Varicose Veins Specialist

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins can develop on any part of your body but are most likely to affect your legs. They're superficial veins — ones that are close to the surface of your legs — in which blood is forming pools. These pools of blood make the veins swell and protrude from the skin.

Varicose veins can be red, blue, or purple, forming unsightly, coiling patterns. As they worsen, they may cause symptoms such as:

• Itching
• Fatigue
• Burning
• Leg pain
• Tingling
• Heaviness
• Soreness
• Throbbing
• Cramping
• Night cramps
• Restless legs
• Swollen legs
• Discoloration of the skin around the veins

Without treatment, varicose veins can lead to tissue degeneration and the formation of painful venous ulcers.

What causes varicose veins?

Varicose veins develop when you have chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition in which the valves inside your veins stop doing their job properly. These valves are gateways that allow blood to go up your leg and to your heart but prevent it from going backward.

If they aren't working, the valves let blood seep back through, where it collects and forms varicose veins. Risk factors for developing varicose veins include:

• Aging
• Pregnancy
• Family history
• Birth control pills
• Being overweight or obese
• Spending a long time standing or sitting

Women are more at risk of having varicose veins than men. This could be a result of hormonal changes related to menstruation and menopause.

What treatments are available for varicose veins?

Medical-grade compression stockings are an effective way of managing varicose veins and stopping them from getting any worse. The stockings squeeze your legs to support the action of the valves and help prevent blood from pooling.

It's also important to look at ways of improving your circulation by assessing your risk factors and making changes where possible. Weight loss, regular exercise, and avoiding sitting or standing for extended periods are some of the best ways to boost your circulation.

What can I do about severe varicose veins?

If your varicose veins are causing you problems or are distressingly unsightly, TLC Medical Group Inc offers advanced interventions. These include radiofrequency ablation using ClosureFast™ and VENCLOSE™ and sclerotherapy, which close off the problem veins.

The treated varicose veins break down over time, and your body absorbs what's left. Blood that would have gone through the diseased veins finds a new route along the many other blood vessels in your legs. 

An alternative is phlebectomy, in which your provider removes the varicose veins.

If you have varicose veins and wish you could have healthy legs again, call TLC Medical Group Inc today or book an appointment online.