Dr. Kenneth H. Jesser is dedicated to providing safe, effective, comfortable, state-of-the-art, non-surgical treatments for the elimination of varicose and spider veins of the legs, face, hands and body. Rather than just treating spider veins without addressing the underlying cause, Dr. Jesser utilizes advanced diagnostic ultrasound and imaging technologies to accurately determine the source of the problem veins. This allows us to customize treatments to eliminate unwanted veins and to minimize any recurrence.
“When it comes to deciding how to best treat your painful and unsightly varicose or spider veins, cutting edge medical therapy means no cutting at all.”
VARICOSE VEINS
Varicose veins are swollen, dark blue or purple blood vessels that you can see and feel beneath the skin. They often look like twisted cords, and usually appear on the calves, inside of the legs, and ankles.
Varicose veins form when the valves within a vein weaken and allow some blood to flow backward. The vein weakens under the additional strain and balloons outward, raising the skin surface.
Many people with venous disease seek cosmetic treatment to reduce the appearance of varicose or spider veins on the legs. Treatment often relieves symptoms associated with the condition, such as heaviness, aching, itching, burning, night cramps, fatigue, and swelling. Left untreated, more significant problems may develop such as spontaneous bleeding, permanent skin discoloration, leg and ankle ulcerations, and blood clots. Dr. Jesser has successfully treated many patients with these significant problems who had otherwise been told by their care providers that their only option was surgical vein stripping.
SPIDER VEINS
Spider veins, or telangiectasias, are small, thin, blood vessels visible beneath the skin. They appear most commonly on the face and legs and may look like a series of lines, tree branches, or a spider- or web-like shape with a dark center. It is estimated that they affect nearly half of adult women in the U.S.
Spider veins are caused by a variety of factors, including heredity, pregnancy (and other conditions that involve changes in hormone levels), weight gain, long periods of standing, and certain medications. They often appear red or blue, and because they form on the face, thighs, calves and ankles, many patients are bothered by the way they look. Others seek medical treatment for uncomfortable symptoms such as aching, burning, swelling and cramping. The standard treatments for spider veins are sclerotherapy and laser or pulsed light treatments. Properly treating these veins corrects both your symptoms and your appearance.
SCLEROTHERAPY
Sclerotherapy is the gold standard treatment for eliminating smaller varicose and spider veins of the legs. In general, externally applied lasers are painful and not effective for treatment of leg veins without proper sclerotherapy. A special sclerosing solution is injected into the diseased leg vein – this collapses the treated vein which is then gradually absorbed by the body. Sclerotherapy involves precise injections into the feeder veins which are key to eliminating the spider veins by treating their underlying cause – external lasers do not treat the cause of spider veins. Successful treatment usually relieves symptoms associated with enlarged veins and prevents further complications.
EVLT (ENDOVENOUS LASER TREATMENT)
EVLT is the modern non-surgical standard of care to treat large varicose veins of the legs, and is performed in less than one hour.
After using ultrasound to map out the abnormal vein, local anesthetic is applied, and a thin laser fiber is inserted through a needle into the damaged vein, usually near the inner knee. Laser energy is delivered through the fiber, effectively and 100% painlessly sealing the abnormal vein. There may be minor soreness and bruising along the treated vein which is easily taken care of with over-the-counter pain relievers. After treatment, the treated leg is placed in a compression stocking for one week. Patients are able to walk without assistance immediately after the procedure, and frequently can return to work the same day if desired. Many patients report immediate relief of disturbing symptoms they had otherwise suffered from for years.
FACE VEINS
Unlike leg veins, facial spider veins and enlarged capillaries are frequently eliminated with specialized lasers and light based therapies. The proper laser, specific for vascular lesions, must be used to treat these problems. We can usually eliminate undesirable veins on the nose and face in one treatment without blistering. Larger facial veins can also be successfully treated and require individual consultation.
HAND VEINS
Undesirable appearing veins of the hands can be markedly improved through a series of precision injections, similar to the treatment of spider veins of the legs. Veins elsewhere on the body require individual evaluation to determine the most effective treatment option.
If you would like more information or is interested in scheduling a consultation, please contact us today. We’d be happy to assist you!