What is The Best Vein Treatment in Maryland?
If you’re looking for spider vein and varicose vein treatments, you might be confused by the options.
Exploring your vein treatment options can feel like moving through a convenience store — way too many options, not enough guidance to find the right treatment for you. The Maryland Vein Center provides thorough guidance to help you identify the ideal vein treatments for your symptoms, goals, insurance coverage, budget, and more.
Medical science and technologies have advanced by leaps and bounds over the past couple of decades. If your parents had vein problems, they would have undergone complex surgical procedures that involved major excisions, hospitalization, and weeks of downtime. But that’s no longer the case — thanks to minimally invasive technologies, you can seek vein treatment during your lunch break! The Maryland Vein Center only provides the latest and safest minimally invasive vein treatments performed using radiofrequency energy, tiny incisions, and tinier needles. Our vein treatments are safer and more effective than the surgical treatments of days past, and they conclude within an hour with no downtime! What more could you ask for?
Before we explore your spider vein and varicose vein treatment options, we must offer a brief note on the root cause of vein problems. Chronic venous insufficiency, the root cause of most vein problems, is a circulatory disorder caused by the collapse or malfunctioning of vein valves. Healthy veins contain valves that act as one-way doors, ensuring blood only flows towards the heart — not backward because of gravity. When your vein valves collapse, blood flows backward because of gravity, eventually accumulating in the leg veins. The continued accumulation of blood in leg veins leads to vascular dilation and other problems, such as spider veins and varicose veins.
The Maryland Vein Center always diagnoses and treats the root cause of your vein problems. That might seem like the obvious way to approach treatment, but it’s not — most other vein centers treat spider veins and varicose veins without addressing the root cause, leading to a high rate of recurrence. Our vein doctors use advanced techniques to diagnose and treat vein disease, thus minimizing the risk of vein disease recurrence.
Maryland Vein Center Treatment Options
Endovenous
Ablation
Best For: Chronic venous insufficiency and its symptoms, including leg heaviness, restless leg syndrome, frequent leg cramps, leg pain, and large varicose veins
What is Endovenous Ablation?
Endovenous ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that ablates (destroys) the diseased saphenous vein responsible for your vein problems. The procedure can be done using thermal energy (radiofrequency ablation) or laser energy (laser ablation). Regardless of the technique used, the results are the same — the diseased vein is destroyed, and the accumulated blood automatically reroutes into healthier leg veins to restore optimal blood circulation to the heart.
The Endovenous Ablation Procedure
Endovenous ablation is performed as a simple, in-office procedure. The vein doctor administers local anesthesia to numb the skin’s surface and make a small incision, through which a catheter is driven under ultrasound guidance. The catheter may or may not have a laser fiber, depending on the specific type of ablative procedure. The vein doctor drives the catheter into the diseased vein under ultrasound guidance, following which tumescent anesthesia is delivered to ensure comfort.
Once the catheter is in place, the vein doctor activates it to generate radiofrequency waves or laser energy, thereby ablating the diseased vein. The accumulated blood automatically reroutes into healthier leg veins, restoring optimal blood circulation to the heart. The diseased vein turns into scar tissues, eventually absorbed by the body. The entire procedure concludes within 30 minutes, following which you can resume your daily activities and work.
Radiofrequency ablation is usually more comfortable than laser ablation, which is why our vein doctors generally recommend radiofrequency. However, in some cases, our vein doctors may have their reasons to recommend endovenous laser ablation as well.
Pros
Pros Summary:
- Safer and more effective than vascular surgery
- Produces excellent and immediate results
- Covered by most major insurance plans
- Patients can resume work immediately
Cons
Cons Summary:
- Some devices are more effective than others
- Must be performed by highly skilled vein experts
Candidates for Endovenous Ablation
Endovenous ablation is suitable for most patients diagnosed with underlying chronic venous insufficiency, especially since it’s covered by most major insurance plans. Our vein center in Maryland will determine which ablation technique you need — radiofrequency or laser.
VenaSeal
Also known As: Vein adhesive
Best For: Chronic venous insufficiency and its symptoms, including leg heaviness, restless leg syndrome, frequent leg cramps, leg pain, and large varicose veins
What is the VenaSeal Closure System?
