Choosing Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins

, , , , , Spider Veins

Spider veins making you self conscious about wearing shorts or swimwear? If that’s the case, you could consider sclerotherapy. This is just one of the treatments offered in a vein clinic like St. Louis Vein & Endovascular. Under the direction of Dr. Raffi Krikorian, you can have a varicose vein treatment that can solve this problem.

What Are Varicose Veins?

Veins rely on muscle contractions and small flaps of tissue called valves to hep get blood back to the heart. As the muscles contract, they squeeze the veins, while the valves prevent blood from flowing backward. Unfortunately, those valves can fail, which allows blood to pool and distend the vein. Small veins are called spider veins and large veins are called varicose veins or varicosities, but in reality, they’re both the same thing – they just differ in size.

What is Sclerotherapy?

Sclerotherapy is the most common treatment used by vein doctors and vascular surgeons to treat spider veins. It’s actually considered the gold standard for this condition. Performed in a doctor’s office or vein clinic, sclerotherapy is a simple outpatient procedure and usually takes less than an hour. The treatment is based on the concept that an irritated spider vein will swell, collapse and scar shut. The doctor injects an irritant solution into the vein and then applies compression bandages or stocking to help the vein seal closed. Sclerotherapy can also be used on some larger varicose veins.

Sclerotherapy – Different Types

There are actually three kinds of sclerotherapy. Traditional sclerotherapy relies on the irritant solution. Foam sclerotherapy uses medical solutions mixed with air to produce a creamy consistency. Foam can be used on larger, deeper varicose veins, not just spider veins. The foam can also be seen with an ultrasound device, so guided ultrasound sclerotherapy is used to find and treat deep, less visible veins. Foam also uses less medication per treatment, which allows treatment of a larger area with the same amount of treatment solution.

What’s the Procedure Like?

Sclerotherapy is actually a very simple procedure. The doctor will carefully cleanse the skin. Next, a very fine needle is used to inject the sclerotherapy solution into the vein. You might feel a burning or stinging sensation as the liquid is injected. The sensation usually goes away quickly. The spider veins swell and then collapse in response to the irritation from the solution. You should be able to go home shortly after the treatment and resume your normal activities within a day or so. You’ll need to wear compression stockings for a couple of weeks to help the veins scar closed.

Sclerotherapy is the vein treatment that can solve your spider vein problems. Please contact us to schedule an appointment for an assessment. We can answer any questions you might have. Be aware that sclerotherapy for spider veins is considered a cosmetic procedure by most insurance companies – we’ll help you work out a payment solution.

Get Varicose Vein Treatment Before The Damage is Too Great

, , , , , Vein Treatment

Think varicose veins will go away on their own? They won’t. In fact, they’ll get worse and could put your health at risk.

Going without varicose vein treatment could lead to hyperpigmentation and ulcers, as well as an increased risk of dangerous blood clots in your legs.

Many people think vein treatment requires surgery when in actuality, most can be treated at a vein clinic. Read on to learn why varicose veins occur and to discover your treatment options.

What Causes Varicose Veins?

The condition is quite common among people as they age. According to womenshealth.gov, about half of Americans over the age of 50 have varicose veins. However, the condition can occur in younger people, too.

Varicose veins are caused by weak or damaged valves in your veins. The damage is due to a variety of factors.

1. Aging. The valves in your veins stop working as well as you get older.

2. Heredity. Genetics plays a role in your risk of developing varicose veins. If a close relative has them, there’s a greater chance you will, too.

3. Weight. Excess weight adds stress to your veins leading to damage and varicose veins.

4. Sedentary lifestyle. Sitting or standing for long periods means your body’s circulatory system has to work haqrder to move blood to and from your extremities. The added effort causes vein valves to break down quicker.

5. Hormones. Fluctuations in your levels of estrogen or progesterone can lead to varicose veins. Puberty, menopause and taking birth control pills can causes these hormone levels to change.

6. Pregnancy. Pregnant women have a greater volume of blood in their bodies. Added to that, the growing fetus puts extra pressure on the mother’s veins. The combination of these factors can cause varicose veins during pregnancy. The condition will often improve after delivery.

What are My Varicose Vein Treatment Options?

Sclerotherapy is the preferred method vein doctors use to combat most varicose veins. It’s noninvasive, requires little down time and is highly effective. A sclerosing substance is injected into the problem vein. The solution causes the varicose vein to collapse and the blood that was flowing through the vein to clot. The varicose vein disappears, helping your legs to be healthier and more attractive. Sclerotherapy also works well for spider veins.

If you have varicose veins, schedule a consultation with vascular surgeons to determine a treatment plan. An ultrasound of your legs will likely be ordered so your vein doctor can have a more accurate assessment of your circulatory system.

To schedule a consultation, please call (314) 272-4150.

Above And Beyond The Call Of Medical Licensure

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When we visit a doctor, many of us usually just trust he or she is good at what they do.  Many of us are intimidated by physicians, and don’t bother even checking their credentials.  This is a big mistake, and often a regrettable one.  Dr. Krikorian of St. Louis is a doctor who encourages his potential patients to check him out, because he wants them to be comfortable in their decision choosing him, and to be assured that he is indeed, very good at what he does.

 

Dr. Krikorian of St. Louis –The Diplomat

 

When researching Dr. Krikorian’s credentials, you will see a long list of certifications, among them being a Diplomat in numerous specialties.  Sounds impressive, and it is, but do you understand exactly what it means to be a Diplomat? A Diplomat is a physician who has earned a board certification in certain specialties, and this requires on-going education and training in those fields.  According to the American Board of Medical Specialties, a doctor who has a board certification provides “assurance of a physician’s expertise in a particular specialty and/or subspecialty of medical practice.”

 

Board certification began back in the 1900s as many physicians began to move away from the general practice of medicine and gravitate toward specialties.  Board certifications were created to assess a doctor’s qualifications in whatever specialty he chose.  Every doctor, of course, must have a license to practice medicine, but this just indicates a ground-level competency in diagnosing and treating patients.  Any physician who has graduated from medical school, completed residency requirements, and has a license issued by the state in which he practices, can set up an office and treat patients.  But is this good enough for you?  It shouldn’t be.  A doctor who has board certifications has willingly participated in training and education that exceeds basic licensing requirements, allowing him to demonstrate exceptional knowledge and skill in his chosen specialty.  And Dr. Krikorian of St. Louis has this in several areas.

 

Dr. Krikorian of St. Louis Has the Skills

 

Dr. Krikorian is a Diplomat in the following specialties:

 

  • Phlebology
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Nuclear Cardiology
  • A Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.

 

Dr. Krikorian of St. Louis is also a registered Vascular Technician, and a Registered Physician  in Vascular Interpretation.   All of this still may sound overwhelming and a bit confusing, but be assured that all you really need to know is this – Dr. Krikorian of St. Louis is highly educated, exceptionally trained, and thoroughly knowledgeable in his field, all which immensely qualify him to examine, diagnose, and treat his patients using cutting-edge and 100% safe technology, combined with a caring, compassionate staff.

 

It is critically important that when visiting a doctor you research his education and qualifications.  Dr. Krikorian has extensive education and credentials, and now you understand how very important it is for a doctor to be a diplomat in his specialties.  He is the real deal – and you won’t find a better doctor in the field of vein treatment and cosmetic procedures than Dr. Krikorian of St. Louis.





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