WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsPatients Use New Treatments for Problematic Veins

Patients Use New Treatments for Problematic Veins

(NBC/WRCB) - When Anna Antonakaos was in her twenties, she knew she had her mom's genes and varicose veins.

"You want to wear, even if not short shorts, just a short skirt to your knees," said Antonakaos. "If your legs have all of these, you feel very self conscious."

Her spider veins disappear with the touch of a needle. It's called sclerotherapy.

"Injecting solution inside the vein, which irritates the inner lining of the vein, so that the vein closes and disappears," said Dr. Louis Navarro, surgeon. 

The treatment, which is about 40 injections, costs $500. Usually it takes a few treatments and patients return in a year or two for maintenance.

Amy Jakubowski was a teenager when she first noticed a varicose vein.

"It's not just that they're ugly, which is probably the number one reason for me," said Jakubowski. "I just want to feel good."

she's having a procedure called endovision.

"We passed this little fiber inside of the vein, and with laser energy we just sealed the vein," said Navarro.

It will be followed by a phlebectomy.

"With a needle, we make a tiny knit of the skin and with tiny little hooks, we remove the vein," said Navarro.

It takes about 45 minutes and is done under local anesthesia. There's no down time, just a little bruising that's gone in a couple of weeks.

Both women say it's worth the commitment and the money.

"When you have all of these marks and everything on your leg, you start to notice how wonderful everybody else's legs are," said Jakubowski. "So, hopefully, I'll be looking at my legs and saying how wonderful they are for a change."