Have you recently developed spider veins or varicose veins? Or have you been suffering with them for years? Unfortunately, these veins continue to be a cosmetic and pain issue for many people across the country. The bright side is that many treatments have been discovered and perfected over the years to help those dealing with these troublesome veins. Two common modern-day treatments are Sclerotherapy and Venaseal.
The question is, is sclerotherapy or VenaSeal better for your particular situation? Well, both have advantages and disadvantages. We have broken down both types of treatment below.
Sclerotherapy has been around for many years. Of course, the techniques and technology for the treatment have vastly improved overtime.
Sclerotherapy uses a chemical saline solution to irritate the affected veins. This agitation essentially damages the inside of the vein, which causes it to close and be reabsorbed by the body.
This process begins with the doctor inserting a catheter and guiding it up the vein using ultrasound. Once the top of the vein is reached, the catheter will be drawn backward while releasing the sclerosing agent. Once the procedure is completed, you will be able to head home the same day, but you should avoid strenuous exercise for a few days.
VenaSeal is a much newer practice than sclerotherapy, but it has shown to be quite effective in handling varicose and spider veins. The primary difference is that VenaSeal uses glue instead of a sclerosing agent.
Just like sclerotherapy, the VenaSeal process begins with the insertion of a catheter. Once the catheter is guided to the top of the vein, the practitioner will slowly draw it back out while leaving small drops of glue at certain intervals. Pressure is applied after each drop of glue so that it will seal the vein. The catheter will be removed and then the incision site will be bandaged. After having VenaSeal treatment, you do not have to worry about taking downtime, as you can exercise and resume most activities nearly right away.
Neither of the treatments could be said to be better than the other. It comes down to your particular case of spider or varicose veins. The best thing you can do is to consult with a doctor or vein professional, as they will be able to tell you which treatment will best handle your case.
The size of veins can play a role as to which treatment will best address them. In some cases, another form of treatment may need to be used to tackle larger veins before the above treatments can be used. Another concern for these types of treatment may be cost or insurance coverage. If you are looking to have your insurance cover the procedure, you should probably choose sclerotherapy. VenaSeal is new enough that it does not have an insurance code yet.
Also, check with your insurance company about coverage. Some policies will not cover treatment if it is only for cosmetic reasons.
Whether you have been dealing with varicose and spider veins for years or they have freshly formed, BASS Vein Center can help. We understand the pain and frustration that these veins bring and we want to help. Our center is fully equipped to deliver multiple treatment options for vein problems. Don’t wait: give us a call today so that we can begin creating the perfect treatment plan for you.
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