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Dr. Philip
Seaver M.D.
195
Columbia Turnpike
Ph: (973)408-VEIN
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Varicose Vein Treatment |
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| A
micro-phlebectomy, a varicose vein treatment that is used to
treat certain types of varicose veins. The word "phlebectomy"
literally means removing the vein. When someone speaks of "leg
vein removal", that's exactly what this procedure does. The
day of the procedure, your leg will be marked where the veins
bulge out. Then, a special local anesthetic is injected into the
area surrounding your leg vein. The doctor will make tiny
incisions of about 2-3mm - the size of a ball-point pen tip
- and use a crochet-type hook to "grab" the vein and
remove it. This interrupts the vein, causes any remaining
portions of the vein to atrophy, and gets rid of those unsightly
bulgy areas! |
"I had a problem with varicose veins on my legs. They were both unattractive looking and caused pain. I have no pain anymore and my legs look terrific. I will recommend you to all my friends and relatives." Michael
W.; Financial Advisor |
What if I need those veins?
You may wonder, "what if I need those veins later? Suppose I need bypass surgery?" If the veins were functioning normally, then yes, you might need them later! But since the veins are dilated and not working properly, they are doing more harm than good. Heart doctors don't use varicose veins for bypass surgery for that very reason! In fact, leg vein removal may reduce the likelihood of needing heart surgery later on.
Does it hurt?
Most
patients say that the procedure does not hurt at all. You will feel the
pin prick of the needle as we inject the anesthetic, but then the area
is instantly numb. You will not feel any of the "stabs". You will
not feel pain from the leg vein removal. We will give you some
prescription-strength ibuprofen to help you for the first day or two,
but the vast majority of patients require only over the counter
ibuprofen to keep them comfortable. Rarely will patients require a
stronger pain-killer after the procedure, which is why varicose vein
treatments can be done in our office, rather than in the hospital.
Will
there be scarring?
You'll be pleased to know that the incisions are so tiny, that any scarring can't be seen. Most patients can barely see their incisions four to six weeks after the surgery. Compared to the "railroad tracks" associated with traditional leg vein removal, the scars from the varicose vein treatment are practically non-existent.
How
much down time or recovery time is needed?
The
recovery time for this leg vein removal procedure is negligible. You will
need to take it easy for the first 48 hours, but walking is encouraged
to promote healing - you will walk out of the office! After the first
two days, normal activities are resumed. Only strenuous exercise is discouraged
for the first week to ten days, as are swimming and hot tubs. After that,
it is business as usual!
Contact
us to see if leg vein removal is what you need.
| ELT
stands for Endovenous Laser Treatment. This
is an exciting new varicose vein treatment that is replacing
traditional leg vein removal in practices across the nation. The
ELT varicose vein treatment involves threading a laser fiber
into the diseased vein and activating it along the length of the
vein. This effectively "closes" the vein, preventing blood
flow and the increased pressure associated with varicosities.
Local anesthetic is used, and all ELT procedures are done in our
office. |
"I knew my veins looked ugly, but I didn't know how bad they felt until after my surgery." My leg look great and I came back to Dr. Seaver to have the other one done." Rachel
L.; Business Administrator |
Is it painful?
The laser varicose vein treatment is carried out under local anesthetic. You will feel the prick of the needle used to inject the anesthetic, but you will be completely numb for the remaining part of the procedure. Since the entire area around the vein is numb, you will feel nothing as the laser is used in the procedure. After the procedure, the anesthetic lasts a few hours. We then recommend that you take the prescription-strength ibuprofen we provide at regular intervals for at least 3-4 days. This decreases inflammation and pain. After this, you may take over the counter pain relievers. Most people find the pain-relief we recommend to be more than sufficient.
How effective is it?
As
a varicose vein treatment, the ELT procedure is about 98% effective in
closing the vein. When a leg vein is completely removed, it is
impossible for it to return, while with traditional vein stripping,
there is a greater chance of new veins growing. Even though the original
vein is gone, new ones may recur which will require future treatment.
With ELT, new veins are unlikely to grow. This greatly decreases the
likelihood that you will require additional varicose vein treatment in
the future.
In short, ELT is considered more effective at treating varicosities than traditional stripping.
Can
all varicose veins be treated with ELT?
Unfortunately,
not all varicose veins can be treated with ELT. If the vein is greater
than 2cm in diameter, then the laser will not be effective. Also, if the
vein is very tortuous or "winding", then it may be impossible to insert
the laser fiber far enough into the vein to be helpful. If the vein is
located very close to the surface, ELT is not appropriate. In these cases,
an alternative treatment will be recommended by the surgeon.
After
Call Today for a Free Consultation.
973-408-8346
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