Treating Varicose Veins, Spider Veins and Venous Disease

The Providence Vein Center - 2001 Laurel St, Columbia, SC 29204

The old school method of dealing with vein problems was invasive, painful and required hospitalization. Now you can eliminate varicose and spider veins, and improve the overall circulation of your legs, in just a few minutes with little to no pain or recovery time.

Call (803) 365-8346 [VEIN] to make an appointment.

Say hello to life without painful, swollen legs.

If varicose veins and other forms of venous disease keep you from enjoying the life you want, you’re not alone. More than 40 million Americans have painful, swollen legs as a result of venous disease. The good news is that minimally invasive procedures to treat venous disease and remove visible veins are available right here in Columbia at the Providence Vein Center.

The National Institutes of Health estimates that 60% of all men and women suffer from some form of vein disorder. 

Common vein disorders are:

• Varicose Veins - Veins near the surface of the skin that clump and bulge
• Spider Veins - Smaller, red, purple, and blue vessels that twist and turn at the surface of the skin
• Venous Insufficiency - Occurs when there are faulty valves in the veins

All three conditions are treated with outpatient procedures at the Providence Vein Center. Varicose and spider veins are often treated with sclerotherapy, which involves injecting a material directly into the problematic vein, forcing blood to reroute through healthier veins. Within a few weeks, the injected vein fades. Venous insufficiency involves a different outpatient procedure called endovenous thermal ablation.

What is venous insufficiency?

Venous insufficiency occurs when there are faulty valves in the veins. In a healthy vein, there are one-way valves that allow the blood to move toward the heart, but not away. In a diseased vein, these valves fail to work properly, allowing blood to fall downward between heartbeats. The back and forth motion of blood leads to increased venous blood pressure causing inflammation in the tissues around the vein.

Before (left) and After (right)
Venous Disease Treatment

What causes venous insufficiency?

The number one risk factor for venous disease is something you can’t control: your genes.

If your parents had varicose veins, you have an 89% chance of developing them. 

There are other risk factors, too…

• Gender – Venous disease affects roughly 30% of women and 15% of men.
• Occupation – Professions that require long periods of sitting or standing increase your risk for venous disease.
• Age – While older people are at a higher risk for venous disease, it can start as early as childhood.

What are the signs of venous insufficiency?

• Leg pain or swelling
• Burning or itching skin
• Heavy, tired or restless legs
• Skin discolorations
• Open ulcers on legs
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• Leg cramps
• Blood clots
• Neuropathy (damage to the nerves that causes weakness, numbness and pain)

How is venous disease treated?

First, diagnosis is confirmed by an ultrasound, which is a non-invasive device that uses sound waves to produce an image of what lies below the skin. Once confirmed, venous disease can be treated with a minimally invasive procedure called endovenous thermal ablation, in which a catheter is inserted into the diseased vein using a small (2-3 mm) incision. Heat is applied to the vein wall causing it to close. The body naturally re-routes the blood through other healthy veins.

The procedure is done under local anesthetic. Many notice immediate relief of symptoms.

Patients are usually up and walking immediately after the procedure and they return to their normal activities the same day. 

Most major insurance companies, including Medicare, cover this procedure.

Note: Sclerotherapy, used to remove spider veins, is different from the often-covered endovenous thermal ablation. Sclerotherapy is not covered by insurance because spider veins are often treated for cosmetic reasons, not medical reasons. Your coverage availability to erase spider veins will be further discussed at the time of the consultation.

Meet the Vein Center Team

All of our procedures are performed by board-certified cardiologists with specialized training in venous treatment, providing our patients with the highest-level of circulatory system expertise. 

Norma M. Khoury, MD, FACC, FACP earned her medical degree at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. Ms. Khoury was an assistant professor of medicine at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, WJB Dorn VA Hospital, where she also served as director of the coronary care unit, chairman of the special care committee and a member of the professional standards board. She also served as chief of the cardiology department for Providence Health. More information

Bashir A. Lone, MBBS, MD, FACP, FACC​ Dr. Lone completed his medical school at Government Medical College Srinagar, Kashmir, India. He is the Director of echocardiography and vascular laboratory at Providence Cardiology and is an interventional cardiovascular specialist at Providence Health. He is also a clinical assistant professor of medicine at University of South Carolina School of Medicine. More information

Glen N. Dougherty, Jr, MD, FACC, received his medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Dougherty also served as US Army Captain, Medical Corps with the Kentucky National Guard, US Army Captain, Medical Corps with the South Carolina National Guard, and chemist for the Department of Health and Environmental Control. More information

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Call (803) 365-8346 [VEIN] to make an appointment.

Physicians may use this form to refer patients, though physician referrals are not needed to receive services.