The VenaSeal Closure System is a safe, minimally invasive vein treatment wherein a medical-grade adhesive is used to seal the walls of the diseased vein. The medical glue, known as cyanoacrylate glue, is produced by Medtronic, and it can seal the diseased vein’s walls, turning it into hardened scar tissue eventually absorbed by the body. VenaSeal received FDA approval for the treatment of vein disease in 2015, so it’s not yet covered by all insurance plans.
The VenaSeal Closure System Procedure
The vein doctor identifies the diseased saphenous vein using ultrasound guidance, following which a small incision is made on your skin under the effects of local anesthesia. The vein doctor drives a catheter through the incision and into the diseased vein, following which the medical glue is delivered into the vein’s walls, sealing it shut. The accumulated blood reroutes into healthier leg veins, restoring optimal blood circulation to the heart, and the diseased vein is eventually reabsorbed by the body.
Pros
Pros Summary:
- Suitable for large varicose veins with multiple branches
- No post-treatment swelling
- Suitable for the treatment of recurrent vein disease
Cons
Cons Summary:
- Possibility of allergic reactions
- Leaves a medical implant in the body
- Not covered by all insurance plans
- Long-term effects not yet known
Candidates for VenaSeal Closure System
VenaSeal is the ideal vein treatment for patients with chronic venous insufficiency, large varicose veins, and recurrent vein disease. However, your vein doctor must conduct an allergy test to ensure you don’t have an allergic reaction to the vein glue. Since this treatment isn’t covered by all insurance plans, you must request free insurance verification in advance.
Sclerotherapy
Also known As: Vein injections, saline injections, STS, salt solution injections, sclerosant injections, cosmetic sclerotherapy
Best For: All sizes of spider veins and smaller varicose veins
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is widely considered the best spider vein treatment available. The vein doctor injects a sclerosant medicine into spider veins to irritate their vein walls, turning them into hardened scar tissues eventually metabolized by the body.
Sclerotherapy is considered to be a cosmetic procedure because it removes spider veins but doesn’t address the underlying vein disease. That’s why vein doctors often perform sclerotherapy after other vein treatments, such as radiofrequency ablation and endovenous laser ablation.
The Sclerotherapy Procedure
Sclerotherapy is performed as simple, in-office treatment. The vein doctor examines the damaged blood vessels on your legs to mark the treatment areas. The sclerosant medicine is carefully injected into the spider veins using ultrafine needles — one injection per spider vein. If the spider vein is deeper underneath the skin, the vein doctor may use ultrasound guidance to deliver the sclerosant medicine into the spider vein.
Once injected, the sclerosant medicine chemically interacts with the spider veins’ walls, making them shrink and turn into hardened scar tissues. Over time, your body reabsorbs the scar tissues, and the spider veins fade away from the skin’s surface. This treatment can be performed using numerous sclerosant solutions, but we use the gentlest sclerosant medications to ensure optimal comfort. In the past, sclerotherapy was performed using hypertonic saline solution, which caused considerable pain and discomfort.
Pros
Pros Summary:
- Ideal treatment for spider veins
- Works really fast
- More suitable for twisted, tortuous veins
- No downtime or recovery period
Cons
The Maryland Vein Center only selects the highest quality of sclerosant medications to ensure optimal results. But the same can’t be said for all doctors. Furthermore, some doctors may use improper dilution techniques during the treatment, leading to overdosing and harsh side effects. As such, when performed carefully by experts, sclerotherapy is painless and safe, but it can also be risky and painful in the hands of inexperienced doctors.
Cons Summary:
- Must be performed by highly-skilled vein doctors
- Inexperienced vein doctors increase the risk of harsh side effects
- Some sclerosant solutions cause considerable pain
- Proper dosing and administration techniques and important
Candidates for Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is the ideal procedure for patients with spider veins. You can opt for this treatment if you only need cosmetic relief and don’t have underlying vein disease, or it can accompany the primary vein treatment. However, this procedure won’t be effective in isolation if you have chronic venous insufficiency, so a thorough diagnosis is a must.
Foam Sclerotherapy
Also known As: Foamed sclerotherapy, chemical ablation, vein injections
Best For: Reticular veins and varicose veins
What is Foam Sclerotherapy?
Foam sclerotherapy is essentially the same procedure as traditional sclerotherapy, but it has some crucial differences. The traditional (liquid sclerotherapy) is used for spider veins and small varicose veins because the vein doctor can only use a limited dose suitable for small vein problems. Foam sclerotherapy solves that problem.
