Dr. Munyon can perform sclerotherapy to treat leg veins. The procedure involves the injection of a hypertonic saline solution into the visible vessels. Treatment time is approximately 20 minutes and with virtually no pain. If you have questions about the Levulan PDT system, you are not alone. Here are some of the questions other patients commonly ask about this advanced new treatment.

Spider veins develop from tiny veins that are not important to your circulation. Varicose veins are larger veins that are part of the superficial venous system. When functioning normally, the entire system of superficial veins returns less than 10% of the blood flow from the legs. But varicose veins are not normal veins. They are diseased vessels that allow blood to move backwards.

You will most likely have some bruising, some redness, and maybe some hyperpigmentation. The cosmetic results are not immediate. It takes about 3 months for the bruising and pigmentation to go away. Remember, that the leg veins will look worse before they look better.

Symptoms caused by varicose veins include heaviness/aching legs, leg swelling, skin discoloration, and even ulceration. Endovenous laser ablation is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure performed by an interventional radiologist. The laser energy is applied to the inside of the vein, sealing the vein closed. Once the diseased vein is closed, other healthy veins take over carrying blood back to the heart.

Spider veins develop from tiny veins that are not important to your circulation. Varicose veins are larger veins that are part of the superficial venous system. When functioning normally, the entire system of superficial veins returns less than 10% of the blood flow from the legs. But varicose veins are not normal veins. They are diseased vessels that allow blood to move backwards.

Dr. Young performs sclerotherapy, where a special medication is injected into small red “spider veins” to make them go away. Some small blue veins also respond well to this procedure, but the large “ropey” veins cannot be treated in this manner. Sclerotherapy is usually painless and is done in-office by Dr. Young.

No. Non-elastic non-binding socks are a safe choice for diabetics. Restricting circulation is always a concern for diabetics, but doctors agree that uniform compression actually promotes blood flow. That's why SmartKnit socks are "corespun" with a special blend of Dupont Coolmax® and Lycra® yarns to create a "second skin" fit without pressure. SmartKnit socks won't slip, bunch, and create blisters and discomfort.

Ginko was recently reported in the American Journal of Medicine to have a modest effect on someone’s ability to increase the distance walked without pain. However, it did not help as much as a regular exercise program or conventional drug therapy. Because ginkgo seems to make blood less likely to clot, it increases the risk of bleeding if you are using aspirin, blood thinners such as Coumadin (warfarin) or clot-busting medications.

Thrombophlebitis, sometimes called Deep Venous Thrombosis(DVT), can occur after any operation, but is more likely to occur following surgery on the hip, pelvis, or knee. DVT occurs when the blood in the large veins of the leg forms blood clots within the veins. This may cause the leg to swell and become warm to the touch and painful.

Unfortunately, genetics and hormones play a major role in the formation of veins; however, there are some strategies that you can try. Sitting or standing for any length of time will exacerbate veins. I recommend changing positions frequently or pumping calf muscles every 15 minutes. Wear support hose, if you have to be on your feet for hours. Of course, exercise is a must. Avoid crossing your legs when sitting and avoid wearing high heels.

Ans. These are varicose veins of legs which may occur in pregnancy in some patients in later months of pregnancy due to obstruction of return blood flow. Elastic crepe bandage during movements and elevation of the limbs during rest can give relief. Varicosities usually disappear following delivery.

Although laser can treat spider veins, they will often come back unless more comprehensive treatments with sclerotherapy are performed first. Virtually, all spider veins are being "fed" by larger veins that have leaking valves. The golden rule of vein treatments is to always treat the larger, leaking veins first before attempting to remove the smaller spider veins, otherwise, recurrence rates are high. Lasers can only treat small vessels less than 3 mm in diameter.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a common movement problem of the nervous system. Your legs feel as if they want to exercise or move when you are trying to rest. It can make it hard to sleep and relax. It is more common in women and older people. Some people have described RLS as a crawling, creeping, prickly, tingling, itching, burning, pulling or shock like sensation. The problem can vary from a minor irritation to a severe condition. You may find that your arms are also affected.

The rate of recurrence of varicose veins after the laser procedure is approximately three percent. This is much better than the twenty to twenty- five percent recurrence rate seen with vein stripping.

Spider veins are the small purple veins that do not bulge out the skin - they are usually hereditary in nature. Sclerotherapy is performed with extremely small needles. The solution is a local anesthetic and has no pain on injection. The laser treatment requires temporary ice cooling before each treatment.

The most commonly asked questions are: Do veins require treatment and What treatment is best? Veins that are cosmetically unappealing or cause pain or other symptoms are prime candidates for treatment. There are two general treatment options: conservative measures, such as compression stockings, and "corrective" methods such as endovenous laser ablation, sclerotherapy, and minimal surgery. In some cases, a combination of treatment methods works best.

Varicose veins or 'spider' veins are enlarged veins that look blue and bulging in the legs. The veins become twisted and swollen because of impaired blood flow through the veins through a faulty valve. The condition is rarely dangerous, but many feel conscious of them due to their unsightly appearance. Laser therapy may remove smaller varicosities while more severe cases can be treated with injections or the veins can be 'stripped out' with surgery.

Large, often bulging veins that usually have a zigzag pattern. Varicose veins are the result of reflux and abnormal flow of blood from the deep vein. This abnormal flow is the result of the incompetence of barriers, called valves, between the deep and superficial vein systems.