Varicose and Spider Vein Treatment
Vein Treatment Ashburn, Reston and Leesburg
Pregnancy, sun damage, aging, hormonal changes, and even your medical history can all increase your chances of developing spider or varicose veins. Whatever the cause, conspicuous veins on your legs can affect your confidence, possibly making you hesitant to wear more revealing clothing such as skirts and shorts. Fortunately, Dr. Mountcastle provides a variety of highly effective, clinically proven solutions to problematic veins, including sclerotherapy, VeinWave™ thermo-coagulation, and the VNUS closure procedure. Through his experience and advanced training, Dr. Mountcastle can help you to regain control over your appearance and face the world with renewed confidence and vigor.
Learn more about vein treatment at Dr. Mountcastle’s Leesburg, Ashburn, and Reston offices by scheduling a personal consultation today. Dr. Mountcastle performs approximately 500 vein procedures each year, making Mountcastle Plastic Surgery and Vein Institute one of the largest and busiest vein centers in Northern Virginia.
Sclerotherapy
A minimally invasive vein treatment, sclerotherapy is a cosmetic procedure designed to eliminate spider veins, restoring a youthful appearance to the legs. Sclerotherapy involves the use of a tiny needle to inject a solution directly into the veins being treated, causing the vein to collapse and fade away. Over approximately four to six weeks, the body will absorb and eliminate the treated vein. While the number of injections depends on the area being treated, the entire procedure can typically be accomplished in less than half an hour. Because the needle is so small, patients report little discomfort aside from a slight burning or stinging sensation, which resolves in several minutes. For several days after the sclerotherapy procedure, Dr. Mountcastle recommends that patients wear bandages, compression garments, or support hose. The majority of spider veins respond to sclerotherapy within two to five treatment sessions. Sometimes foam or ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy is needed to treat larger veins.
The VNUS Closure® Procedure and Endovenous Laser Procedure
The VNUS Closure® procedure uses radiofrequency waves generated by an electrode to close diseased varicose veins, eventually causing them to reach a temperature that results in their collapse.
Dr. Mountcastle makes a small incision to allow the insertion of a catheter into the vein being treated. As the catheter emits radiofrequency energy, the vein heats up, causing the collagen in the vein wall to shrink and eventually seal shut. Performed using local anesthesia, this advanced procedure lasts mere minutes, with the entire appointment for vein treatment taking 30 to 45 minutes at our Ashburn, Leesburg, or Reston office.
After the VNUS Closure® procedure, Dr. Mountcastle may recommend wearing support garments to assist with healing. Walking and returning to your normal level of activity is encouraged immediately after the procedure.
VeinWave™
Dr. Mountcastle was the first doctor in Virginia to utilize VeinWave™ and has one of the largest VeinWave™ practices in the area. The VeinWave™ system uses thermo-coagulation to eliminate spider veins. One of the greatest benefits of the VeinWave™ system is that it administers pulses of high frequency radio waves directly to the desired area, eliminating veins on contact for results that are immediately visible. Because the needle used is so fine, the surrounding healthy tissues are protected, and hard-to-treat areas such as the knees, ankles, and face are easily accessible. After the 15- to 30-minute procedure, patients are immediately free to resume their daily activities. While no bandages are necessary after the minimally invasive VeinWave™ treatment, exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided for several days after treatment. One of the few drawbacks of VeinWave™ is that it is effective only in treating very fine red spider veins. Larger blue spider veins must be treated by either laser or sclerotherapy.
Laser Vein Removal
Lasers are an effective option when treating veins that are resistant to sclerotherapy. Applying laser energy to the skin causes underlying veins to coagulate and shrink, fading over a period of approximately two to six weeks. It is typical for three treatments to be required in order to achieve desired results, although the number will vary from patient to patient. Because only small, superficial veins can be treated with lasers, individuals seeking removal of larger varicose veins will require alternative methods of treatment such as microphlebectomy.
Microphlebectomy
Microphlebectomy is a minimally invasive procedure designed to remove large varicose veins through very small incisions in the leg. Dr. Mountcastle will numb the area with the same tumescent technique used in liposuction, administering a diluted numbing solution along the vein after mapping out its course for removal. After making small intravenous (IV) puncture sites along the varicose vein, Dr. Mountcastle uses a hook to remove it in one- to two-inch segments. The tiny IV puncture sites do not require sutures and heal well on their own, with bandages and ACE™ wrapping.
Learn More about Vein Treatment
Once you eliminate spider and varicose veins, you will no longer have to worry about revealing your skin in bathing suits, shorts, or skirts. Schedule an appointment to discuss vein treatment options with Dr. Mountcastle in Ashburn, Leesburg, or Reston today.
