Alternative Vein Treatments
Understand all of your options.
Beyond Sclerotherapy and EVLA.
You may have heard of treatments other than sclerotherapy and EVLA as you’ve been researching. In certain situations, some can be practical options, but many are not–that’s why it’s important to consult with a vascular specialist who can help you understand the whole picture. Sclerotherapy and endovenous laser treatment are not the only options out there, but they are known to be among the safest, least painful, and most effective. However, we still feel it’s best to address the advantages and disadvantages of other treatment options in order to give you the full story.
Recommended alternative vein treatments:
What they are: Compression stockings are prescription garments that fit tighter around the foot and gradually loosen compression as they move up the leg. They are designed to increase your blood flow, and to help push your veins blood back upward toward your heart. Compression stockings for varicose veins may be required by your insurance company as a first course of action before authorizing coverage for medical treatment, so schedule a consultation at your nearest vein clinic to find out.
Pros: They can provide symptomatic relief of pain and swelling and can encourage healthier, more efficient blood flow. When used with other treatments they may also increase the effectiveness of those treatments, so they’re often helpful before or after sclerotherapy and EVLA treatments.
Cons: Compression stockings do not treat the underlying problem. Because vein disease is progressive, symptoms will typically worsen over time if the disease is not properly treated. Also, some people find compression stockings to be uncomfortable and hot.
What it is: A medical device that uses a process called thermocoagulation to destroy fine-thread spider veins.
Why VCA sometimes offers it: It offers you an alternative to laser or injection therapies. We offer it only at a limited number of our clinics, so call 844.890.8346 to ask whether Veinwave is available at your local Vein Clinics of America location.
What it is: A procedure used to remove bulging veins that are close to the skin’s surface. This procedure requires local anesthesia before removing the veins through small incisions or needle punctures.
Why VCA sometimes offers it: For some patients this is an appropriate treatment for bulging veins because it can result in faster resolution of symptoms and a better cosmetic outcome. We offer it only at a limited number of our clinics, so call 844.890.8346 to ask whether Ambulatory Phlebectomy is available at your local Vein Clinics of America location.
Alternative vein treatments that we don't recommend:
What it is: Lasers hit the lighter, more delicate spider veins close to the skin’s surface.
Why VCA does not recommend it: IPL isn’t as effective as sclerotherapy and can be quite painful.2
There’s also the possibility that it may damage or burn the skin. It is not considered the “gold standard” in treatment.
2 Goldman MP, Sadick NS, Weiss RA. Treatment of leg telangiectasias with lasers and high-intensity pulsed light. In: Fronek HL, ed. The Fundamentals of Phlebology: Venous Disease for Clinicians. 2nd ed. London, England: Royal Society of Medicine Press Ltd; 2008:47-52.
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