Foam sclerotherapy is a procedure wherein the liquid sclerosant medicine is agitated with air to produce a foamy solution, sort of like a detergent. The vein doctor injects the foam sclerosant solution into varicose veins and reticular veins — foam can cover larger veins using the same dose of medication. As such, foam sclerotherapy simplifies the treatment of larger veins.
The Foam Sclerotherapy Procedure
The Maryland Vein Center performs foam sclerotherapy as an in-office procedure under ultrasound guidance. The vein doctor passes the liquid sclerosant medicine from one syringe to the next to produce a foamy solution. The vein doctor identifies the diseased vein using ultrasound guidance, following which the foam sclerosant is injected — vascular imaging is used to control the medication.
Pros
Pros Summary:
- Suitable for large, tortuous varicose veins
- Covers more distance with less medicine
- Completely safe treatment
- No downtime
- Suitable for recurrent vein disease
Cons
Cons Summary:
- Must be performed by the most skilled vein doctors
- Must be performed under ultrasound guidance
- Increased risk of side effects
Candidates for Foam Sclerotherapy
Foam sclerotherapy is ideal for patients with large, twisted, tortuous varicose veins that can’t be addressed using other techniques, such as radiofrequency ablation. This treatment is also perfect for patients with recurrent vein disease, particularly for larger, more complicated veins.
Pre-Mixed Foam Sclerotherapy
Also known As: Chemical ablation, vein injections, foamed sclerosant solution.
Best For: Reticular veins and varicose veins
What is Pre-Mixed Foam Sclerotherapy?
Pre-mixed foam sclerotherapy is another unique formulation of sclerotherapy designed to negate the possibility of human error. Traditionally, the foam sclerosant solution is prepared by the administering vein doctor using two syringes to pass the liquid sclerosant back and forth. If the foam solution contains air bubbles, the patient may experience an air embolism, which can be dangerous.
Pre-mixed foam sclerotherapy is performed using a pre-mixed canister of foam sclerosant solution. The solution is packed with nitrogen and carbon dioxide, so it allows the sclerosant medicine to travel and disperse faster, thus preventing air embolism. Studies show that foam sclerotherapy is safer and more effective than traditional foam sclerotherapy, but it carries the same advantages, i.e., treating larger varicose veins and reticular veins.
The Pre-Mixed Foam Sclerotherapy Procedure
Pre-mixed foam sclerotherapy is performed as an in-office treatment under ultrasound guidance. The vein doctor doesn’t need to prepare the foam sclerosant solution because it’s readily available in the canister. As such, the vein doctor uses ultrasound guidance to identify the diseased vein, following which the foam sclerosant solution is carefully injected into the varicose veins and reticular veins, taking care not to let it flow into healthier veins.
Pros
Pros Summary:
- Extremely effective for large, tortuous varicose veins
- Suitable for the treatment of vein disease recurrence
- Considerably safer than foam sclerotherapy
- Minimizes the risk of human error
Cons
Cons Summary:
- Must be performed by vein experts
- Not covered by most insurance plans
Candidates for Pre-Mixed Foam Sclerotherapy
Pre-mixed foam sclerotherapy is meant for patients with large, twisted, tortuous varicose veins and reticular veins. It’s also suitable for patients with recurrent vein disease. However, since this treatment isn’t covered by most insurance plans, it might be slightly inaccessible to some patients — please ask for free insurance verification to determine if you’re eligible.
ClariVein
Also known As: Mechanochemical ablation
Best For: Venous insufficiency and recurrent symptoms of leg fatigue, discomfort, restless legs, leg cramps, or heaviness
What is ClariVein?
ClariVein, also known as mechanochemical ablation, approaches the subject of vein treatment from two angles — mechanical ablation and chemical ablation. The ClariVein device is a specialized catheter with a rotating wire tip and an internal sclerosant delivery system. During the procedure, the catheter’s rotating wire tip damages and destroys the diseased vein while simultaneously delivering a sclerosant medicine to irritate its walls, turning it into a hardened scar tissue eventually absorbed by the body.
The ClariVein Procedure
ClariVein is a safe, in-office procedure. The vein doctor administers local anesthesia to ensure comfort, following which your skin is cleansed, and a small incision is made. The vein doctor inserts the specialized catheter with the rotating wire tip into the diseased vein under ultrasound guidance. Once the catheter is in place, it’s activated to scratch and damage the diseased vein while secreting a sclerosant solution into the walls, making the diseased vein collapse. The accumulated blood reroutes into healthier leg veins.
