Vein Care How to Get Rid of Varicose Veins

More than 25 million people in the United States have problems with their veins, the vessels that return blood to the heart after it has circulated through the body. The problem, called chronic venous insufficiency or varicose veins, can cause pain, swelling, cramping and itching in the legs. It can also lead to skin changes, ulcers and other serious medical issues. Center For Advanced Vein Care stop the disease from progressing and relieve symptoms, so patients can return to normal life activities as quickly as possible.

Varicose veins are the result of weakened walls and malfunctioning valves. Normally, one-way valves in your veins keep your blood flowing in only one direction and prevent it from pooling. But when these veins become sluggish, blood flows backward and the vein stretches, becoming distended (inflated). Over time, these stretched out veins protrude from your skin’s surface and may look bluish or purple.

Health experts aren’t sure what causes the vein walls to weaken or the valves to become faulty, but several things can increase your risk for developing varicose and spider veins. These include:

Standing or sitting for long periods of time can put pressure on your veins, causing them to stretch. This is especially true if you’re overweight. Having high blood pressure, diabetes, or taking birth control pills can relax your veins and make them more likely to stretch. Genetics can play a role as well. Varicose veins often run in families.

If you have small or medium varicose veins, your doctor may recommend sclerotherapy, a minimally invasive procedure that injects a chemical into the affected vein. This chemical scars the inside of your vein, causing it to close and fade. This doesn’t require anesthesia or a hospital stay and can be done in your health care provider’s office.

For larger varicose veins, your health care provider might use a catheter-based treatment using radiofrequency or laser energy. During this procedure, a health care provider inserts a thin tube (catheter) into an enlarged vein. They then heat the tip of the catheter using either radiofrequency or laser energy, which causes the vein to collapse and seal shut.

Many patients don’t get treated for venous disease because they believe it will be painful or require a lengthy hospital stay. They also might think that the symptoms aren’t severe enough to warrant medical attention. But we’ve developed a number of effective procedures that are quick, painless and can be performed in your healthcare provider’s office.

We offer laser, radiofrequency, and sclerotherapy treatments, all of which are minimally invasive and can be done right in your doctor’s office. These procedures are much faster than traditional surgery and can significantly improve your quality of life. In most cases, you can go home and continue your regular activities immediately afterward. Many of our patients report that these treatments drastically improved their quality of life and helped them feel like themselves again. To learn more about our vein treatment options, contact us for an appointment today.