Welcome to The Vein Treatment Center

Established in 1982, The Vein Treatment Center © is the leading New York City medical facility specializing exclusively in the treatment of varicose veins, spider veins, and related venous disorders.

The methods developed at the facility, including Endonvenous Laser Ablation (EVLT) and now Painless Sclerotherapy, have revolutionized the specialty and are used by physicians worldwide.

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Meet Dr. Navarro

Dr. Luis Navarro, a Board Certified Phlebologist and vascular specialist, has devoted his professional life to the development of treatments for venous disorders. He has pioneered numerous non-invasive procedures, including EVLT, Combined Therapies, and now PAINLESS SCLEROTHERAPY.

About Dr. Navarro About the VTC

Painless Sclerotherapy

Advancements in technology have revolutionized Sclerotherapy and the treatment of veins on legs, hands and other areas of the body. The Vein Treatment Center has been treating veins for over 30 years with safe, fast, and long lasting cosmetic results.

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View our before and after photo galleries that show the results of vein treatments on the legs, hands, face & more.

See for yourself why The Vein Treatment Center is the NYC leader in treating and removing unwanted varicose veins, spider veins, and all venous conditions.

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Category Archives: Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

Reticular Veins: What You Should Know?

Perhaps you are familiar with varicose veins and spider veins, the faulty veins that affect blood circulation in your body.  Both these conditions are associated with “Venous Insufficiency,” which affects more than 40% of Americans, as per the Society for Vascular Surgery.

Besides varicose veins and spider veins, there are another type of defective veins called reticular veins. You may not have heard much about them before. These veins are also a form of CVI – Chronic Venous Insufficiency.

What Are Reticular Veins?

Best Reticular Vein Treatment NYC | Before & After PictureReticular veins are the faulty veins that are smaller than varicose veins but larger than spider veins. Reticular veins – the middle child of CVI – are usually 1mm-3mm in diameter. Like the other two dilated veins, reticular veins are also a result of the malfunctioning of valves in the veins.

These veins may look similar to the varicose or spider veins and appear in the same spots of the body as the other two. However, reticular veins are less twisted and appear as blue or green, flatter veins. While the varicose veins protrude above the skin, reticular veins may form internally.

Some of the common spots where these veins may appear are the back of the thighs, calves, knees, lower legs, and around the ankle. In some cases, reticular veins may appear as an unsightly vein cluster on the face, but that’s a symptom more common to spider veins. Reticular veins may worsen an existing varicose vein issue.

The link between Reticular Veins and Spider Veins

Sometimes, the faulty reticular veins may become the source of discomfort and pain in the surrounding area. They may additionally branch out or feed into spider veins – the smaller veins that appear as a spider web on the face and lower legs.

Thus, reticular veins act as a source of blood, filling the dilated venules of the spider veins. Due to this link, reticular veins are sometimes called “feeder veins”. Removing reticular veins can also help in getting rid of the spider veins.

Symptoms of Reticular Veins

Reticular Vein Removal PicsSometimes, the symptoms of reticular veins are the same as those of varicose veins and spider veins. Besides appearing as unsightly bluish-green veins on different spots, reticular veins may also cause discomfort or pain in the surrounding area.

You may also feel itching, burning, tenderness, or throbbing due to reticular veins.  Rarely, these veins may lead to blood backup in the deeper parts of the leg.

While these are some of the symptoms of reticular veins, most of the time, it is nothing more than a cosmetic issue that is treatable.

Causes of Reticular Veins

Since reticular veins are also a type of venous insufficiency, they also develop due to damaged valves in the veins. Our leg veins have, perhaps, one of the hardest jobs to perform, i.e., propelling oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart.

Leg veins work against body pressure and gravity. These veins have one-way valves that prevent the blood from flowing in the wrong direction. However, when the valves become weak or get obstructed, blood starts pooling in the veins under the skin. As a result, the dilated veins may appear beneath the skin.

Risk Factors

Top NYC Vein Doctor for Reticular Vein Treatment

Dysfunctional valve veins and increased pressure on the vein valves are the main causes of reticular veins. However, some other factors that make you more susceptible to reticular veins are as follows:

  • Genetics –reticular veins are hereditary in most cases.
  • Advancing age
  • Pregnancy
  • Hormonal changes, such as menopause
  • Using Birth Control pills
  • Obesity
  • Overexposure to sun
  • Smoking
  • Standing for a long time

Treatment

Thanks to the advancement in technology, removing reticular veins has become a routine procedure. There are many minimally invasive procedures to treat reticular veins at early stages, within a few minutes. The doctors make sure to provide the best treatment, such as laser therapy or sclerotherapy, depending on the type of problem.

Sclerotherapy Treatment for Reticular Veins NYCSclerotherapy is the most common treatment for faulty leg veins. It is an in-office technique that uses an injection. Therefore, it is also known as “injection therapy.” During the procedure, a mild chemical solution/irritant is injected into the defective vein or capillary. The sclerosing agent irritates the vessel lining, causing it to swell.

This causes the defective veins to stick together, and eventually shut down. The body absorbs the scar veins and redirects blood to a healthy vein. The healthy blood vessels compensate for the missing veins, thereby restoring the venous circulation in the affected area.

