Desert Vein Clinic

Imperial Valley Vein Treatment Services

With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Norman Baron and his staff at the Desert Vein Clinic handle a greater volume of vein treatment cases than any other vein clinic in the Imperial Valley. In the past, vein surgery, called “ligation and stripping,” was the typical treatment for varicose veins, but today a wide range of newer options exist. Many are minimally invasive and involve very little recovery time. Dr. Baron will assess your individual situation and offer advice for how to get rid of varicose veins, spider veins and other vein problems.

Duplex Ultrasound

Many vein treatment approaches begin with duplex ultrasound, a painless, non-invasive procedure that enables a vein specialist to examine the size, path and blood flow of veins as well as the extent of venous disease.

VNUS Closure® Procedure (RF Ablation)

VNUS ClosureFAST® is rapidly becoming the “gold standard” for treating varicose veins. In this minimally invasive procedure, radiofrequency (RF) energy is directed into a faulty vein through a very small catheter. This causes the unhealthy vein to seal shut. The body redirects bloods to healthier veins and eventually absorbs the unhealthy one. Aside from resulting in very little if any discomfort, VNUS Closure allows patients to resume normal activities very soon after the procedure is completed.

1470 Laser (The Gentle Laser)

Older laser treatments can be quite painful and also cause extensive bruising. Because of its unique frequency, the 1470 laser acts on the wall of the vein causing it to close with much less energy than is the case with older lasers. This feature leads to less pain and less bruising.

Sclerotherapy

The most common Imperial Valley treatment for spider veins is sclerotherapy, in which a chemical or “sclerosing” agent is injected into the spider vein. As with RF ablation, the vein reacts by closing itself off and the body redirects blood to healthier veins. Sclerotherapy patients experience very little if any discomfort from this minimally invasive treatment and are able to return almost immediately to a normal activity level.

Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy

For spider veins and smaller varicose veins that are slightly below the surface of the skin, ultrasound can be used to guide placement of the needle. Once the needle is in place, the procedure works the same way as it does for traditional sclerotherapy.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

Ambulatory phlebectomy is an effective vein treatment for varicose veins close to the skin’s surface. After applying a local anesthetic, the surgeon inserts a small hook through a tiny incision and withdraws unhealthy veins with the hook. Compression bandages are usually recommended for two weeks to promote healing.

Closure® and ClosureFAST® are registered trademarks of VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. (San Jose, CA)