When you look down and see a cluster of discolored and bulging veins, or you notice a sharp cramp or ache after a long day of activity, you might be wondering how to resolve the problem or why it’s occurring.
At Florida Lakes Vein Center, we use non-surgical vein treatments to help our patients get back to golfing, bike riding, and enjoying life comfortably.
From the small spider veins that form on your skin to large bulging varicose veins or painful ulcers, our team uses innovative methods to treat the stages of vein disorders. With each vein treatment in Wellen Park, we enhance your circulation, overall health, and your confidence.
Looking for a solution for your concerns, but not sure what’s right for your veins? Keep reading as we break down each treatment and what it addresses.
In this post, we cover:
The Root Cause of Vein Complications
The veins in your legs have one-way valves that keep blood flowing towards your heart. This means blood has to work against gravity to travel upwards.
However, gravity, lifestyle factors, and medical conditions can all weaken the vein walls and damage the valves, causing blood to leak backwards or flow in both directions.
Once your veins weaken for any reason, your blood flow can become impaired and pool in the veins. This condition is known as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a type of vein disease that indicates damaged leg veins.
The Stages of Venous Disorders
The different stages of venous disorders represent conditions and symptoms that can stem from poor blood flow and faulty veins.
- Stage 0: This stage represents no visible or palpable signs. You might experience minor achiness.
- Stage 1: The first indication of vein complications is thin visible blood vessels, also known as spider veins, which indicate vein damage.
- Stage 2: Swollen, twisted varicose veins appear. When varicose veins reach 3 millimeters or larger in diameter, they become medically necessary to treat.
- Stage 3: During this stage, patients notice regular swelling, possibly near the varicose veins. However, no changes happen to the skin.
- Stage 4: Skin changes color and texture, possibly becoming dry or discolored.
- Stage 5: With excess pressure in the veins, venous ulcers form. This stage indicates a healed ulcer, or one that is not open.
- Stage 6: This stage indicates an active ulcer, which needs prompt medical attention.
Once they reach stage 3 or above, many patients receive a CVI diagnosis. Having varicose veins does not mean you certainly have CVI, but they do indicate poor blood flow that could worsen with time.
Let’s explore how our vein clinic, led by Dr. T.C. Lackey II, D.O., treats many vein concerns—from small, asymptomatic vessels to active ulcers.
Sclerotherapy: Spider Vein Treatment
In Wellen Park, we use sclerotherapy, an injection of liquid solution, to close thin, damaged blood vessels. Since spider veins rarely present with symptoms, this effective treatment reduces their appearance and helps you feel more confident in your skin.
Since these faulty vessels represent the first stage of venous disorders, we recommend visiting us for treatment and evaluation, even if spider veins do not bother you physically.
During your course of treatment, we can examine your veins to narrow down the root cause of their appearance, whether that be circulatory issues or lifestyle habits.
Sclerotherapy Overview
During your sclerotherapy appointments, your provider might use ultrasound guidance to pinpoint the damaged vessel. Once your vein specialist locates your spider vein, they use a small syringe to inject the solution.
As the solution’s ingredients interact with your blood vessels, they cause the walls to collapse. Blood flow redirects into healthier veins. We can permanently close spider veins with sclerotherapy, allowing you to reclaim your confidence and prevent worsening circulatory issues with this vein treatment in Wellen Park.
Sclerotherapy Treatment Details
- Number of Appointments: 4 or more
- Appointment Length: 30 to 45 minutes
- Downtime: None
- Compression Time: 24 to 48 hours
- Anesthetic: Numbing injection
Varithena and VenaSeal: Varicose Vein Treatments
When your vascular complications progress past spider veins, we can use Varithena and VenaSeal to treat unwanted varicose veins.
These varicose vein treatments effectively treat stage 2 of venous disorders, relieving the pain, discomfort, and appearance of these engorged vessels. For the best result, we might combine these solutions to treat your varicose veins and alleviate symptoms.
Receiving varicose vein treatment in Wellen Park significantly reduces the risk of venous ulcer formation.
Dr. Lackey also operates the only teaching facility in the region that educates other providers on how to perform Varithena and VenaSeal procedures. He’s a trusted instructor who helps patients in Southwestern Florida feel relief from vein disease.