You may need more than one session for complete removal. The doctor may advise you to wear compression stockings and bandages post-treatment.

Final Thoughts

If you don’t like those bluish-green veins appearing on your ankles, lower legs, knees, or sometimes face, you can have them removed. The Vein Treatment Center © offers many treatments for varicose, spider, and reticular veins, including painless sclerotherapy.

Contact us today and schedule an appointment with the best vascular surgeon in NYC.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

Chronic-Venous-Insufficiency-cvi-treatment-info-nyc-01What is chronic venous insufficiency? The veins in your legs play a key role in regulating blood circulation to the heart. However, when the valves in your veins don’t work efficiently, blood starts pooling in your legs, exerting pressure on the walls of your veins.

If your vein valves become damaged or dysfunctional, you probably have CVI –Chronic Venous Insufficiency. According to the Society for Vascular Surgery, CVI affects more than 40% of the U.S. population.

Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Venous Insufficiency is a chronic condition; if you have CVI, you may experience heaviness and excruciating pain in your leg and ankle. Also, CVI may cause swelling in your legs called edema. Besides, you may feel tightness in the calf, and cramping and itching in the legs.

If not treated, the increased pressure on the veins may result in broken or burst capillaries –the tiny blood vessels in your legs. This leads to discoloration of the skin, especially near the ankles, turning it to reddish-brown.

The skin may also get harder or thicker. In such cases, an ulcer or open sore may develop on the inside of the ankle –and it is tough to heal. Varicose veins are also a milder indication of CVI.

Causes of Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Chronic-Venous-Insufficiency-cvi-illustration-info-nyc-02

Healthy veins in the body carry blood from the limbs towards the heart. The one-way valves in the leg veins prevent blood from flowing backward. However, a blood clot in the deep vein of your leg, called deep vein thrombosis, destroys the vein valve.

Blood thickens in a clump, forming a clot that leads to venous insufficiency. You are more likely to have CVI if you don’t exercise. Sitting in one position or standing for too long also exerts pressure on the veins, which eventually weakens the valve.

Varicose veins, on the other hand, impair the vein valves. The damaged valves allow blood to flow back in the wrong direction; as a result, veins become enlarge and twisted. You feel heaviness, throbbing, and aching in the leg.  Some other factors that make you susceptible to CVI include:

  • Your gender –women are more prone to CVI than men
  • Your age –especially if you are 50 or above
  • Chronic conditions, such as cancer
  • Smoking habits
  • A leg injury or muscle weakness

Diagnosis

For CVI diagnosis, your doctor may conduct a detailed physical examination. They may also take into account your medical history to find evidence of venous insufficiency. For an accurate diagnosis, the doctor may need to perform some imaging tests to find the root cause of the problem.

The tests include a venogram or a duplex ultrasound –placing a small device on the affected skin over the veins. The sound waves help the doctor to check speed as well as the direction of the blood flow in the veins. In some cases, the doctor may recommend specific scans or X-rays to identify the other causes for leg swelling.

Treatment for Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

example-pic-chronic-venous-insufficiency-cvi-treatment-info-nyc-03The treatment plan for CVI varies from person to person. Before devising a plan, your doctor may consider many factors. For instance, the doctor may factor your age, medical history, and the symptoms of venous insufficiency.

Compression Stockings

Compression socks are one of the most common and effective treatments for chronic venous insufficiency. The elastic stockings help exert pressure on your lower leg and ankle. The pressure on the legs improves blood flow, thereby reducing swelling.

Medications

Sometimes, doctors may prescribe some medication for preventing blood clots. Also, they may prescribe an antibiotic, in case you develop infections or ulcers.

Non-Surgical Treatment

For CVI, stockings and medications might not prove enough, and you may require some non-surgical treatment.

Sclerotherapy: The doctor injects a chemical into the small and medium faulty vein. The solution irritates the wall of the veins, forcing them to stick together. This allows the blood to flow through healthy veins only, and the body absorbs the damaged vein.

Endovenous Laser Ablation Therapy (EVLT): It is a relatively new technique that uses a laser or high-frequency waves to destroy the vein. The vein is closed after ablation.

Phlebectomy: it is another minimally invasive procedure for removing the varicose veins. The doctor numbs certain spots on the legs and then removes the vein through small punctures.

Surgical Treatment

In a case of severe venous insufficiency, you may need one of the following surgical interventions:

Ligation and Stripping: The faulty vein is cut and is either removed or tied off to prevent blood leaks.

Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Surgery: During the procedure, the surgeon inserts a thin tube with a tiny camera at one end into the veins. The endoscope helps the doctor to locate the varicose veins and tie them.

Surgical Repair: damaged veins and vein valves are repaired through surgery

Vein bypass: In rare cases, the doctors may transplant a healthy vein in the upper thigh.

Final Thoughts – Get Treatment for CVI Today

Early diagnosis is the key to the best treatment of CVI. If you develop any of the symptoms, contact a vascular surgeon immediately. For painless sclerotherapy, EVLT, or other treatments, The Vein Treatment Center provides excellent services.

Contact us today and schedule an appointment with the best vascular specialists in NYC.

The Vein Treatment Center
Luis Navarro, MD,FACS
327 East 65th Street
New York, NY 10065

800-300-VEIN
212-249-6117

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