Services

Your consultation will involve taking a history, physical examination and an ultrasound. Following your diagnosis, your physician will recommend either a conservative treatment (compression, elevation, exercise) or a corrective procedure (sclerotherapy, phlebectomy, venous ablation or surgery).

Approximately 70 percent of all leg ulcers are venous ulcers. A leg with venous problems has a very characteristic appearance. The leg is swollen and the skin around a venous ulcer is dry, itchy and sometimes brownish in color—eczema may appear (varicose eczema). The ulcer has a weeping, raw appearance and is usually painless unless infected. These types of ulcers are normally located just above the ankle, usually on the inside of the leg.

To correct ulcers MVC typically starts with a medicated wound wrap or Unna boot to treat and heal the wound. As the healing process begins, some patients will need further treatment to fully control the disease process in order to prevent recurrent ulcers or other problems.

Conservative Vein Therapy refers to services that do not require surgery or a procedure to treat problematic veins. These options may help control symptoms of varicose veins but will not eliminate the underlying cause. Many insurance companies’ criteria require patients to try these options first, prior to authorizing a minimally invasive procedure.

• Compression stockings - Graduated compression stockings are tighter around the foot and ankle and the compression decreases as it goes up the leg. This "graduated compression" promotes the normal flow of blood up the leg. Possible complications of graduated compression stockings are obstruction of venous or arterial blood flow due to improper sizing or undiagnosed peripheral vascular disease.
• Elevating legs
• Taking oral anti-inflammatory medication
• Weight loss
• Exercise

Veinwave™ is an innovative technique used to eliminate spider veins on the legs and fine thread veins, known as telangiectasia. Utilizing the principle of thermocoagulation, Veinwave provides a fairly painless walk in and out procedure without risk of bruising, scarring or hyperpigmentation.

Preparation: No spray-on or self-tanning products are to be used 30 days prior to treatment.

After the procedure: No stockings are required. No spray-on/self-tanning products or shaving the treated area for 7 days.

Venous ablation is a minimally invasive treatment performed at the Minneapolis Vein Center for superficial venous reflux. Using state of the art technology, venous ablation provides an alternative to traditional vein stripping surgery.

During this outpatient procedure your leg will be evaluated using ultrasound and the affected vein localized. You will receive local anesthesia to numb the skin entry site on your leg and along the treatment path. A thin catheter, or tube, is inserted into the vein through a small opening, using only a single needle stick. The catheter delivers radiofrequency (RF) or laser energy to the vein wall, causing it to heat, collapse and seal shut. Once the diseased vein is closed, other healthy veins take over to empty blood from your legs. As normal blood flow is re-established, your symptoms should improve noticeably. An ultrasound exam will be repeated to verify the vein is completely sealed.

Patients scheduled for venous ablation should arrange for transportation as they will be sedated for the procedure and should not drive for the rest of the day.

The procedures typically take approximately 45-60 minutes, although we advise patients to plan on spending roughly 2 hours at the Minneapolis Vein Center.

Ninety-eight percent of patients who have undergone venous ablation would recommend it to a friend or family member with similar leg vein problems.

The vast majority of patients report a noticeable improvement in their symptoms and appearance following the procedure. Expect a short recovery period and then to resume normal activities in a few days with minimal to no long-term scarring.

• After treatment, wear compression stockings for one week.
• You can begin walking the next day; however no vigorous exercise or lifting more than 15 pounds for two weeks after the procedure.

Phlebectomy is a minimally invasive surgical technique to remove abnormal medium to large veins. Your leg will be evaluated using ultrasound and the vein will be marked using a skin marker. You will receive local anesthesia at the incision site to numb the entire area. Using a special set of tools, the physician makes tiny incisions in the skin to remove the affected veins. Incisions are so tiny that stitches are not required. Once the diseased vein is removed, other healthy veins take over to empty blood from your legs. As normal blood flow is re-established, your symptoms should improve noticeably.

