• What is the Vein Therapy & Laser Center of Fairfield County?
• What are varicose veins?
• What causes varicose veins and spider veins?
• What are the symptoms of varicose veins?
• What are the treatments for varicose Veins?
• What is ambulatory phlebectomy?
• Where does the blood go after the sealing or removal of the diseased vein?
• What are spider veins?
• What is the treatment for spider veins?
• How will I know which procedure is right for my situation?
• Who performs the treatment procedures for varicose and spider veins?
• Where is the Vein Therapy & Laser Center of Fairfield County located?
• How can I contact the Vein Therapy & Laser Center of Fairfield County?
• Does insurance cover endovenous laser therapy and ambulatory phlebectomy?
• How effective is the treatment for spider veins?
• How many treatments will I need?
• What should I expect following my spider vein treatment session?
• Who is a candidate for laser hair removal?
• Is it permanent?
• What does it feel like?
• How many treatments will I need?
• Results-What should I expect?

What is the Vein Therapy & Laser Center of Fairfield County?  

The Vein Therapy & Laser Center of Fairfield County is located at Norwalk Radiology and Mammography Center and offers advanced treatments for patients with varicose and spider veins. Using minimally invasive procedures, varicose veins can be treated on an outpatient basis without the discomfort and recuperation often associated with traditional surgical techniques. Patients walk in for their procedures, walk out after their procedures, and resume normal activities. State-of-the-art endovenous laser therapy and ambulatory phlebectomy are the procedures used by the center in the treatment of varicose veins. Spider veins are treated with sclerotherapy and topical skin laser.

What are varicose veins?  

Varicose veins are common. Approximately 25% of all women and 15% of all men suffer from varicose veins. Your veins carry blood from the capillaries to the heart. In your leg, this means the blood has to flow upward, against gravity. Over time vein valves can fail allowing blood to pool, and causing the bulging and twisting characteristic of varicose veins. These veins can appear as bumps or lumpy protrusions underneath the skin and can cause symptoms of fatigue, aching pain, and heaviness of your leg. Often symptoms are relieved by leg elevation.

What causes varicose veins and spider veins?  

One factor is heredity, so you have a higher chance of developing varicose veins if there is a history with your parents and grandparents. Women are more often affected by varicose and spider veins than men, due to pregnancy and possibly normal hormonal changes that weaken the vein walls. Prolonged standing and being overweight can intensify the conditions.

What are the symptoms of varicose veins?  

Varicose veins can cause a feeling of heaviness, cramps, throbbing, swelling, fatigue and pain. These symptoms can impact significantly on lifestyle. Often, elevating the legs can alleviate some of these symptoms. In addition, varicose veins can blemish the legs and impact on self-confidence and lifestyle.

What are the treatments for varicose veins?  

The Vein Therapy & Laser Center of Fairfield County offers the most advanced outpatient treatments for varicose veins that are quick, leave virtually no scars, and use local anesthesia. It is no longer necessary to undergo the discomfort, recuperation, and scarring often associated with the traditional “stripping” surgery. endovenous laser therapy and ambulatory phlebectomy are performed in the Vein Therapy & Laser Center of Fairfield County and patients walk out being able to resume normal activity.

What is ambulatory phlebectomy?  

Ambulatory phlebectomy is an outpatient procedure where micro–incisions are made in the skin of the leg and small segments of the undesired vein are gently removed. The entire varicosity should shrink significantly or disappear. The incisions are so small that stitches are generally not necessary and there is virtually no scarring. Local anesthesia is used and patients are able to resume normal activity after the procedure. A compression stocking is worn for a limited time after the procedure to promote the healing and new blood flow.

Where does the blood go after the sealing or removal of the diseased vein?  

There are many other veins in the leg that are healthy and the blood is re-routed to them.

What are Spider Veins?  

The veins in the surface of the skin that have a spider web-like appearance are know by various names including spider veins, venous stars or reticular networks. Spider veins are very small and superficial veins that appear as a red, purple, or blue network or web on the leg. Often, there are several sites of spider veins on a leg.

What is the treatment for Spider Veins?  

Injection therapy, or sclerotherapy, and topical skin laser can treat the smaller more superficial veins.

How will I know which procedure is right for my situation?  

You will be scheduled for an initial consultation and the Vein Therapy & Laser Center of Fairfield County physician or physician assistant will make a preliminary recommendation for your course of treatment. An ultrasound of your legs will then be performed to determine the specific vein malfunction in your leg or legs. If you have varicose and spider veins, the varicose are treated first as they contribute to varicosities in smaller veins. When successful treatment of larger veins is achieved, smaller veins can then be treated.

Who performs the treatment procedures for varicose and spider veins?  

The Vein Therapy & Laser Center of Fairfield County is staffed by board certified radiologists with specialized vascular and interventional fellowship training, as well as surgically trained vascular physician assistants.

Where is the Vein Therapy & Laser Center of Fairfield County located?  

The Vein Therapy & Laser Center of Fairfield County is located at Norwalk Radiology and Mammography Center, 148 East Avenue in Norwalk. Patients are seen and treated in a comfortable and private setting.

How can I contact the Vein Therapy & Laser Center of Fairfield County?  

(203) 855-0167 or Toll Free 1-877-999-VEIN (8346)

Does insurance cover endovenous laser therapy and ambulatory phlebectomy?  

Insurance coverage varies, and as these procedures are new, our insurance representative will work closely with you to determine any coverage that you may have with your individual insurance.

Does insurance cover sclerotherapy?  

Sclerotherapy is generally considered "cosmetic" and is, therefore, not covered by insurance.

How effective is the treatment for spider veins?  

Although there is no way to tell for sure which veins will respond, a full medical history prior to treatment will better help determine what you should expect. Prior surgery or treatment on your veins could affect the treatment outcome. In some cases, further testing may be recommended to determine if there is underlying venous disease

How many treatments will I need?  

In many cases, significant improvement is realized in as few as 2 treatments. In some cases, veins may not respond and need additional treatment sessions. Improvements can be noticed on average of 6-8 weeks. We will schedule a 3 week follow up appointment. Treatment sessions may occur at 5-6 week intervals.

What should I expect following my spider vein treatment session?  

You will wear a compression stocking for 24 hours, followed by three days during the day. Expect to see bruises, brown spots, lumps, or darker veins. These are all part of the healing process and will resolve with time. Please avoid direct sun exposure in order to minimize skin pigmentation.

Who is a candidate for laser hair removal?  

The best candidates are lighter skinned people with darker hair. However, the laser may be used on darker skinned people and tanned patients. People with blond or light red hair should expect to see less results then people with dark hair.

Is it permanent?  

Treatment results vary among patients. The laser is cleared by the FDA for permanent hair reduction. The FDA defines this as the long term, stable reduction in the number of hairs re-growing after a treatment regime.

What does it feel like?  

The laser treatment may feel like a pinching or stinging sensation. It has a built in cooling tip that protects the skin and minimizes discomfort.

How many treatments will I need?  

This is very important to understand. Hair goes through 3 stages development: growth, regression, and resting. The laser only targets hair in the active growth phase. Not all hairs are actively growing at the same time; therefore, an average of 6 treatments is necessary to disable all of the hair follicles in a given area.

Results-What should I expect?  

Immediately following your treatment your skin will be red and swollen. You may develop a small crust that will peel. Three to seven days after you will experience what seems to be re-growth of hair. This is hair that is being shed as a result of your treatment. Hair may get darker or thicker before it falls out. Expect to see only a 15-20% reduction of hair after each treatment. You should not wax or pluck between treatments, only shaving is permissible.