Vein Care Services

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure which applies radiofrequency energy to shrink and close varicose veins. 

The 15-minute outpatient procedure is performed in the Vein Center's Vascular Laboratory under local anesthesia. (Appointments typically last a total of 60 to 90 minutes.) A catheter is inserted into the affected vein to provide consistent and uniform heat, which causes the bulging varicose vein to collapse and close. Once sealed shut, blood is redirected to healthy veins.

Patients experience little to no scarring, bruising or swelling with this procedure and can usually return to normal activities the following day.

Sclerotherapy is a non-surgical, painless treatment that involves injecting a chemical solution into your spider veins, which causes them to collapse.

The chemical irritates and scars your veins from the inside out, so abnormal spider veins can no longer fill with blood. Eventually, the veins disappear over a period of a few months.

Sclerotherapy may require several sessions to treat each vein, although multiple veins can be treated at each session. You will need to wear support stockings for two to four weeks after treatment.

VenaSeal is a medical adhesive that physically seals the bulging varicose vein and redirects blood to flow through nearby healthy veins. BIDMC is one of the first medical centers in the Boston area to offer this treatment option.

The 15-minute outpatient procedure is performed in the Vascular Laboratory under local anesthesia. (Appointments typically last 60 to 90 minutes.) Using ultrasound imaging as a guide, the adhesive is delivered through a catheter by way of a single small needle puncture in the leg.

The adhesive seals the vein so that blood flow is redirected to nearby healthy veins, alleviating the bulging varicose vein. Because VenaSeal requires only a single needle insertion to deliver the sealant, patients’ risks of pain and infection are reduced. VenaSeal also results in faster recovery time and eliminates the need for patients to wear compression stockings following the procedure.