treatment Options
Endovenous Ablation
Also Known As: Radiofrequency ablation, laser ablation, ablation
Best For: Vein symptoms like restlessness, cramps, discomfort, leg fatigue, heaviness, as well as treating venous insufficiency and large varicose veins
How Is Endovenous Ablation Defined?
An ablative procedure is defined as a removal of bodily tissue. In the case of endovenous ablation, that “removal” is actually a harmless absorption of the defective vein by the body, following its thermal destruction. The vein is not surgically extracted from the body, but eliminated by thermal energy through radiofrequency or lasers that force it to scar shut and eventually dissolve.
How Do California Vein Clinics Administer Endovenous Ablation?
The invention of endovenous ablation was a welcome change for patients and their doctors. It outperforms vein stripping surgery with significantly less risk, expense, and time spent in the doctor’s office. This minimally invasive technique begins with a numbing solution applied to the surface of your skin above the vein. Our vein doctors then place a tiny device just beneath your skin and surround the vein with tumescent anesthesia to protect the adjacent tissue from discomfort or heat. Once inside the vein, the tool directs high intensity sound waves, called radiofrequency, or lasers at the vein’s walls. This creates scar tissue which blocks blood from entering the vein. As a result, blood stops accumulating in that vein, and instead heads back to the heart via viable veins. At our California Vein Clinics, endovenous ablation is a 15-30 minute procedure during which you remain comfortable and awake. You can resume your normal routine immediately after it’s done. Spider and varicose vein clinics in San Diego and San Jose typically prefer either radiofrequency (aka: RF ablation, RF therapy, or ClosureFast) or laser (aka: EVLT) to perform ablations. Our doctors prefer RF ablation. After spending a decade conducting hundreds of ablations, we find radiofrequency is more comfortable for our patients.
Pros
Pros Summary:
- Safer than vein ligation and stripping surgery
- Treats vein disease, not just surface veins
- Commonly covered by insurance
- Patients aren’t hindered by downtime
Cons
Cons Summary:
- Applying tumescent anesthesia requires training
- Devices aren’t all of the same caliber
Is Endovenous Ablation a Good Option for You?
If you have large varicose veins or venous insufficiency, consider radiofrequency ablation before vein surgery. Your insurance company will likely cover it and you’ll love how quick and simple it is. RF ablation is more comfortable than laser ablation, so our vein doctors in CA state regularly select it for many of our varicose vein patients.
VenaSeal
Also Known As: Vein glue
Best For: Defective veins, and particularly, the venous insufficiency that causes their appearance, as well as uncomfortable symptoms
What Is the Definition of VenaSeal?
VenaSeal is described as a vein closure system that uses a specially formulated medical adhesive to seal a diseased vein. It’s new to the varicose and spider vein treatment scene, but not to the medical community. Cyanoacrylate glue has been used safely for decades for hemostasis and closing surgical wounds. This medical grade “super glue” works instantly to close malfunctioning veins.
How Does VenaSeal Close a Vein?
Our vein doctors begin this gentle procedure by numbing your skin and pinpointing the problematic vein with an ultrasound. VenaSeal is then delivered to the trouble spot with a tiny catheter. The tip of the catheter is positioned perfectly with ultrasound guidance to secrete a tiny bit of cyanoacrylate glue right where it’s needed. This adhesive polymerizes upon contact and its binding is not deterred by moisture (blood). VenaSeal permanently closes incompetent superficial veins so that blood is directed into healthy veins for enhanced circulation.
Pros
Pros Summary:
- Vein disease treated previously might respond to VenaSeal
- Modern solution that minimizes swelling
- Capable of sealing several trouble spots
Cons
Cons Summary:
- Glue hardens in the vein and remains in the body
- Might cause an allergic reaction
- Newness means insurance might not cover it and lifelong viability is unclear
Is VenaSeal a Good Option for You?
If you have chronic vein disease, VenaSeal offers a permanent closure of each diseased vein. While it’s not always covered by insurance, it might still be more affordable than surgery or repeat treatments that are less effective against your disease. Have our vein doctors in California assess your allergy risk before considering VenaSeal.
Sclerotherapy
Also Known As: Saline vein injections, salt solution injections, cosmetic sclerotherapy, STS
Best For: Spider veins or smaller varicose veins
What Is the Definition of Sclerotherapy?
To “sclerose” means “to harden.” Sclerotherapy hardens a diseased vein by irritating its interior lining so that it collapses and blood can no longer pass through it. Our doctors inject a sclerosant into the vein to invoke inflammation and narrowing of the vein walls. The blood coagulates and the vein walls collapse, destroying the useless vein.
