Varicose veins are enlarged, swollen veins that rise above the surface of the skin. Spider veins are smaller, red, purple or blue in color and generally do not bulge above the skin. Both are caused by a condition called venous insufficiency, which means that valves within the vein that prevent blood from flowing backwards become weak and allow blood to pool in the vein.
The underlying causes include heredity, age, prolonged standing, exposure to the sun, hormone changes or weight gain. In addition to the unsightly appearance of varicose veins, the condition can be quite painful. Delaying treatment can lead to more serious complications, including inflammation, blood clots, skin ulcers, bleeding and deep vein thrombosis.
What are my varicose vein treatment options?
Conservative treatment for these veins are focused on pain relief and include the use of compression stockings, leg elevation and anti-inflammatory medications.
There was a time when large varicose veins could only be removed with a surgical procedure called “vein stripping.” However, this is no longer the case. Minimally invasive, outpatient treatments are now the front-line therapy for these veins.
At North Star Vascular & Interventional, we offer several different treatment options for varicose veins, depending on the type and their severity.
Learn to love your legs again!
We invite you to visit our conveniently located outpatient center for a consultation where we will help you understand the underlying cause of your condition, discuss treatment options and show you how you may be able to prevent recurrences. But don’t wait, because varicose veins will only get worse over time and can lead to other vascular conditions!