Services & Treatments

Ultrasound imaging or scanning, involves exposing your leg to high-frequency sound waves which then produce a picture of the inside of the leg. This image shows the details of the venous system and the blood flow.

WHAT IS COMPRESSION THERAPY?

Compression stockings have come a long way from the surgical white TED hose people remember in a hospital setting. But they still play a very important role in the success of your treatments.

Today’s compression stockings are more comfortable and even come in a variety of professional and fun colors. They are still sometimes a hated part of vein therapy but they are also a critical part of the process both in terms of pre-treatment therapy and recovery. Compression stockings are not a cure, but they may offer temporary relief from the symptoms caused by venous disease.

Compression stockings have two main purposes:

Daily Use:
Wearing a compression stocking may be necessary for patients who spend long periods of time standing or sitting, like medical professionals, teachers, restaurant works, hair stylists, etc. This will also help patients who suffer from more serious problems, like swelling associated with diabetes and venous disease. Daily long-term use of compression therapy after treatment has been proven to prolong the treatment process and delay recurrence of this chronic condition.

Recovery Use:
Compression therapy is required for patients who have had vascular treatment, like Sclerotherapy or Endovenous Ablation. Compression stockings are used post-procedure in order to help reduce swelling and speed recovery process.

Select the Right Compression Stockings:
International Vein Clinics recognizes the important role compression stockings play for our patients. Because sizing and fit are important, we have qualified staff who can measure and determine the proper product and fit to suit your needs.

We currently have several styles and colors available in our offices, including some that are not only functional but also stylish and fun for your active lifestyle.

The American College of Phlebology confirms that Sclerotherapy is the gold-standard treatment for small to moderate-sized leg veins. When deciding which treatment is best for your varicose and/or spider veins, consider these facts about Sclerotherapy:

• Results are long lasting and highly successful
• Can be used to treat larger varicose veins
• Can be performed on patients with any skin type or color

What is Sclerotherapy?
Once you have been evaluated at International Vein Clinics and your condition has been properly diagnosed, your physician will discuss treatment options with you. For many patients, the best course of treatment may be a 20 minute in-office procedure involving a series of sclerotherapy injections into the target vein.

Sclerotherapy works by injecting a small amount of medication into the damaged vein. This sclerosing agent will create a minor inflammatory reaction inside the vein, causing it to collapse. By eliminating the damaged vein, which will ultimately be absorbed naturally by the body, blood flow will actually improve as the body re-routes the blood through healthy veins. This procedure is perfect for smaller veins, and when performed early, future complications associated with larger varicose veins can be avoided.

What About the Damaged Veins?
One of the most common questions asked by our patients at International Vein Clinics is, “Don’t I need these veins even though they’re damaged?” The answer is, NO, you don’t need them. You have miles of superficial veins in your leg, and a person with spider veins is experiencing issues in only a small portion. Your body is already working to redirect the venous blood flow in your legs through the miles of good veins. When we treat your spider veins to alleviate the backward pressure and incorrect flow, your circulation will improve.

What to Expect with Treatment
Your treatment plan is customized for your specific needs. Every patient’s condition is unique. Some patients may require more than one session, and each session can consist of more than one injection.

Most patients can resume normal activities immediately following the procedure. Medically-prescribed support hose known as a compression stocking may need to be worn for several days after treatment. You will be encouraged to walk regularly during this time, although intense aerobic activity should be avoided for the first few days. The side effects are nearly non-existent with the exception of minor bruising and pigmentation at the injection sites, coupled with a slight itching sensation. Bruising typically disappears within one to two weeks. Although pigmentation almost always fades, it may take several months. Because the sclerosing solution actually closes the feeder veins under the skin that are causing spider veins to form, a recurrence of the spider veins in the treated area is not likely.

