Vein ablations offer minimally invasive, in-office solutions to varicose veins, painful skin ulcerations, chronic leg pain, and persistent swelling related to venous insufficiency. Eliza Codd, ARNP, FNP-BC, AG-ACNP-BC, CLS, is a double board-certified nurse practitioner and vein specialist at Woodlands Vein Center & Preventative Medicine Clinic in Shenandoah, Texas. Also serving Woodlands, Conroe, Spring and North Houston, Texas. The team offers the most advanced ablation remedies for problematic veins and bases treatment strategies on your individual needs. Schedule an evaluation today by calling the office or booking a visit online.
request an appointmentWhat is vein ablation?
Vein ablation seals damaged veins that can effectively transport blood back to the heart. Caused by chronic venous insufficiency, this sluggish blood flow usually occurs in leg veins. It is related to leaky vein valves and weakened vessel walls that allow blood to collect or pool in the vessel.
Chronic venous insufficiency can cause various symptoms, including:
- Varicose veins
- Chronic leg pain and swelling
- Open skin sores or ulcerations
- Reddish-brown skin discoloration and thickening of the skin around the ankles
Vein ablation relieves the physical symptoms and cosmetic effects of chronic venous insufficiency.
Are there different types of vein ablation?
Woodlands Vein Center & Preventative Medicine Clinic offers the most advanced and effective vein ablation treatments.
Each method can seal the problematic vein successfully, triggering your body to reroute blood flow to a nearby healthy vein. Without a blood supply, the damaged vein dies. Your body’s natural waste disposal system removes the dead tissue, and your symptoms resolve.
In-office endovenous (within the vein) treatments typically require just one puncture-like incision to access the targeted vein. A local anesthetic numbs the puncture site, making the treatment painless, which your provider performs under ultrasound guidance for accuracy.
Depending on the number and size of veins requiring treatment, your provider may recommend:
VENCLOSE® RF Ablation
VENCLOSE is an advanced system that uses heat from radiofrequency (RF) energy to damage and close compromised veins. Delivered via a small catheter inserted into the targeted vein, you may experience slight warmth during thermal ablation.
Chemical ablation
Chemical ablation, also referred to as sclerotherapy, utilizes a sclerosing agent or special adhesive rather than heat to close the problematic vein.
Treatments offered at Woodlands Vein Center & Preventative Medicine Clinic include VenaSeal™ and Varithena®.
Smaller varicose veins and spider veins may respond best to ablation with the Asclera® sclerosing agent.
ClariVein®
The ClariVein mechanochemical vein ablation system combines a sclerosing foam with painless mechanical destruction of the vein. ClariVein offers excellent results for even large varicose veins, which are sometimes resistant to other methods.
Which vein ablation treatment is right for me?
Your provider creates a personalized treatment plan based on the results of a detailed evaluation, including ultrasound studies to map the location of unhealthy veins.
For optimal cosmetic results and symptom relief, your strategy may include a combination of vein ablation therapies.
Schedule an evaluation at Woodlands Vein Center & Preventative Medicine Clinic today by calling the office or requesting an appointment online.