How Does California Vein Clinic Perform Sclerotherapy?
Our vein specialists use various sclerosing solutions for sclerotherapy, which come in different forms. The first type, and the most common type to treat spider veins, is a liquid sclerosant. Our doctors inject this through a tiny needle into superficial veins after numbing and cleansing the skin. For damaged veins below the surface, we use ultrasound imaging to facilitate the treatment. The injection of this irritant inflames the interior lining of the vein, such that it collapses and diminishes in both size and visibility. We offer the latest medicines for this treatment, which are more comfortable than traditional salt-water sclerosants like hypertonic saline.
Pros
Pros Summary:
- Easiest method for erasing spider veins
- Quick procedure with no downtime for patients
- You can go back to regular activities while wearing compression stockings for 3 – 7 days
- Widely covered by insurance
Cons
Cons Summary:
- Doctors need experience in dosing, diluting, and vein mapping
- Some sclerosants are less effective, so choose a renowned vein clinic in California
Is Sclerotherapy the Right Option for You?
Those with cosmetic spider vein damage and no vein disease should strongly consider sclerotherapy. Patients with chronic vein disease should also consider sclerotherapy if the tumescent anesthesia in RF ablation, or allergy to the adhesive in VenaSeal negate those options.
Foam Sclerotherapy
Also Known As: Foamed Sclerotherapy, chemical ablation
Best For: Small or large varicose veins
What Is a Foam Sclerotherapy Treatment?
Foam sclerotherapy is an alternative to traditional sclerotherapy that’s often used for varicose veins, since they can be larger than spider veins. By agitating the liquid sclerosing solution with air, the medicine increases in volume, enabling vein doctors to fill a larger vein without increasing the dosage. The bubbly, foamy consistency makes more contact with the vein’s walls than liquid, since it displaces the blood as it moves through your veins, rather than mixing with the blood like liquids do. Vein specialists in California favor this method for larger varicosities and also for deeper veins, since ultrasounds track foam more easily than liquid.
How Does Foam Sclerotherapy Work?
Locating the troubled vein is the first step, conducted by visual exam or ultrasound imaging. Our vein doctors in CA state use two syringes to agitate a sclerosant with air.This generates foam from the detergent-like medicine, which your doctor then injects promptly, while its volume is maximized. The foam’s movement is then tracked with ultrasonography to make sure the vein is thoroughly medicated. The varicose vein swells and collapses, just like with liquid sclerotherapy.
Pros
Pros Summary:
- Coats vein walls more thoroughly with less medicine
- Recommended for recurrent vein diseases
Cons
Cons Summary:
- Foamed sclerosants require specific expertise to avoid complications
Is Foam Sclerotherapy My Best Option?
Both reticular veins and varicose veins are well-suited to foam sclerotherapy, particularly those at the surface of your skin, since foam travels well through these veins. It’s also a great procedure to consider if you have a recurrent vein disease.
Pre-Mixed Foam Sclerotherapy
Also Known As: Foam sclerotherapy, ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy
Best For: Rather large and tortuous varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency, as well as symptoms including heaviness, cramping, restless legs, itchiness, and leg fatigue.
What’s the Difference Between Foam and Pre-Mixed Foam Sclerotherapy?
With foam sclerotherapy, your doctor combines a chemical (like sodium tetradecyl sulfite) with a gas (like the air from the room) to make foam. But pre-mixed foam is a ready-made combination of a chemical and a gas, which is usually a highly concentrated blend of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, rather than the surrounding air. This newer technique serves two purposes. First, it minimizes the risk of an air embolism in the vein that can happen when room air is mixed with the chemical. Second, it’s a more potent solution that moves faster through the vein, deactivating quickly to protect the patient. This solution arrives already mixed in a sealed canister that your doctor injects the treatment directly from.
How Do Vein Doctors Administer Pre-Mixed Foam Sclerotherapy?
The first steps are similar to other sclerotherapy treatments, including ultrasound location of the vein and numbing the skin’s entry point. But rather than agitating the medicine themselves, the doctors simply inject the already optimized foam. With a small needle, the vein specialist injects the powerful foam into the vein and observes its progress until the treatment is complete.
Pros
Pros Summary:
- Safer choice for large varicose veins that would otherwise require surgery
- Supremely powerful
- Exceptionally effective for recurrent venous diseases
Cons
Cons Summary:
- A highly experienced doctor is a non-negotiable
- Costly for many whose insurance companies don’t cover it yet
Is Pre-Mixed Foam the Right Option for You?