Patients scheduled for phlebectomy should arrange for transportation as they will be sedated for the procedure and should not drive for the rest of the day.

The procedures typically take approximately 45-60 minutes, although we advise patients to plan on spending roughly 2 hours at the Minneapolis Vein Center.

Phlebectomy offers permanent vein removal with virtually no scarring, skin discoloration or ulcers.

• Many physicians recommend walking after treatment. Walking reduces pressure in the veins and increases flow while reducing the risk of forming a blood clot. Typical side effects include mild discomfort, bruising and bleeding.
• After treatment, patients typically wear a compression stocking for two weeks. Your physician will discuss this with you after the procedure.

Sclerotherapy is a treatment for spider veins; it involves your physician using a fine needle to inject a solution directly into the problematic veins. The solution starts a process that leads to the vein turning to scar tissue and fading from view. Blood circulation continues through other healthy veins. Larger veins are treated first. In some patients the physician may use an ultrasound to guide them in injecting the problematic vein that lies deep under the surface of the skin. Some veins may require several injections and most disappear within two to six weeks.

Sclerotherapy typically requires no special preparation. However, you should not shave or apply lotion to the area being treated. Let your doctor know of any routine medications you may be taking.

The sclerotherapy procedure itself typically takes approximately 30-60 minutes, although we advise patients to plan on spending roughly two hours at the Minneapolis Vein Center.

Patients who have received sclerotherapy report little discomfort. Some experience a slight to moderate burning sensation immediately after the injection, but this disappears within a few seconds.

Patients can expect to return to normal activities the same day, since we do encourage walking immediately following the procedure. Strenuous activity, prolonged periods of standing and lifting more than 15 pounds are to be avoided for the first two weeks after the procedure.

• Compression stockings are required for two weeks following your procedure.
• We do not recommend tanning or direct sun exposure for six weeks following treatment since this may increase the prominence of any hyperpigmentation.
• Most patients experience up to an 80% improvement within a few months of the procedure.

Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is an effective and safe procedure that removes diseased veins that would have formerly required surgical removal. Physicians may use ultrasound to guide them when injecting a problematic vein deep under the surface of the skin. Ultrasound is sometimes necessary to locate such hidden veins, which can then be treated with a fine needle.

The sclerotherapy procedure itself typically takes approximately 30-60 minutes, although we advise patients to plan on spending roughly two hours at the Minneapolis Vein Center.

Patients who have received sclerotherapy report little discomfort. Some experience a slight burning sensation immediately after the injection, but this disappears within a few seconds.

Patients can expect to return to normal activities the same day, since we do encourage walking immediately following the procedure. Strenuous activity, prolonged periods of standing and lifting more than 15 pounds are to be avoided for the first two weeks after the procedure.

• Compression stockings are required for two weeks following your procedure.
• We do not recommend tanning or direct sun exposure for six weeks following treatment since this may increase the prominence of any hyperpigmentation.
• Most patients experience up to an 80% improvement within a few months of the procedure.

Ultrasound is a non-invasive and effective technique that uses sound waves instead of radiation to capture images of veins and arteries. The Minneapolis Vein Center uses ultrasound imaging to help diagnose and determine the plan of treatment for our patients.

At the Minneapolis Vein Center, our radiologists also specialize in epidural steroid injections (ESI). An ESI is a non-surgical treatment performed along the neck or back (cervical, thoracic or lumbar levels) to help reduce inflammation and irritation of exiting nerve roots. While the effects of an injection tend to be temporary, providing relief from pain for one week up to one year, an ESI can be beneficial for patients during an episode of severe back pain and provide sufficient pain relief to allow patients to progress with their rehabilitation program.

You may experience numbness for up to 12 hours following your injection. The desired effects of the steroidal medication usually occur within 48-72 hours but may take as long as one week. Occasionally, it may take more than one injection to obtain full pain relief. If there is no change in patient symptoms after injections, investigation into other potential sources for the pain may be beneficial.