Vein Treatment Overview
With over 20 years of experience and board certification in vein treatment, Dr. Fitzgibbons, along with his staff at the Fitzgibbons Vein Center are experts in the entire spectrum of Los Angeles vein treatment services, including Duplex ultrasound, Sclerotherapy, Ambulatory Phlebectomy, RFA, EVLT, and Venaseal.
There are a number of treatment methods that might get rid of your problem veins, depending on the exact nature of the problem. The vein specialists at the Fitzgibbons Vein Center will identify the best treatment for your varicose veins, spider veins or other vein irregularities, and help you avoid painful vein surgery.
Duplex Ultrasound
Duplex ultrasound is a non-invasive procedure that will be performed as part of your diagnostic work-up to discern exactly where the problem veins lie. It uses ultrasound imaging to take a picture of the veins under the skin in order to find the faulty valve causing the blockage, pooling or reversal of blood flow.
Endovenous Laser Ablation (also known as EVLA)
Endovenous laser treatment of varicose veins is a minimally invasive and highly effective procedure to treat problem varicose veins. The physician inserts a catheter through a small nick in the skin, but then uses targeted laser energy to shrink the problem veins until they seal themselves off. EVLT has success rates of up to 98%, and with proper post-operative care, patients experience minimal discomfort or bruising, resuming normal activities within just a few days.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice for Los Angeles area patients suffering from spider veins. In the procedure, a chemical agent (foamed polidocanol or foamed sotradecol) is injected into a vein through a tiny needle. The vein reacts to the chemical by sealing shut and is eventually absorbed by the body while blood flow is redirected to healthy veins. This procedure is minimally invasive, and patients usually recover quickly. Dr. Fitzgibbons often uses the revolutionary Vein Lite during sclerotherapy to visualize veins just below the surface of the skin.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy
Ambulatory phlebectomy is often the best vein treatment choice for varicose veins close to the surface of the skin. Once the skin is anesthetized, the physician draws veins out with a small hook inserted through a tiny incision. Compression bandages are usually recommended for two weeks to promote healing.
Radiofrequency Treatment (RFA)
A minimally invasive procedure that uses segmental radiofrequency (RF) energy to provide an even and uniform heat to contract the collagen in the vein walls, causing them to collapse and seal the vein closed. Blood is then re-routed through healthy veins back towards the heart.
VenaSeal (Glue)
A revolutionary new way to treat veins, the Venaseal treatment is like a superglue for the body. The innovative treatment offers a new way for surgeons to approach the varicose vein problems by closing diseased veins off and eliminating the cause of unsightly and uncomfortable varicose veins for good.
Varithena
VARITHENA is a drug/device combination product that generates injectable foam used to treat incompetent great saphenous veins, accessory saphenous veins, and visible varicosities of the great saphenous vein system above and below the knee. It improves the symptoms of superficial venous reflux disease as well as improving the appearance of varicose veins.
The injectable foam is composed of a liquid and gas phase, both of which are necessary to have its therapeutic effect. VARITHENA is intended to act as follows: (1) the foam displaces blood from the vein to be treated, and (2) the polidocanol then scleroses the vein wall.