Varicose veins are discomforting to the eyes and cause severe pain if left untreated. Yes, varicose veins can be a serious condition that would make your daily lives harder if not given proper care and treatment. Apart from being painful, varicose veins also might lead to severe conditions like nonhealing ulcers in the absence of the proper treatment. Today we have several advanced techniques, including proven and minimally invasive treatments to deal with varicose veins wisely. So, the first thing you should do after the appearance of symptoms of varicose veins is to consult an expert doctor like Dr. Nirav Patel in Yonkers.
What are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are enlarged and twisted veins that bulge out of your skin. Primarily varicose veins occur when veins fail to maintain normal blood flow. The main causes for varicose veins include:
- Family history
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Not properly exercising
- Previous history of a leg injury
- Hormonal changes during menopause and pregnancy
Varicose veins will lead to severe conditions such as chronic venous insufficiency when varicose veins are not adequately treated. Our leg veins usually use one-way valves to maintain blood flow towards the heart and the legs. In the state of chronic venous insufficiency, the blood reflux back to the leg and pools in the vein as the valve might either be damaged or weak.
Varicose Veins Vs. Spider Veins
Spider veins are a cosmetic problem, and varicose veins are not. Unlike varicose veins, spider veins don’t cause much pain, but people often get these veins removed due to their unsightly appearance. Spider veins are veins that lie close to the skin’s surface. When enlarged, these veins form a red, blue, or purple web-like impression.
Treatment of Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are treated with either one or a combination of procedures listed below.
- Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is the procedure of collapsing the varicose veins by injecting a sclerosing agent. After collapsing the affected veins, the blood flow is rerouted to other healthy veins nearby. This procedure will help in preventing chronic insufficiency.
- Endovenous microfoam ablation
Collapsing the walls of varicose veins by injecting a microfoam containing polidocanol is called Endovenous microfoam ablation.
- ClosureFast procedure
ClosureFast is a minimally invasive procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to heat and close the varicose veins.
- VenaSeal
VenaSeal is a procedure in which a medical adhesive is injected to seal the walls of the affected veins. This procedure can be done as an outpatient and offers fast recovery.
