At The Minor Surgery Center, our highly experienced vascular surgeon treats all three venous insufficiencies., including:
Spider veins
We treat spider veins via transcutaneous laser therapy or sclerotherapy injection. Transcutaneous laser therapy involves the application of a laser impulse through the skin that selectively “attacks” the affected veins, leading to their denaturation and coagulation followed by resorption and disappearance. One of the primary advantages this treatment allows is that it does not require any incisions or punctures to the skin.
Sclerotherapy injection, on the other hand, is a procedure that involves injecting a solution (usually a salt solution) into the affected veins. The lining of the vein is irritated by the solution, which causes it to collapse and stick together, forming a blood clot. Then, over time, the vein turns into scar tissue which fades away. Sclerotherapy is a highly reliable procedure that has been used since the 1930s.
At TMSC, we use sclerodex, a low-dose sclerosing agent that avoids staining. It is injected using a very fine needle. The number of veins injected varies on a case-by-case basis. The sclerotherapy injection procedure itself takes approximately 15-30 minutes to perform.
Reticular veins
In many cases, sclerotherapy injection can be used to treat reticular veins, especially if they are confined to the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue. If sclerotherapy injection is not a viable option—which is sometimes the case when the veins are larger and deeper—then ablative therapy is required. Typically, an ultrasound is necessary to determine the type of treatment required. Ablative therapy involves using heat to damage tissue, which forms scar tissue. The scar tissue then closes the vein.
Varicose veins
Although varicose veins usually occur due to reflux in the greater and lesser saphenous veins, an ultrasound is required to confirm the reflux and the necessary treatment. Usually, varicose vein treatment in Toronto consists of ablative therapy, which uses heat to damage tissue. This then forms scar tissue, which closes the vein.
Venous insufficiencies can be uncomfortable, cause pain, or make you feel self-conscious. If your veins are bothering you, our vascular surgeon can answer any questions you may have and guide you through your path to recovery.