Pros
Pros Summary:
- Minimal post-treatment swelling
- No risk of nerve injuries
- Doesn’t leave a medical implant in the body
- Suitable for large varicose veins
Cons
Cons Summary:
- Might cause discomfort
- Not covered by all insurance plans
Candidates for ClariVein
ClariVein is the ideal treatment for patients with large, twisted, tortuous varicose veins, especially those who are allergic to lidocaine, the primary ingredient used in tumescent anesthesia. Furthermore, you can opt for this procedure instead of VenaSeal if you don’t like the idea of a permanent medical implant in your body. Please request free insurance verification to determine if your insurance plan covers ClariVein treatment.
Vein Center Surgery
Also known As: ein ligation, vein stripping, vein removal, phlebectomy
Best For: The largest, most tortuous varicose veins
What Is Vein Surgery?
Vein ligation is one of the traditional surgical procedures used for the removal of large varicose veins and diseased veins. Most varicose vein surgeries involve the physical extraction of large, diseased veins through incisions on the body. Vein surgery usually involves hospitalization, multiple excisions, general anesthesia, and weeks of recovery.
How Is Vein Stripping Surgery Performed?
The vein ligation procedure will be conducted in the surgical room. The vein doctor will use ultrasound guidance to determine the type of anesthesia used, whether spinal anesthesia or general anesthesia. Depending on the appropriate technique, the vein doctor will make several incisions on the leg to extract the diseased veins using various tools, such as a looping wire, hook, and others. Once the diseased veins are removed, the incisions are sutured closed, and the recovery process can begin.
Pros
Pros Summary:
- Necessary in rare cases
Cons
Cons Summary:
- Higher risk of complications than minimally invasive techniques
- Involves hospitalization and extended downtime
- Performed under general anesthesia
Candidates for Vein Ligation
Vein ligation, and all other vascular surgeries, should only be considered as the last line of treatment if all other minimally invasive techniques fail. Your vein doctor may recommend vein surgery if it’s deemed absolutely necessary, such as the identification of deep vein thrombosis, but those cases are extremely rare.
Do you want more information about your spider vein and varicose vein treatment options in Maryland? The Maryland Vein Center is led by a highly skilled team of board-certified vein doctors specializing in the latest, safest, minimally invasive vein treatments. We will examine your leg veins, discuss your goals, and curate the ideal vein treatment plan for you in Maryland.
Selecting the Best Vein Doctor in Maryland for You
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The vein center is dual-accredited for vascular imaging and vein treatments
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The vein center is dual-accredited for vascular imaging and vein treatments
The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission officially certifies medical centers that meet all of their strict requirements. The Maryland Vein Center is one of the few vein centers in the country with double accreditation for vascular imaging and vein treatments.
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The vein center curates personalized vein treatment plans just for you
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The vein center curates personalized vein treatment plans just for you
Maryland Vein Center always curates personalized vein treatment plans. Our vein doctors recommend the ideal vein treatments for you based on your goals, the location and size of your varicose veins, the root cause of your vein problems, and your medical history.
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The vein center is led by compassionate vein doctors who listen to you
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The vein center is led by compassionate vein doctors who listen to you
Maryland Vein Center is led by highly-skilled, board-certified vein doctors who practice the art of active listening. They listen to your symptoms and goals with the utmost patience — that’s how they identify the clues that help them determine the safest treatments for you.
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The vein center focuses on ultrasound diagnostics
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The vein center focuses on ultrasound diagnostics
The Maryland Vein Center focuses on ultrasound-guided vein treatments and thorough ultrasound scans before vein treatments. The only way to curate the ideal vein treatment plan is to understand the root cause of your vein problems. As such, our vein doctors don’t start any treatment until they’ve investigated the underlying problem using the latest ultrasound techniques.
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The vein doctors have specialized training in vascular imaging
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The vein doctors have specialized training in vascular imaging
Most vein centers have ultrasonography experts who handle vascular imaging, but our vein center is led by registered physicians in vascular imaging, i.e., vein doctors with advanced vascular imaging training. Considering the primary role that ultrasound takes in the diagnosis and treatment of vein disease, it’s crucial to have vein doctors specializing in ultrasound.

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