If your insurance company supports this treatment, you should strongly consider it. It is a powerful alternative to traditional sclerotherapy and presents fewer risks and complications than surgery.
ClariVein
Also Known As: Mechanochemical ablation, catheter sclerotherapy
Best For: Larger saphenous veins and symptoms of spider or varicose veins like heaviness, discomfort, and muscle cramps.
What Is the Definition of ClariVein?
ClariVein combines the chemical impact of sclerotherapy with the mechanical impact of a rotating catheter to destroy an unhealthy vein. This catheter traumatizes the vein walls and also secretes the sclerosant for maximum results. While sclerotherapy alone is often sufficient for smaller spider veins, the dual methods of ClariVein work well for larger or deeper veins.
How Does California Vein Clinic Use ClariVein?
Our vein doctors identify the vein they’re treating with ultrasound guidance. After cleansing and numbing the injection site, they’ll insert a small catheter tip into the vein. It begins rotating to damage the vein walls while secreting the sclerosing solution into the vein. With the assistance of ultrasonography, our doctors guide the catheter throughout the troubled vein, traumatizing it sufficiently to prompt its closure.
Pros
Pros Summary:
- Doesn’t involve tumescent anesthesia
- Doesn’t implant hardened glue in your body
Cons
Cons Summary:
- Several insurance providers don’t cover ClariVein currently
- If a venous valve is difficult to pass, the patient might feel discomfort
Is ClariVein Right for Me?
If you’re allergic to lidocaine, you should choose ClariVein over endovenous ablation. And if you’re opposed to glue hardening and remaining in your body, you should choose ClariVein over VenaSeal. Results vary with ClariVein and so does insurance coverage. But the team at California Vein Clinic is experienced with this technique and can also determine your insurance coverage.
Surgery
Also Known As: Vein removal, phlebectomy, vein stripping, ligation and stripping
Best For: Large and twisted varicose veins
What Does Surgical Vein Stripping Mean?
Vein stripping removes a damaged vein through open incisions and usually requires either spinal or general anesthesia. Doctors make a cut below the vein and, typically, at additional points such as the groin, to grasp and extricate the vein from the body. Vein stripping is not considered major surgery, but it is considered invasive.
How Do Vein Surgeons Conduct Vein Surgery?
Doctors find the unhealthy vein with the assistance of ultrasound. They then administer anesthesia and cut down to where the vein is located. Sometimes, they’ll perform a ligation to tie off sections of the vein. Other times, they’ll extract the entire vein. They’ll then thread a surgical instrument up through the vein and pull it out of the body. Hooks and wires are often employed to forcefully pry the vein loose.
Pros
Pros Summary:
- For a small set of patients, it’s still the best solution
Cons
Cons Summary:
- Surgical technology is now outmatched by minimally invasive techniques
- Surgical risks and complications are greater
- Downtime is longer and recovery is more painful
Is Vein Surgery Right for Me?
Reputable vein doctors in California won’t recommend surgery unless it’s your singular option. Generally speaking, it’s only advised for those with severe tortuosity in their veins or those with coexisting complications like blood clots. If your medical clinic suggests vein stripping, consult with our board certified vein experts who are trained in gentler methods.
How Do You Choose the Best California Vein Clinic Treatment?
Here are 5 things to look for in a qualified California Vein Clinic. These characteristics indicate that you’ll receive the type of care you deserve.
1
The vein clinic doesn’t take things at face value:
1
The vein clinic doesn’t take things at face value:
2
The vein doctor gets to know you:
2
The vein doctor gets to know you:
3
The treatment options are customized and flexible:
3
The treatment options are customized and flexible:
4
The ultrasound devices are guided by the doctor:
4
The ultrasound devices are guided by the doctor:
5
The IAC approved the vein clinic:
5
The IAC approved the vein clinic:
Coverage Checker:
San Diego Vein Treatment Overview
Our vein doctors in San Diego are some of the top experts in venous medicine. We are constantly searching for new and novel treatment modalities. If our vein experts in San Diego feel that a new treatment is safe to use in our clinic, they add it to our options to ensure that our patients are getting the least invasive, least painful, and most effective vein treatments. After evaluating numerous treatment modalities, we consider sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, venaseal, and laser vein ablation to be the best options for most vein disease.
Contact us
Call us
If you have questions or concerns about the treatment cost or your insurance eligibility, you can call our front desk team directly. Please call (858) 800-8772
Book online
You can also schedule an appointment online via our official website. Our insurance team will contact you to request your insurance details.
Get directions
We provide clear directions to reach your nearest vein clinics in California.