Elite Vein Specialists

Products And Services

• Endovenous Laser Treatment

  Endovenous laser ablation uses the heat from lasers to shrink and collapse diseased veins. Dr. Hyde was the first physician in the Bay Area to begin using the new, cutting-edge fourth-generation Sciton laser. The procedure provides minimal discomfort and recovery is generally very quick. Unlike surgical vein stripping, endovenous laser ablation requires virtually no downtime. This technique has far fewer complications and side effects than traditional surgical vein stripping. The Procedure EndoLaser Vein System is an advanced technique that began in 2001. The procedure involves using a laser to heat the diseased vessel from inside the vein, causing the vein to shrink or collapse. Dr. Hyde was the first in the Bay Area to begin using the cutting-edge fourth-generation Sciton laser to perform endovenous laser ablation on his patients. This laser provides a gentler, non-surgical alternative to traditional surgical vein stripping. In Dr. Hyde’s experienced hands, the procedure takes approximately 30 minutes. The physician will administer a local anesthetic to the vein and surrounding area to ensure minimal discomfort during the treatment. The procedure is performed through a small nick in the skin to prevent scarring. Using ultrasound as a guide, a tiny laser fiber is inserted into the targeted vein through the nick in the skin. Instead of surgically removing the vein, laser energy is delivered through the tiny laser fiber, effectively using heat to seal the vein. What conditions does it treat? Endovenous laser ablation is indicated for patients with reverse blood flow (reflux) originating high in the leg at the saphenofemoral junction. An ultrasound scan is the most accurate way to make this diagnosis. Patients with this reflux often have large varicose veins. This procedure has a success rate greater than 98% for the treatment of large or painful varicose veins. Am I a Candidate? If you suffer from large varicose veins, you may be a candidate for endovenous laser ablation. Your physician can perform the proper tests to decide if you are indeed a candidate. RecoveryEndovenous laser ablation is performed under a local anesthetic and requires little to no downtime. Patients are encouraged to walk following the procedure and may return to work and other normal activities on the same day. Regular exercise should be resumed after the procedure to help assist in circulation. Compression bandages or stockings can also aid in improving vascular flow. Strenuous activities and standing for long periods of time should be avoided during the first week after the treatment. Post-procedural pain is often negligible but can be treated with pain medication if necessary. Potential Risks Risks for this procedure are minimal when you are under the care of an experienced vein specialist. Complications are rare but can include mild thigh numbness, a pulling sensation, redness or tenderness, infection at the incision site, and bruising. These issues will usually resolve on their own without medical attention. Deep venous thrombosis is an extremely rare side effect that can be avoided using the proper compression garments to ensure proper circulation.