How to Prepare for Sclerotherapy Treatment

• Avoid applying lotion to the legs before the procedure.
• Certain medications should also be avoided. Some physicians recommend avoiding aspirin, ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory medications for 48-72 hours before sclerotherapy. Your International Vein Clinics professional will discuss all your medications including over-the-counter drugs, herbs, and dietary supplements you may be taking.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.
• Drink plenty of water the day before and day of treatment.

Sclerotherapy should be considered a long-term safe and effective solution to eliminate small varicose and spider veins.

(Available in IVC Norwalk and Middletown offices only)

Topical Laser for Spider Veins
Topical laser therapy is used alone or in conjunction with sclerotherapy to treat unsightly spider veins. The laser delivers short pulses of light to the targeted vein. This eventually eradicates the vessel. The laser has a cool tip providing an extremely gentle treatment with effective results.

Facial Veins and Rosacea
Laser treatments are the safest and most effective way to reduce rosacea and decrease the appearance of facial veins. Rosacea is a common chronic skin condition which often begins as redness on the face. The redness will often come and go becoming more persistent over time. Visible veins and redness are typically seen around the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead, as well as on the neck and chest (poikiloderma). The non-ablative laser will gently heat the upper dermis well below your skin’s surface breaking down damaged capillaries and dissipating trapped blood and redness with very little to no downtime.

(Available in IVC Norwalk and Middletown offices only)

Benign Pigmented Lesions (Lentigines), Age/Sun/Brown Spot Removal
Laser treatments will target and eliminate the unsightly hyperpigmented spots returning the skin to its natural color and tone with very little to no downtime. The lasers adjustable spot size allows for precise and effective treatment. This procedure can be performed on all skin tones.

Facial Rejuvenation & Laser Genesis
Facial rejuvenation is an innovated technically advanced way to help restore the skin’s youthful glow and vibrancy. This noninvasive laser treatment will heat the upper dermis well below your skin’s surface stimulating collagen regrowth. This will effectively treat fine lines and smooth out uneven tone and texture caused by aging and sun damage. Large pores are minimized and scarring and minor imperfections are diminished. You can expect to see subtle results after just one treatment with little to no downtime. The overall effect of multiple treatments can be dramatic.

Laser Hair Removal
Through the use of a cosmetic laser, we are able to offer hair removal procedures for our patients. This treatment is utilized by patients who wish to have unwanted hair from the legs, underarms, bikini line, upper lip, or other areas of your body, removed. Our laser hair removal is cleared by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for permanent hair reduction. Due to the 3 stages of hair growth and development (growth, regression and resting), it usually takes approximately 6 treatments to disable all hair follicles in a given area.

BOTOX Cosmetic™ is a safe purified protein that is used to minimize frown lines between the eyes, horizontal forehead lines, and crow’s feet. With a fine needle, small amounts of BOTOX Cosmetic™ are injected directly in to the facial muscles that are responsible for causing wrinkles. It works by blocking the nerve impulses allowing the injected muscle to relax. This will smooth your skin restoring a youthful appearance to your face. Results can be seen in as little as a few days and will last 3-4 months. Individual patient results will vary and each treatment will be customized to meet your beauty needs.

Phlebectomy is a minimally invasive procedure used to remove bulging and tortuous varicose veins.

A local anesthetic is used to numb the treated areas. Through a small incision, a small vein hook is used to gently remove the veins. There is little to no scarring present after the procedure.

The reason for using this procedure rather than Endovenous Ablation or Sclerotherapy is because of the size and tortuous nature of the veins. Your physician will assess your venous anatomy and determine the best treatment options for your individualized care.

Endovenous Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure performed in the office. It usually takes 30-45 minutes. The procedure uses a thin catheter, usually inserted through a needle stick in the skin, into the damaged vein around the knee level to treat the underlying cause of the varicose vein. As the catheter is slowly withdrawn, the vein is permanently closed. This decreases the pressure on the surface veins making subsequent Sclerotherapy more effective. Published clinical studies show that Endovenous Ablation has a 98% initial success rate with excellent long-term results. Endovenous Ablation is less painful, minimally invasive and has fewer complications than the traditional surgical alternatives.