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UNDERSTANDING VARICOSE VEINS

Varicose Veins
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What are varicose veins?

  • Enlarged, sometimes twisted veins that are close to the surface of the skin.

 

How do normal veins work?

  • Hundreds of one way veins valves direct blood up the leg toward the heart.

  • Gravity pulls blood back down the leg in reverse direction over the normal valve, causing the valve to close.

  • Normal valves keep downward-pulled blood from passing below the closed valve.

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What causes varicose veins?

  • Gravity pulls venous blood  down the leg in a reverse direction over the abnormal vein valve.

  • The vein valve does not close normally due to vein valve injury, vein valve defects, or enlarged vein size.

  • Downward-pulled blood passes below the vein valve, and is called “venous reflux” or venous insufficiency.

 

What causes varicose vein symptoms?  

  • Increased blood and pressure in the veins force fluid into surrounding tissue, causing edema.

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What are varicose vein symptoms ?

  1. Leg swelling, heaviness, aching, pain, or fatigue.

  2. Skin itching, burning, redness, discoloration, bleeding or ulceration.

  3. Sometimes varicose veins may  be present without symptoms.

*Disclaimer- The information provided is for informational purposes only.

WHAT ARE
TREATMENT OPTIONS?

Treatment Options
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Compression therapy

  • 20-30 mm Hg compression hose (medical grade) are often used

  • Elastic bandages

  • Medicated bandages (varicose vein with ulcers)

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Ablation therapy (laser, radiofrequency, cyanoacrylate)

  • A catheter is inserted in a vein, which closes the vein after delivering heat or laser or glue treatment to the vein wall.

  • Treatments are equally effective with differing risks and benefits.

  • Treatments are individualized based upon the patient’s clinical scenario

 

Sclerotherapy (solution, foam)

  • Foam sclerotherapy is used to treat saphenous, accessory, or branching veins not treated by ablation, ligation and stripping, or phlebectomy

  • Sclerotherapy solution is also used to treat smaller veins (less than 3mm -reticular veins, spider veins).

 

Micro-Phlebectomy

  • Tiny slits are made in the skin over bulging varicose veins

  • The varicose vein is then pulled through the slit in the skin and divided

  • The disrupted varicose vein inhibits pooling of blood in the legs

 

Vein Stripping and ligation

  • A historic and less utilized procedure since the development of less invasive and more effective treatments (radiofrequency ablation, laser ablation)

  • Incisions are made in the groin and at the knee or ankle region

  • The varicose vein within each incision site is cut/transected

  • A slender tube is placed in the vein through the lower incision and exits the vein in the upper incision

  • The vein is then pulled from the upper incision, and brought out of the lower incision

  • The disrupted vein decreases pooling of blood in the legs after removal of the vein 

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*Disclaimer- The information provided is for informational purposes only.

Ablation
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WHAT IS
VEIN ABLATION?

Ablation therapy (laser, radiofrequency, glue)

  • A catheter is inserted in a vein, which closes the vein after delivering heat or laser or glue treatment to the vein wall

  • Treatments are equally effective with differing risks and benefits

  • Treatments are individualized based upon the patient’s clinical scenario

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Why treat varicose veins and venous disease?

  • Treatment is administered to relieve symptoms, improve pooling of venous blood in the legs, and restore health and appearance to the legs.

  • Treating varicose veins and venous reflux often prevents more advanced problems:

    • Profuse venous bleeding

    • Permanent skin discoloration

    • Recurrent superficial venous thrombosis

    • Recurrence of varicose veins and spider veins

    • Permanent skin ulceration

    • Inability to perform work-related duties and/or normal day activities

 

Is treatment painful?

  • Most treatments are performed using local anesthesia in the office

  • Post procedure pain medication is rarely necessary

  • Twilight sedation (conscious sedation) or general anesthesia may be beneficial for some.

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*Disclaimer- The information provided is for informational purposes only.

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What is vein Sclerotherapy?

  • Injection of medication inside the vein to damage the inner vein wall

  • Medication may be injected in liquid form or may combined  with CO2 or obtained from a commercial cannister.

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Does it work?

  • Yes!

  • 1 or more treatments  may be needed for spider veins with "sunburst" or "cluster" patterns.

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What is the medication used?

  • There are several types of sclerosing medications used

  • Each medication has its strengths and weaknesses

  • Treatment and medication recommendations are personalized for each patient. Book a FREE Spider Vein Screening to Learn More.

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What are potential complications?

  • Temporary bruising

  • Temporary or permanent vein color changes

  • Inflammation of vein after closure (thrombophlebitis)

  • Allergic reaction to the medication

  • Medication effects on deeper veins

 

What is the recovery period?

  • Same day recovery

  • Daily compression therapy is recommended during the recovery period.

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Sclerotherapy
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WHAT IS SCLEROTHERAPY?

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*Disclaimer- The information provided is for informational purposes only.

Phlebectomy

WHAT IS
PHLEBECTOMY?

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What is ambulatory phlebectomy?

An outpatient procedure to remove bulging superficial veins through small slit-like incisions in the skin

 

 

 

 

 

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What can I expect after having ambulatory phlebectomy?

  • You may walk immediately after surgery within the limits of comfort

  • Continue to wear compression therapy as directed

  • Temporary bruising and swelling is normal after treatment

  • Time off from work may be appropriate if extensive ambulatory phlebectomy is performed

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What are potential complications?

  • Temporary bruising and swelling

  • Inflammation caused by remaining small segments of vein (thrombophlebitis)

  • Skin numbness

  • Allergic reaction to local anesthesia

  • Incision site infection (low risk, reduced with standard wound cleansing as instructed after surgery)

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*Disclaimer- The information provided is for informational purposes only.

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