  Link: Endovenous Laser Treatment

• Foam Sclerotherapy

  Foam sclerotherapy uses an emulsion of the drugs used in conventional sclerotherapy. This method sees faster results across fewer treatment sessions. Foam sclerotherapy is very useful on more extensive varicosities for which conventional sclerotherapy may be ineffective. Risks and side effects are minimal when treated by an experienced vein care professional. The Procedure Like conventional sclerotherapy, foam sclerotherapy works by injecting the diseased vein with a solution that promotes vein closure. Foam sclerotherapy uses an emulsion of the same drug used in conventional sclerotherapy, which appears to have a more significant effect on the inner wall of treated veins. An emulsion is created by mixing air with the conventional chemical, resulting in a foam solution. The emulsion suffers less dilution from blood because it tends to displace blood instead of simply mixing with it. As a result, the drug has far better contact with the vessel wall surface. Foam sclerotherapy provides better results and requires less drug concentration than conventional sclerotherapy. This method usually garners faster results across fewer treatment sessions. What Conditions Does It Treat? Foam sclerotherapy treats patients with medium to large varicose veins and spider veins. This procedure is highly effective on larger vessels, mainly when jointly used with ultrasound-guided injections. Traditional sclerotherapy is mostly ineffective on more extensive varicosities, but foam sclerotherapy displaces the blood, allowing for better contact between the drug and the vein walls. Am I a Candidate? Foam sclerotherapy is indicated for patients who want to treat varicose veins and spiders with fewer treatments than conventional sclerotherapy. Foam sclerotherapy can be used with injections guided by ultrasound or Veinlite technologies. Guidance technologies can provide more accurate treatment of the diseased vein. Recovery The minimally-invasive nature of foam sclerotherapy means that there will be virtually no downtime after your treatment. Patients can get up and walk around immediately after the procedure; patients are generally able to return to work the same day. Recovery includes similar post-procedural requirements to other sclerotherapy treatments, such as a short elevation, wearing compression garments, and light exercise to promote healthy circulation. Blood clots will form in the treated vein, which may look like lumps under your skin’s surface. As they heal, some tenderness and discoloration may be present. The results of treatment will not be immediately visible. The treated vein may sometimes look darker and worse than before treatment. The darkness should fade within a week, and you will begin to see a positive outcome within several weeks. Potential Risks When performed by an experienced vein care specialist, there are minimal complications associated with foam sclerotherapy. Risks include those associated with conventional sclerotherapy, which are discoloration of the vein under the skin, bruising or inflammation at the injection site, and allergic reactions from ingredients in the solution. Matting can also occur, where your body forms many tiny blood vessels around the injection site. Matting will usually resolve independently but sometimes requires additional injections to relieve.

  Link: Foam Sclerotherapy

• Restless Leg Syndrome

  What Are Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome? Many people have become aware of Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). The condition of restless leg syndrome is often associated with the following conditions and symptomatic criteria including: Feeling and sensation resulting in an urge to move limbs, especially legs Worsening of symptoms at rest. Some patients report symptoms are worse when lying down or sitting for long periods of time. Worsening of symptoms during the end of the day or at night. Improvement of symptomatic conditions with activity and movement. If you are having difficulty describing the sensations you think might be restless leg syndrome, you are not alone! Many other patients have a hard time describing the condition. Patients often describe the general feeling associated with Restless Leg Syndrome as something that feels just antsy, creepy, or uncomfortable. While most have these feelings in their legs, the syndrome can also occur in their arms. An urge to move while experiencing these symptoms is also common. Slim, perfect and beautiful crossed woman legs on bed at vacation and holiday. Cropped of erotically lying on bed african american lady in bedroom and crumpled white bed clothes, top view, empty space Rule Out Vein Problems, Treatment Options Various treatment options for RLS include iron supplements, pharmacological treatment (drugs), lifestyle changes, and exercise. In addition to consulting with your primary care Physician on the best course of treatment, a consult with a venous disease specialist (Vein Doctor), should be part of a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan. Consulting with a venous specialist is essential to rule out venous disease as a possible underlying cause of RLS before embarking on a course of therapy. Treatment and diagnoses for restless leg syndrome should be sought if your discomfort is consistent. Closeup side view of early 30's unrecognizable doctor examining a knee of a senior gentleman during an appointment. The doctor is gently touching the tendons around the knee and the knee cap and trying to determine the cause of pain. Restless Leg Syndrome Diagnoses Elite Vein Specialists offer diagnoses and treatment (if the underlying cause is vein related) for restless leg syndrome. If your RLS is caused by varicose veins or other venous insufficiency, our clinic specializes in treating these conditions. Please schedule a consult with us if you are concerned about restless leg syndrome.

