What are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are bulging, twisted, swollen, or otherwise distorted veins that are red, blue, or skin-colored. Usually, varicose veins appear in the following areas:
- Thighs
- Back of your calves
- Inner legs
- Buttocks
- Vaginal area
- Testicles
Varicose veins can cause a variety of troublesome physical symptoms and are very embarrassing for many men and women. Women are about twice as likely to develop varicose veins as men.
How Do Varicose Veins Develop?
Varicose veins develop when your vein walls grow weak or become damaged. This allows your blood to move backwards and collect within the vein until it stretches out and becomes varicose. Varicose veins typically stand out from your skin quite prominently.
What Problems Do Varicose Veins Cause?
Varicose veins can cause a range of physical symptoms, including:
- Aching legs
- Heavy-feeling legs
- Swelling in the skin around the vein
- Itchy skin around the vein
If you suffer from pelvic congestion syndrome, a condition related to varicose veins around your ovaries, you could experience serious pelvic pain that may grow worse over time.
How are Varicose Veins Treated?
The Hamilton Vascular team focuses on conservative treatment. Your treatment may start with lifestyle changes like wearing compression garments and more exercise. There are also minimally invasive vein treatments for varicose veins, including:
- Radiofrequency Ablation: Radiofrequency ablation is a treatment that uses radiofrequency impulses to trigger the collapse of your problematic varicose veins. This treatment takes only 20 minutes.
- Sclerotherapy: Sclerotherapy is a treatment in which an injected sclerosant solution forces your varicose vein to shrink from within. Sclerotherapy takes 5-30 minutes, depending on how large your varicose vein is and how many veins you're treating.
- Phlebectomy: A phlebectomy is often a combination procedure with sclerotherapy or after radiofrequency ablation. During this procedure, your Hamilton Vascular specialist makes tiny incisions along your problem vein and then withdraws it with specialized hooks.
The Hamilton Vascular team works with you to find the best varicose vein solutions.
You don’t have to suffer with varicose veins when the Hamilton Vascular team has minimally invasive solutions available. Call the office nearest you or use the online scheduler today.
