Varicose veins form when the valves that direct blood flow fail, allowing venous reflux and blood pooling in the legs. This increases pressure on the veins, causing the walls to dilate, bulge, and twist, leading to varicose veins. Not only are they unsightly, but they can cause itching, cramping, throbbing, heaviness, swelling, and pain. Premier Vein & Body by Schwartz is Kansas City’s industry leader in treating varicose veins. Dr. Schwartz understands how emotionally and physically painful vein problems can be, so you will receive professional care from a vein specialist who listens to your needs and works hard to help you.
Painful vein stripping used to be the go-to treatment for varicose veins. Thanks in part to Dr. Craig Schwartz—who was instrumental in the Kansas City area with replacing painful surgeries with minimally invasive in-office vein treatments and significantly reducing recovery times—ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is one of the minimally-invasive treatments used to eliminate diseased veins.
Also known as endovenous chemical ablation, ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy targets and eliminates varicose veins hidden from the naked eye, which are only visible via ultrasound. These underlying veins are often an underlying cause of spider veins as well, so treating these can produce improvements in the visible appearance of your legs. Using ultrasound technology for precision, Dr. Schwartz guides a small catheter through the vein to the target area, injecting a chemical irritant called a sclerosing agent, and within seconds, small to medium-sized varicose veins collapse. Healthy vessels take over, and the diseased veins are absorbed by the body. Dr. Schwartz uses only the most effective, FDA-approved sclerosing agents to provide safety and effective vein closure. Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is often combined with other treatments, such as Endovenous Laser Ablation or ambulatory phlebectomy, to remove diseased veins.
As the venous system is complex, it’s important to schedule a vein screening with Dr. Schwartz to determine the underlying cause of your diseased veins and the best treatment protocol to resolve it. If Dr. Schwartz determines that you have varicose veins that require ultrasound guidance to access, he may recommend you as a good candidate for ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy. Not all vein doctors have the skill to perform this procedure, but Dr. Schwartz has extensive training as well as multiple certifications.
Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is a relatively quick treatment, with the entire appointment generally taking less than an hour. It begins with a thorough discussion and ultrasound examination of the veins to be treated. The injections themselves will only take around 30 minutes or less after patient preparation.
Prior to your ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, Dr. Schwartz will perform a venous duplex ultrasound. This technology will let him visualize the entire venous system of your legs and target the diseased veins. This highly effective screening method allows him to plan your treatment with great accuracy. While most in-office procedures only take a short time, Dr. Schwartz will perform all necessary screenings to make sure the procedure goes as smoothly as possible.
With the collapse of the dysfunctional veins, you’ll see some immediate improvements. Most patients report noticeable relief of symptoms after treatment.
Leg pain and heaviness, ankle and leg swelling, and other uncomfortable symptoms will often improve greatly within a few days to weeks of treatment as the targeted vein collapses and healthy veins take over the job.
Fading of visible varicose veins may require other treatments since ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy targets hidden and not visible veins. This can include ambulatory phlebectomy to remove the unsightly surface veins or endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) to close the underlying veins so the body can reabsorb them.
There is little to no downtime with ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, and you’re encouraged to walk to maintain good blood circulation. Compression stockings are required for 1-2 weeks following your procedure. The compression stockings will help with healing and will also help to collapse the treated vein more quickly. Walking will encourage circulation, although Dr. Schwartz will recommend when you should go back to more rigorous activities. You should not need to take any time off from work or other normal activities.
Being triple Board-Certified and having performed over 12,000 vein treatments so far, Dr. Schwartz is a true vein specialist dedicated to the treatment of vein issues and symptoms. His practice has served those in need of a vein doctor since 2003, making him one of the most trusted and well-established vein doctors in the Kansas City area. Dr. Schwartz is also certified as an RVT (Registered Vascular Technician) and RPVI (Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation), certifications that demonstrate his experience and skill with ultrasound vein technologies that let him treat many underlying vein problems.
*Individual Results May Vary
Read from real patients about their experiences with Dr. Schwartz and his team at Premier Vein & Body by Schwartz.
*Individual Results May Vary
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