  Link: Restless Leg Syndrome

• Surface Sclerotherapy

  Surface sclerotherapy treats varicose veins, spider veins, and feeder vessels near the skin’s surface by injecting a drug that promotes vein closure. Surface sclerotherapy can treat diseased veins on the legs, hands, breasts, shoulders, and back. Desired results are often present after approximately two months. Risks are minimal when an experienced vein care specialist performs the procedure. The Procedure Surface sclerotherapy is the conventional form of sclerotherapy. It is a minimally-invasive vein treatment developed in Europe over 40 years ago to treat varicose veins and spider veins. The procedure is simple and nearly painless, typically lasting approximately 30 minutes. It requires the vein care physician to inject the undesired vein with a solution that closes it completely. At Elite Vein Specialists, the solution is comprised of only FDA-approved drugs. Guidance methods may be employed to help ensure accuracy during the injection, such as ultrasound guiding for deeper sources of reflux and Veinlite guiding for superficial spiders and feeder vessels. What Conditions Does It Treat? This procedure treats varicose and spider veins and the blue-green reticular veins that are often the root cause of vein disease. Surface sclerotherapy has successfully treated diseased veins on the legs, hands, breasts, and small spiders on the shoulders or the back. Am I a Candidate? Sclerotherapy can be used on candidates who want to eliminate their varicose and spider veins, along with the underlying cause of those vein diseases. Patients with leg fatigue or pain due to vein disease can benefit significantly from surface sclerotherapy. Traditional sclerotherapy is indicated when the diseased and feeder veins are visible on the skin’s surface. For better precision, guiding mechanisms may be used to discern where treatment is necessary. This procedure does not produce immediate results, so candidates must have patience when assessing their results. Desired results may not be seen for up to two months after the treatment. Recovery Surface sclerotherapy is a quick and minimally-invasive procedure, so the recovery is minimal. Unlike surgical vein stripping, there is virtually no downtime for traditional sclerotherapy. Most patients are up and moving directly same the procedure and can return to work the next day. Your physician will recommend wearing compression bandages or stockings for about a week after the procedure to promote healthy blood flow and circulation and decrease the risk of blood clots in untreated veins. When treating more prominent varicose veins, your physician will probably require using compression garments. Light exercise and walking, starting the day after the surgery, are also encouraged to aid circulation. Blood clots and scabs will occur in the closed vein and can present as lumps under the skin surface. These blood clots are not dangerous and resolve as your body heals the scabs. Discoloration and tenderness may occur as the scabs heal. Potential Risks Sclerotherapy complications are minimal when an experienced vein specialist performs the procedure. Risks include discoloration of the vein under the skin, bruising or inflammation at the injection site, and allergic reactions from ingredients in the solution. Matting can also occur, where your body forms many tiny blood vessels around the injection site. Matting will usually resolve independently but sometimes requires additional injections to relieve.

  Link: Surface Sclerotherapy

• Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy

  Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy treats the deeply rooted sources of reflux that cause surface varicosities and spiders. Ultrasound guides the physician quickly and precisely to the reflux location. Desired results will likely be achieved within two months. Side effects and risks are minimal. The Procedure All diseased veins, from varicose to spider, are caused by abnormal blood leakage through faulty valves inside veins. Over time, this abnormal leakage of blood, also called reflux, causes veins visible on the skin surface to dilate and become varicose or spider veins. Conventional sclerotherapy uses FDA-approved drugs to close off undesired veins that are the source of this leakage. However, some sources of reflux are too deep to be reached by a surface injection. Using advanced ultrasound and injection techniques, Dr. Hyde can diagnose and treat the deeper sources of reflux that cause surface varicose veins and spiders. Once the root cause has been identified and treated, the varicose and spider veins caused by the leakage will disappear. This procedure is quick, lasts 15 minutes to an hour, and is minimally invasive. Using ultrasound gives excellent precision as the physician injects sclerosing solution into the deep venous reflux. Many sessions may be required to achieve the desired results. What Conditions Does It Treat? Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy treats deep venous reflux causing surface varicosities and spiders. Once the source of the reflux is located and satisfactorily treated, the resulting diseased veins will disappear. While the procedure treats the underlying cause of varicose veins and spiders, it cannot prevent future vein problems from surfacing due to new reflux sources. Am I a Candidate? Candidates for ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy have medium to large varicose or spider veins and want to see them disappear. Patience is a prerequisite for the procedure, as the process can require many sessions. Veins will not immediately look better and sometimes worse initially, but after approximately two months your legs will look markedly clearer. Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is indicated when the source of the patient’s reflux is not accessible by conventional sclerotherapy. Recovery Recovery from ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is similar to that of surface sclerotherapy. Most patients can move about immediately after the procedure and return to work and regular activity the same day. After surgery, the physician will obligate you to use compression bandages or stockings to aid circulation. A short period of elevation may be required, but afterward, the patient should use regular walks or exercise to help promote vascular flow. Blood clots and scabs will form on the inside of the treated vein due to the procedure. These scabs sometimes present themselves as bumps under the skin and eventually tenderness and discoloration as the body works to break them down. Potential Risks This technique is much safer than surgical alternatives. Complications are rare in the hands of an experienced vein care specialist. Some side effects from the injection are discoloration of the vein under the skin, bruising or inflammation at the injection site, and allergic reactions from ingredients in the solution. Matting can also occur, where your body forms many tiny blood vessels around the injection site. Matting will usually resolve independently but sometimes requires additional injections to relieve.

