Vein Care A Specialty That Treats Varicose And Spider Veins

Center For Advanced Vein Care is a specialty that treats vein diseases like varicose and spider veins. It’s usually performed by dermatologists, vascular surgeons or plastic surgeons based in medical centers. You may also find it available in specialized vein treatment centers. Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history. They may also recommend a Doppler ultrasound test. This safe, painless test uses sound waves to show blood flow in your leg veins and may help find a blood clot that’s causing your symptoms.

Varicose and spider veins are swollen, twisted veins near the surface of the skin. They form when the walls of a vein weaken and the valves that keep blood flowing in one direction can’t work as well. As the pressure inside the vein increases, the vein stretches and gets bigger. It’s not always possible to tell whether varicose or spider veins are causing a person discomfort. But many people who suffer from these bluish, bulging veins experience itching and dryness around the affected area, and may have painful itchy eczema. Some people may also experience heaviness in the legs, fatigue and itching in their arms and hands, open sores that won’t heal, and restless legs at night.

If varicose veins are causing pain, it’s important to seek treatment. This can prevent new varicose veins from forming, relieve the discomfort and prevent complications. In the past, surgical treatment for varicose veins was common, but less invasive treatments such as injections and laser therapy are now preferred over surgery.

The most serious complication of varicose and spider veins is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This occurs when a blood clot develops in your leg or pelvic vein. It may break free and travel to your lungs, where it can cause severe cardiac and pulmonary problems. DVT is more likely to happen when you are older, pregnant, obese or have a family history of vein disease.

For minor varicose veins, your healthcare provider may inject liquid or foam chemicals into the vein to create a plug that seals it shut. This procedure, called sclerotherapy, can be done in a health care provider’s office with ultrasound guidance and doesn’t require anesthesia. The foam chemical can be used for spider veins as well.

For larger varicose veins, a health care provider may tie off and remove the varicose vein in a procedure called vein ligation or stripping. It’s often recommended only if you cannot get relief from less invasive treatments. Surgery is more invasive and requires anesthesia and hospital stay, but it can be more effective than less invasive options. The risks of surgery include infection, bruising and changes in skin color. Surgery can also be more painful and take longer to recover from than non-surgical treatments.