Varithena Overview
Our first varicose vein treatment in Wellen Park, Varithena, consists of a microfoam solution that collapses damaged veins. To locate the veins, your provider might use ultrasound guidance.
The treatment begins with 1 or 2 injections to saturate the veins with the active ingredient, polidocanol. Once the solution coats your vein walls, it causes them to deteriorate and close. This process pushes blood flow into other veins, optimizing circulation in the area.
Varithena Treatment Details
- Number of Appointments: 4 or more
- Appointment Length: 30 minutes
- Downtime: None
- Compression Time: 24 to 48 hours
- Anesthetic: None, but a topical is available
VenaSeal Overview
Similar to Varithena, VenaSeal closes damaged varicose veins through small injections. However, VenaSeal consists of a medical-grade adhesive that shuts the diseased veins by sealing them off.
We find injection points along the veins using ultrasound and place small amounts of VenaSeal at those various points of the vessel. The injections stop blood flow to the damaged vein and reroute it to nearby, healthy ones.
VenaSeal Treatment Details
- Number of Appointments: 1
- Appointment Length: 20 to 30 minutes
- Downtime: None
- Compression Time: 24 to 48 hours
- Anesthetic: None, but a topical is available
Wound Care: Venous Ulcer Treatment
Venous stasis ulcers stem from CVI or other types of vein disease. When blood pools in the veins, it can increase pressure on the vein walls, leading to a rupture. Fluid from the vein then leaks into your surrounding tissues, which damages your skin and leads to a venous ulcer.
These sores can start small, almost unnoticeable, but without treatment, they can open and leave you at risk for skin or bone infections. Even with diligent care and attention to the wound, venous ulcers take weeks to months to heal.
Wound Care Overview
When you visit us with an active ulcer, we gently clean and treat your wound and the skin around it. We use wound care methods that minimize scarring and enhance healing.
During this appointment, we teach you how to care for your ulcer at home, including the process for cleaning and dressing the wound, and how to protect your skin.
Healing an ulcer takes effort, so through maintenance visits with us and wound care at home, we can start your journey to restored and healthy skin.
As we work towards healing the ulcer, you should wear compression stockings to stabilize blood flow and pressure in the veins. Our team can guide you in the right direction when choosing the best pair and compression level for your needs.
Wound Care Details
- Number of Appointments: Ongoing
- Appointment Length: 30 minutes
- Downtime: None
- Compression Time: Varies depending on healing
- Anesthetic: None
Recovery and Outlook: After Vein Treatments
After your vein treatment in Wellen Park, either with sclerotherapy, Varithena, or VenaSeal, you might experience a mild reaction to the service. These effects are completely normal, but they can cause some slight discomfort.
Following treatment, you might feel increased:
- Tenderness
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Redness
- Warmth
- Itching
What to Do After Treatment
Dr. Lackey instructs patients to wear a pressure dressing on the treated area for the next 48 hours to stabilize blood flow and optimize healing.
In addition to wearing your compression dressing, Dr. Lackey finds the following to be helpful:
- Walking several times a day. He recommends a few 20-minute walks to enhance circulation and encourage faster healing.
- Taking anti-inflammatory medication, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. These medications can alleviate minor symptoms like pain or achiness.
- Using an ice pack to reduce swelling and soothe the area for the first 48 hours post-treatment. After 48 hours pass, use a warm, moist compress for 20-minute intervals.
- Taking 1000mg of vitamin C. For a homeopathic remedy, Dr. Lackey recommends vitamin C for wound healing.
- Applying grape seed extract or arnica gel topically to reduce bruising and swelling.
When to Expect Results
To get the optimal results, we recommend following your entire treatment plan. After your last session of vein treatment in Wellen Park, you can feel physical improvements. Many patients notice reduced pain, throbbing, and aching quickly after their course of treatment.
Since your body reabsorbs the treated vein, the appearance of the vein also fades with time. The vein should appear less swollen shortly after treatment, but it might take weeks or months to fully disappear.
Find Relief With Our Vein Treatments
Whether you have a thin spider vein that you want removed or an aching, swollen varicose vein, our team helps you find comfort again. Expert vein treatment in Wellen Park makes it easier to confidently enjoy your activities again.
Use our virtual vein screening tool to see which treatment best fits your needs. If you want an in-person appointment, request a screening to speak with a member of our team about your unique concerns.