New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/14/2014 -- If varicose veins cause few symptoms, the doctor may simply suggest making lifestyle changes. If the symptoms are more severe, the doctor may recommend one or more medical procedures. For example, we may need a medical procedure if we have a lot of pain, blood clots, or skin disorders caused by the varicose veins.

Some people who have varicose veins choose to have procedures to improve how their veins look.

Although treatment can help existing varicose veins, it can't keep new varicose veins from forming.

Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle changes often are the first treatment for varicose veins. These changes can prevent varicose veins from getting worse, reduce pain, and delay other varicose veins from forming. Lifestyle changes include the following:

Avoid standing or sitting for long periods without taking a break. When sitting, avoid crossing the legs. Keep the legs raised when sitting, resting, or sleeping. When we can, raise the legs above the level of the heart.

Do physical activities to get the legs moving and improve muscle tone. This helps blood move through the veins.

If we're overweight or obese, try to lose weight. This will improve blood flow and ease the pressure on the veins.

Avoid wearing tight clothes, especially those that are tight around the waist, groin (upper thighs), and legs. Tight clothes can make varicose veins worse.

Avoid wearing high heels for long periods. Lower heeled shoes can help tone the calf muscles. Toned muscles help blood move through the veins.

The doctor may recommend compression stockings. These stockings create gentle pressure up the leg. This pressure keeps blood from pooling and decreases swelling in the legs.

There are three types of compression stockings. One type is support pantyhose. These offer the least amount of pressure. A second type is over-the-counter compression hose. These stockings give a little more pressure than support pantyhose. Over-the-counter compression hose are sold in medical supply stores and pharmacies.

Prescription-strength compression hose are the third type of compression stockings. These stockings offer the greatest amount of pressure. They also are sold in medical supply stores and pharmacies. However, we need to be fitted for them in the store by a specially trained person.

Medical Procedures

Medical procedures are done either to remove varicose veins or to close them. Removing or closing varicose veins usually doesn't cause problems with blood flow because the blood starts moving through other veins.

We may be treated with one or more of the procedures described below. Common side effects right after most of these procedures include bruising, swelling, skin discoloration, and slight pain.

The side effects are most severe with vein stripping and ligation (li-GA-shun). Rarely, this procedure can cause severe pain, infections, blood clots, and scarring.

Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy (SKLER-o-ther-ah-pe) uses a liquid chemical to close off a varicose vein. The chemical is injected into the vein to cause irritation and scarring inside the vein. The irritation and scarring cause the vein to close off, and it fades away.

This procedure often is used to treat smaller varicose veins and spider veins. It can be done in the doctor's office, while we stand. We may need several treatments to completely close off a vein.

Treatments typically are done every 4 to 6 weeks. Following treatments, the legs will be wrapped in elastic bandaging to help with healing and decrease swelling.

Microsclerotherapy
Microsclerotherapy (MI-kro-SKLER-o-ther-ah-pe) is used to treat spider veins and other very small varicose veins.

A small amount of liquid chemical is injected into a vein using a very fine needle. The chemical scars the inner lining of the vein, causing it to close off.

Laser Surgery
This procedure applies light energy from a laser onto a varicose vein. The laser light makes the vein fade away.

Laser surgery mostly is used to treat smaller varicose veins. No cutting or injection of chemicals is involved.

Endovenous Ablation Therapy
Endovenous ablation (ab-LA-shun) therapy uses lasers or radiowaves to create heat to close off a varicose vein.

The doctor makes a tiny cut in the skin near the varicose vein. He or she then inserts a small tube called a catheter into the vein. A device at the tip of the tube heats up the inside of the vein and closes it off.

We'll be awake during this procedure, but the doctor will numb the area around the vein. We usually can go home the same day as the procedure.

Endoscopic Vein Surgery
For endoscopic (en-do-SKOP-ik) vein surgery, the doctor will make a small cut in the skin near a varicose vein. He or she then uses a tiny camera at the end of a thin tube to move through the vein. A surgical device at the end of the camera is used to close the vein.

