17, 1, 2023

Patient Transformations from venous disease: varicose veins
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Patient Transformations from venous disease: varicose veins

LJVascular2023-01-14T12:52:41-08:00

What are varicose veins (venous disease)?

Varicose veins (venous disease) are the twisted, bulging veins just beneath the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that you can see just under the surface of the skin. These veins usually occur in the legs, but they also can form in other parts of the body. Varicose veins are a common condition.

What causes varicose veins?

Varicose veins are caused by leaky vein valves, which allow blood to pool within the veins causing them to stretch and become enlarged. Varicose veins can be an isolated finding, but the majority of the time, they are caused by underlying venous reflux disease. Venous reflux disease is also known as venous stasis, venous insufficiency or venous incompetence. Reflux may occur in the deep and/or superficial leg veins.

In our study, led by Dr. Nisha Bunke and published in the Journal of Vascular Ultrasound in 2018, we studied over 1,000 legs with varicose veins. Over 90% of the time, the source of the varicose veins were the great and small saphenous veins. The Great Saphenous Vein (GSV) courses up the middle of the thigh and calf and the small saphenous vein (SSV), which courses along the back of the calf. Normally, there are one-way valves within the leg veins, which help blood flow in one direction: toward the heart. This means blood is traveling against gravity. The calf muscle also helps move blood toward the heart. When vein valves are leaky, blood flows backward (reflux) towards the feet. Blood pools in the lower legs, causing bulging veins at the surface.

La Jolla Vein & Vascular Before and After Transformations:

At La Jolla Vein & Vascular, we are here for our patients from beginning to the end. We love seeing the transformations from venous disease that take place. Below are a few cases from our patient transformations from before varicose vein treatment to after varicose vein treatment.

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Venous and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information.

Patient Transformations from venous disease: varicose veinsLJVascular2023-01-14T12:52:41-08:00

Spider Veins & Treatment
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Spider Veins & Treatment

LJVascular2022-12-26T11:48:20-08:00

One of the most commonly used ways to treat spider veins is through a procedure called Sclerotherapy. At La Jolla Vein and Vascular we have seen great patient transformations with this type of therapy. If you are interested in knowing if you have spider veins, check this article out.

Sclerotherapy

Why was I recommended to have sclerotherapy injections?

Spider veins and reticular veins of the legs are most commonly treated with sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy involves an injection of a medication into the vein. This will cause the vein to collapse and gradually fade away. Sclerotherapy has been used to treat spider veins for decades, but newer solutions such as Asclera allow for spider veins to be treated with minimal discomfort and immediate return to activities.

Vein specialists rarely use saline solutions these days, because alternative solutions are less painful and better tolerated. Sclerotherapy is preferred by most vein specialists over laser because spider veins often have underlying feeder veins that can easily be treated with sclerotherapy, but are not addressed by laser. Many people will require more than one treatment session for optimal results. The national average is 2 to 5 treatment sessions. Treatment sessions are often spaced a month apart, but your health care provider will help determine your customized care plan. Wearing compression stockings after treatment will improve results.

For larger veins, the medication may be turned into a foam, this is referred to as foam sclerotherapy. Foam sclerotherapy is similar to sclerotherapy of spider veins but instead of a liquid solution, a foamed-solution is injected directly into the vein via a small needle. The solution can be seen on ultrasound monitoring which allows it to be directed into nearby varicose veins painlessly. The veins will seal shut, and gradually be broken down by the body.

What should I expect on my treatment days?

You will sign your consent form then change into shorts provided by the office. We will clean your skin with alcohol. The sclerosant medication will then be injected into your veins with a fine needle. After your treatment, we will help you into your compression stockings, then you will walk for 30 minutes prior to getting into your car. It is normal for your legs to be achy and tender to the touch after treatment.

What should I do after treatment?

You will be instructed on how long to wear compression stockings after treatment, depending on the size of the veins that are treated. Most patients wear thigh-high compression stockings continuously for 1-3 days, then another 7 days. You may shower with the stockings on or take a quick cool shower with them off.

You should walk 30 minutes twice daily after treatment and move your legs frequently throughout the day with short walks and/or calf exercises. This avoids pooling of blood in the legs. Avoid prolonged sitting during the day.

It is normal to have aching in the treated veins. This responds well to walking, ice packs, and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve).

What should I avoid after treatment?

For at least two weeks after treatment, you should avoid strenuous exercise (anything more than a brisk walk), heavy lifting, saunas or hot tubs, and leg massages. All of these dilate the superficial veins and interfere with their healing. You should also avoid airline travel for two weeks after treatment.

What are the possible side effects?

You will likely have some bruising over the injection sites, then the treated veins may become firm and blue.

The skin overlying treated veins may also develop brownish hyperpigmentation as the blood products within those veins are absorbed by the body; in some patients it can take up to a year to fade. Some patients temporarily develop some very fine, pink spider veins in areas where veins have been treated (telangiectatic matting). These usually resolve spontaneously over several weeks but occasionally require additional treatment to clear. If you notice the spider veins have not gone away after treatment, this information may be helpful for you.

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information.

Spider Veins & TreatmentLJVascular2022-12-26T11:48:20-08:00

Meet our team of vein & vascular specialists: Dr DeYoung
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Meet our team of vein & vascular specialists: Dr DeYoung

LJVascular2023-01-30T10:44:03-08:00

Our vein specialists and radiologist are not your average doctors. They train and teach other doctors, medical students, physician assistants, and empower and educate patients everyday with knowledge and choices. They lead clinical research studies and contribute to scientific journal and textbook publications. Our recent research made the cover of the “Journal for Vascular Ultrasound” in March, 2018. Our doctors continuously strive to elevate the standard in vein care- they are fellowship-trained, board certified in venous and lymphatic disease, and earned additional credentials in ultrasound interpretation to provide comprehensive vein care for all patients.

Dr. Elliot DeYoung

Interventional Radiologist

Dr. Elliot DeYoung is a board-certified interventional radiologist who has spent his career focused on minimally invasive procedures. He completed his training at University of California, San Diego where he specialized in vascular interventions and served on the patient safety committee. Dr. DeYoung’s expertise spans vascular disease from angioplasty and stenting to embolization and ablation. He values thorough patient education and the continuity of patient care.

Dr. DeYoung is excited about joining La Jolla Vein & Vascular team to continue its renowned venous care. He will lead the center in the expansion of vascular services to provide crucial out-patient care to the community. The practice is enthusiastic to offer treatments for peripheral arterial disease, may thurners, and uterine fibroids.

Dr. DeYoung received his bachelor’s degree from USC in Psychology followed by his medical degree from the University of Sydney, School of Medicine. He initially trained as a General Surgery resident in New York before transitioning his training to Interventional Radiology in San Diego. He has a passion for water sports and his free time is spent enjoying the outdoors with his family.

Dr. DeYoung is looking forward to treating your vascular needs at La Jolla Vein & Vascular.

Dr. DeYoung is a vascular specialist with focus on aortic and peripheral vascular disease, pelvic congestion syndrome, and interventional oncology. His skills include varicocele embolization, venous interventions, uterine fibroid embolization, and genicular artery embolization.