Varicose Veins – Causes and Treatments

Have Varicose Veins

What are Varicose Veins

What Causes Varicose Veins

Who Is At Risk

Symptoms

Are there Long Term Risks

Treatment Options

FAQ

Do you have Varicose Veins? Aching, Heavy, Swollen Legs?

You may have venous insufficiency and venous reflux. More than 25 million people in the United States suffer from this problem. Venous insufficiency may be associated with enlarged veins, swollen legs, skin discoloration, restless legs, muscle cramps and in extreme cases, skin ulcerations & blood clots.

What Are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are bulging veins under the skin which are enlarged due to elevated pressure in the venous system caused by ‘venous insufficiency or reflux’ (leaking vein valves).
The enlarged veins are often grouped together as bulging structures just beneath the skin. They can extend along the course of the thigh and calf for a variable distance.
Often characterized by twisting blue or purple patterns

What Causes Varicose Veins?

Understanding Venous Insufficiency

Veins return blood to the heart. Proper vein blood flow occurs against gravity. Pumped by the leg muscles, venous blood travels through one way valves in the veins which only allow upward flow toward the heart. Venous insufficiency occurs when the one way valves fail or “leak”, allowing blood in the vein to follow gravity & flow backward toward the feet. This causes pressure to build up in the veins, distending them so that they bulge out of the surface of the skin. Symptoms such as aching, fatigue, swelling & skin color changes can occur and worsen over time if left untreated.

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Who is at Risk?

Varicose veins will afflict approximately 20% of all adults by age 60
Risk factors include a family history of varicose veins, obesity, pregnancy and hormonal changes at menopause
Occupational and lifestyle factors requiring long periods of standing can also lead to varicose veins.
Women suffer from varicose veins more than men but men make up about 25% of our patients
Incidence increases to 50% in people over age 50
Other vein diseases such as blood clots can also be contributing factors to the formation of varicose veins.

Symptoms

Aching
Throbbing
Itching
Swelling
General discomfort

Are there Long Term Risks?

Left untreated, a patient’s symptoms may worsen and could lead to leg swelling, chronic skin changes such as dermatitis and discoloration and in severe cases, non–healing ulcerations. These problems make it difficult to sit or stand for long periods of time which may affect a person’s activity level and quality of life.

What treatments are available?

At Capitol Vein & Laser Center, minimally invasive, comfortable in office procedures are performed that effectively eliminate problem veins, cure symptoms of venous reflux, restore normal circulation and return the legs to a more youthful appearance. Several vein treatment options are available. In order to know what treatments are best for you, Dr. McNeill or Dr. Rosenberg will examine your legs, review diagnostic testing and discuss a treatment plan that is individualized for your specific needs. Vein treatments are done in the comfort of our office with minimal to no discomfort and no downtime. There is no need for hospitalization or anything more than a gentle local anesthetic.

VNUS® ClosureFAST: Capital Vein and Laser Centers is one of the country’s recognized leaders in this minimally invasive high tech procedure that is revolutionizing the treatment of varicose veins. Our board certified phlebologists (physicians specializing in venous disease) host seminars several times a year teaching advanced courses using this equipment and to date have done over 4,000 cases. LEARN MORE. view gallery.

Microphlebectomy: an in office procedure for treating larger surface veins. Performed with local anesthetic, small nicks are made in the skin and using special tiny instruments, the unhealthy bulging veins are gently removed. There typically are no stitches and no downtime from normal activity. The leg is healthier and looks much better with the disappearance of unwanted veins.
LEARN MORE. view gallery.

Sclerotherapy: an in office treatment used to eliminate and improve “spider veins” – tiny purple and red veins on the surface of the skin. Using a micro-needle, a solution is injected into the unsightly vessels causing them to close and ultimately fade and disappear. There is minimal to no discomfort with this treatments and no downtime.
LEARN MORE. view gallery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the risks of leaving varicose veins untreated?
Dilated or varicose veins commonly produce symptoms of leg discomfort, aching and swelling and place you at risk for blood clots which can form in your legs veins. Superficial vein blood clots are quite painful and take a number of weeks to resolve. Blood clots in deep veins of the leg pose a more serious health risk. Skin breakdown may occur with more advanced venous disease.

Where are the procedures performed & how long do they take?
All of the vein treatments are performed in a Capitol Vein & Laser Center office. Each location is a state of the art facility with specialized treatment rooms, vascular testing and all equipment necessary to safely perform required procedures. The VNUS Closure procedure takes approximately 30 minutes. You can expect to be at our office for typically one hour due to normal pre and post treatment measures. Microphlebectomy procedure generally lasts about 30 minutes as well.

Is the Closure procedure painful?
Patients report feeling little, if any discomfort during the Closure procedure. We use a local anesthetic (lidocaine) to numb the treatment area. This anesthetic is delivered through injections and involves a brief “stick & burn” at the site before becoming numb.

When can I return to normal activities?
Most patients resume normal activities immediately following the procedure. Some even return to work the same day. We encourage you to walk and be active, while refraining from exercise and heavy lifting for three days.

Is there scarring, bruising or swelling after the Closure procedure?
Patients report minimal to no scarring, bruising or swelling following the Closure procedure.

How soon after treatment will my symptoms improve?
Most patients notice improvement in symptoms within 1–2 weeks. Some patients may require microphlebectomy or sclerotherapy for any remaining visible veins.

What are the risks of the Closure procedure?
As with any medical intervention, potential risks do exist. Fortunately, associated complications are extremely rare. Your physician will review these with you during your office visits and answer any questions you may have. It is important to us that you completely understand any procedure before we proceed.

Will all my varicose veins disappear after the Closure procedure?
The bulging varicose veins that you can visualize under the skin are coming from a vein deeper in your leg that has venous reflux (leaking valves). Vein treatments are done in steps, first treating the source (insufficient vein with reflux) via VNUS Closure, and then evaluating the response of the varicose branches. Some varicose veins will regress completely with compression following the Closure procedure. Others however have been enlarged for so long that they have lost the elasticity & capability to regress completely. In this case, a treatment called microphlebectomy can be done comfortably in the office to eliminate unhealthy, unsightly veins that remain.