Endoscopic vein surgery usually is used only in severe cases when varicose veins are causing skin ulcers (sores). After the procedure, we usually can return to the normal activities within a few weeks.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy
For ambulatory phlebectomy (fle-BEK-to-me), the doctor will make small cuts in the skin to remove small varicose veins. This procedure usually is done to remove the varicose veins closest to the surface of the skin.

We'll be awake during the procedure, but the doctor will numb the area around the vein. Usually, we can go home the same day that the procedure is done.

Vein Stripping and Ligation
Vein stripping and ligation typically is done only for severe cases of varicose veins. The procedure involves tying shut and removing the veins through small cuts in the skin.

We'll be given medicine to temporarily put we to sleep so we don't feel any pain during the procedure.

Vein stripping and ligation usually is done as an outpatient procedure. The recovery time from the procedure is about 1 to 4 weeks.

About Schulman Vein and Laser Center
New York City and Long Island Vein Specialists With so many vein centers and vein clinics ‘popping up’, why have vein treatment from Schulman Vein and Laser Center…At the Schulman Vein And Laser Center, all varicose and spider veins are treated non-surgically, by virtually painless injection therapy sclerotherapy, micro ambulatory phlebectomy, or ultrasound assisted laser treatments. With these treatments, veins gradually seal shut and disappear. The blood loss and scarring associated with surgery are eliminated. All varicose vein treatment and spider vein treatment is administered exclusively by the doctors. Our work is done with the most uncompromising high standards, using only FDA approved medications and disposable, single use equipment. Patients are able to resume full activity immediately (including driving).

- ALL WE DO IS VEINS TM- 100% of our medical practice is vein therapy

- Experience- we have over 55 years combined of vein-only specialization.

- The Schulman Vein and Laser Center doctors are individually board certified in Vascular Surgery and Phlebology (diagnosis and treatment of venous disorders)

- Unlike many hospitals or ‘clinics’ where medical students, interns, residents, nurses or physicians assistants many be learning and perform treatments, ALL OF OUR PATIENTS ARE TREATED PERSONALLY BY ONE OF THE TWO DOCTORS

- We offer multiple minimally invasive vein treatment methods including ultrasound assisted therapy, laser (EVLT- EndoVenous Laser Treatment), micro-surgery, injection compression therapy (sclerotherapy), foam sclerotherapy, and electrocautery (veingogh like electric treatments)

- All laser treated, microsurgery, out-of-town and out-of-the country patients are given the personal cell phone number of Dr. Schulman should they have any pressing questions

- Our goal is to provide the best results for our patients with the least invasive procedures available

- Many treatments can be completed in one or two visits

- All laser and micro-surgery treatments are done using only local (only into the leg near the vein) anesthesia, and all patients are able to walk normally and drive themselves home afterwards.

- All new patients are called by the Schulman Vein and Laser Center staff the day after their initial treatment to check on them as a courtesy follow up.

- We have presented and lectured about our work and original vein treatment methods at the largest vein specialty, dermatology as well as cosmetic and plastic surgery meetings in America.

- While most of our work is done on leg veins, there is almost no part of the body we have not successfully treated, including veins in the hands, arms, face, chest/breast, vaginal area, back and abdomen.

- At Schulman Vein and Laser Center we treat all patients for both the best medical as well as cosmetic results.

- All of our medical research is devoted to the field of vein therapy.

- We were the first doctors to ever lecture on hand vein treatment, as well as treating patients on the blood thinner Coumadin at a major medical meeting.

- We are both well recognized internationally in our field of Phlebology (diagnosis and treatment of venous conditions) for our contributions and advancements.

What is most important is that a patient with worsening varicose or spider veins, venous ulcerations, venous insufficiency, pain from leg veins or just a desire to have an improved cosmetic appearance, is to see a doctor who truly specializes in vein therapy.

We are happy we found our website and thank we for visiting us online. If we have further questions, please contact us so we can address the concerns personally.

Visit http://www.schulmanveincenter.com/ for more details.