  Link: Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy

• Veinlite Sclerotherapy

  Veinlite-guided sclerotherapy allows the physician to see veins below the skin’s surface, even those that may not be visible to the human eye. This procedure is indicated for superficial spider veins and feeder vessels. Desired results may take up to two months to fully appear. Risks and side effects for this procedure are rare. The Procedure Veinlite-guided sclerotherapy is a minimally-invasive form of sclerotherapy in which the Veinlite guides the physician to the source of superficial spiders. The Veinlite transilluminates veins below the skin, even vessels that may not be visible to the human eye, allowing Dr. Hyde to accurately map out the course of feeder vessels before injecting the spider veins. Feeder vessels are typically blue-green in color and are called reticular veins. Some feeder vessels can originate 4-8 inches away from where the spider is presented on the surface. Locating and closing all feeder vessels is critical to treating spider veins and ensuring they do not recur. Like ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, Veinlite sclerotherapy allows the physician to more accurately assess the damaged veins and inject the solution into the right place to close the vein. However, Veinlite sclerotherapy is used for surface feeder vessels instead of deeper sources of reflux. What Conditions Does It Treat? Veinlite-guided sclerotherapy provides accurate treatment for superficial spider veins and their feeder vessels. Since it cannot see deep beneath the surface, it is not indicated for treating spiders resulting from deep feeder vessels. Am I a Candidate? Am I a Candidate? Veinlite-guided sclerotherapy is indicated when patients have superficial spider veins with feeder vessels near the skin surface. Patience is essential during the course of treatment, as desired results for sclerotherapy patients can take approximately two months to become apparent. At first, the injected vein may begin to look darker than it did initially, but this darkness typically fades within a week. Veinlite-guided sclerotherapy, like other forms of sclerotherapy, may involve many sessions depending on the severity of your vein problems. Recovery Recovery Recovery for Veinlite guided sclerotherapy is much the same as conventional sclerotherapy. Patients can typically move about directly after the procedure and return to regular activity after 24 hours. Compression bandages or stockings will be employed to aid in circulation. A short period of elevation may be required, but afterward, the patient should use regular walks and exercise to help promote vascular flow and prevent blood clots in untreated veins. Blood clots and scabs will form on the inside of the treated vein due to the procedure. As a result, lumps may begin to appear under the skin. The lumps should fade as your body breaks down the scabs. You may experience discoloration or tenderness as the scabs heal. Potential Risks Complications are minimal when an experienced vein specialist performs Veinlite-guided sclerotherapy. Risks include those associated with conventional sclerotherapy, which are discoloration of the vein under the skin, bruising or inflammation at the injection site, and allergic reactions from ingredients in the solution. Matting can also occur, where your body forms many tiny blood vessels around the injection site. Matting will usually resolve independently but sometimes requires additional injections to relieve.

  Link: Veinlite Sclerotherapy