About Treatment

For Large Varicose Veins (Varicosity)
If a person is a carrier of bulging, tortuous vein, normally the individual has an incompetency of the long or short saphenous vein. The saphenous veins are two large superficial veins that all humans have. To correct the problem, the only options are to remove the vein by traditional surgery (stripping) or eliminate the bulging vein by laser or radiofrequency.
Generally, laser treatment consists of introducing a laser fiber (wire) inside the vein through a needle puncture and when the energy is applied this seals the vein. Traditional surgery requires hospitalization, general or spinal anesthesia, multiple incisions and more recovery time. Laser treatment, on the other hand, is performed in the office under local anesthesia and involves only a needle stick. The patient is able to walk immediately and be back to normal activity in a very short time. This is one of the safest and most efficient procedures today.
Radiofrequency is exactly the same procedure as the laser, the only difference is the energy generated is radiofrequency instead of power laser. The radiofrequency in certain cases has some limitations.

For Intermediate Varicose Veins
If the veins are mildly dilated, sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice. Sclerotherapy consists of injecting a medication into the vein. This medication will irritate the lining of the vein. In response, the vein will collapse and is re-absorbed by the body.
If moderately to severely dilated, a minimally invasive surgical procedure called ambulatory phlebectomy is recommended. This procedure is done at the office under local anesthesia, allowing the patient to resume normal activities without much down time except if abundant removal of large veins is required. The scars are very minimal from this procedure.

For Small Varicose Veins or Spider Veins
The treatment of choice for spider veins is sclerotherapy. Low concentration of the medication is injected through the vein to inflame the wall of the vein. The vein collapses and is absorbed and eliminated by the body.
A new approach for sclerotherapy involves using foam instead of liquid. This new approach is gaining more popularity and is state-of-the-art treatment for all kinds of varicose veins. We are presently using foam sclerotherapy for selective cases and have obtained excellent results.
An alternative treatment for spider veins is a laser/light source treatment. The energy ignited by the laser is absorbed by the red blood cells, which provokes an irritation of the lining of the vein, the veins seal off, collapse and dissolve with time.

For more information regarding Phlebology, please visit the web site of the American College of Phlebology at www.phlebology.org

About Causes	About Treatment
About Complications	Other Locations
About Frequencies	Types of Varicose Veins
About Symptoms	Before and After Treatments

Please click on a location below to view a list of Vein Clinic providers in this community.

West Ames	(515) 239-4492	3600 West Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50010
Webster City	(515) 832-6700	510 Bank Street, Webster City, Iowa 50595

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McFarland Clinic PC is central Iowa's largest physician-owned multi-specialty clinic. The McFarland Clinic PC network of health care providers serves residents
in 11 Iowa communities with an additional 12 communities served by physician outreach clinics. We strive to be the trusted choice for coordinated healthcare delivered by caring professionals dedicated to individual well-being.
For more information, please contact (515) 239-4400.