Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic Venous Insufficency Fox Valley Plastic Surgery

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is a progressive medical condition which worsens over time and affects the veins and vessels in the leg which carries oxygen-poor blood back toward the heart. Varicose veins, which are enlarged veins in the leg which appear like twisted, bulging cords, can progress to CVI if left untreated.

There are a number of factors that contribute to varicose veins and CVI, including pregnancy and heredity. As varicose veins progress to become CVI, other painful symptoms like leg swelling, skin damage and ulcers may occur.

The Radiofrequency Ablation procedure is the only minimally invasive segmental radiofrequency (RF) ablation treatment which utilizes radiofrequency energy to provide an even and uniform heat to contract the collagen in the vein walls, causing them to collapse and seal. Once a leg vein is closed, blood flow is redirected to healthy veins.

The Radiofrequency Ablation procedure allows for a quick, comfortable recovery and a return to everyday activities, while also improving the appearance of varicose veins.

The Vein Center at Fox Valley Plastic Surgery

The accredited Vein Center at Fox Valley Plastic Surgery expertly treats all vein issues. Some practices have a doctor, instead of a registered vascular technician, perform the ultrasounds. This is never done at FVPS because a registered vascular sonographer is vastly superior to a doctor in his/her level of ultrasound expertise of the veins. Our skilled surgeons and technicians are helping women and men from places such as Green Bay, Appleton, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Madison and upper Michigan, perfect their personal Renaissance. Contact the Vein Center at 920-233-1540 to request a vein consultation.

How Radiofrequency Ablation Works

The ClosureFast™ catheter is inserted into the vein through a tiny incision below the knee. Guided by ultrasound imaging, the physician treats a 7 cm segment of vein with a 20-second burst of radiofrequency energy, causing the vessel to shrink around the catheter. Then, the physician withdraws the catheter, treating each segment until the entire length of the vein has been sealed. An average 45 cm length vein can be treated in this manner in just three to five minutes.

Unlike painful vein stripping surgery or laser ablation, the catheter delivers uniform, consistent heat to each segment, and temperatures do not exceed 120° C. As a result, the Radiofrequency Ablation procedure causes less bruising and allows for rapid patient relief and recovery. The Radiofrequency Ablation procedure is commonly performed in our office as an outpatient procedure.

The treated vein becomes fibrous tissue after the procedure. Over time, the vein will gradually be completely absorbed into surrounding tissue.

Download the pre and post op treatment sheet for the procedure to learn more.

Real Patients stories

“I feel better at 45 than I did at 30!”

- Lisa

“Do it sooner, rather than later.”

- Paul

What To Expect

Is the Procedure Painful?

Most patients report feeling little, if any, pain during the Radiofrequency Ablation procedure. Therefore, we will give you a local or regional anesthetic to numb the treatment area.

Benefits

The Radiofrequency Ablation procedure is minimally invasive, eliminating the need for groin surgery and general anesthesia. The procedure also results in little to no scarring and is generally performed using local anesthesia in our office. After the treatment, patients indicated that they had a fast improvement in quality of life with the ClosureFast™ catheter. Patients receiving the Radiofrequency Ablation procedure return to normal activity and work significantly faster than those undergoing vein stripping. The ClosureFast catheter has been shown in a study to be 93% effective after three years.

To learn more about this procedure, contact the Vein Center at Fox Valley Plastic Surgery at 920-233-1540 to request a personal vein consultation.

Am I a Candidate?

The most important step in determining whether or not the Radiofrequency Ablation procedure is appropriate for you is a complete ultrasound examination by our office. The Radiofrequency Ablation procedure has been used to treat both women and men across a wide range of ages.

Day of Procedure

In order for the treatment to take place, these rules need to be adhered to on the day of the procedure:

Do not eat 3 hours prior to procedure. Make your last meal a light meal (e.g. yogurt, fruit, coffee or juice). Stay away from breads and cereal. The breads and cereal may absorb your relaxing medication. You may keep taking any medication that you would take on a daily basis.
Bring your compression stockings with you. You will be instructed if you will need to wear them home.
Have a ride. You will be unable to drive for the rest of the day due to the relaxation medication given during your procedure. If you wish to drive yourself, then opt for Pro-Nox, a $50 out of pocket cost. Patients who have used Pro-Nox have felt no pain or anxiety, and were able to drive themselves home immediately after the procedure.

Recovery

Many patients experience a quicker return to normal activities. For a few weeks following the treatment, we recommend a regular walking regimen and suggest you refrain from very strenuous activities (heavy lifting, for example) or prolonged periods of standing. Most patients report a noticeable improvement in their symptoms within one to two weeks following the procedure. Most patients report minimal to no scarring, bruising or swelling following the Radiofrequency Ablation procedure.

In the rare instances in which pain, swelling, redness, warmth or red streaking is experienced, patients should call the office immediately or come into the office on the same day. This procedure is safe, but rare complications are always a possibility.

We recommend the purchase of Dermaka Cream for $34 to minimize bruising and inflammatory responses of the skin after a procedure. Our patients have had excellent results with the cream, which can also used be for eczema, rashes, dry skin, etc. Learn more on Dermaka.com, or download the patient booklet here.

Before & Afters

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Risks

As with any medical intervention, potential risks and complications exist with the Venefit procedure. We will determine if any present conditions present any special risks. We will review potential complications of the Radiofrequency Ablation procedure at the consultation, which can include vessel perforation, thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, phlebitis, hematoma, infection, paresthesia (numbness or tingling) and/or skin burn.

Pricing

Vein treatment is inherently expensive due to the amount of appointments required and the technologies involved. Fortunately, most insurance companies cover the treatment of vein disease, which is associated with substantial pain and other complications. However, some individual insurance companies may limit the types of therapy which are covered. FVPS will check to see if the procedures are covered by insurance, but the patients are still ultimately responsible for any copays, deductibles, and any other non-covered insurance charges.

Cash vs. Insurance

Patients with a high deductible insurance plan, may feel they will never meet the deductible and prefer to pay a cash price. We offer special pricing for patients who elect to personally pay for a procedure. The insurance allowed amount is generally much higher than the out of pocket cost.
Some patients want a procedure done right away and do not want to wait for a prior authorization decision from their insurance plan. This can be accomplished by paying for the procedure out of pocket.
Some patients do not have insurance. We offer special pricing for procedures that are not billed to insurance. Full payment must be made before a procedure is performed.
Patients who wish to pay for their procedures out of pocket, need to waive their right to insurance coverage for their procedures.

Start Your journey today

Patients without insurance or who do not wish to use insurance, should call for an individual consultation to get a custom quote for vein treatment.

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