Your veins pump blood from the body's extremities to the heart. These veins utilize delicate valves to compensate for the effects of gravity when returning blood to the heart. When these valves become damaged, blood flow may be inhibited, especially when the veins are located in the legs and other lower extremities. The veins may then become enlarged and contort into twisted curls, a medical condition called varicose veins.

Some of the risk factors for developing varicose veins include your age, sex, obesity, pregnancy, family history, and standing or sitting for long periods.

Despite their appearance, varicose veins are mostly harmless. However, for some people, varicose veins can develop into a serious health issue. If you've been experiencing pain and swelling in your leg, aches in your legs that get worse the longer you sit or stand, or leg cramps, you'll want to schedule an appointment with an experienced vein doctor. Potentially fatal blood clots, chronic pain, and ulcers are just a few of the serious medical complications that can arise as a result of varicose veins.

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Varicose Vein Treatments

Fortunately, there are several varicose vein treatments available to people with varicose veins.

If you are just beginning to show signs of developing varicose veins, your vein doctor may recommend simple lifestyle changes like losing weight, getting more exercise, or compression stockings to provide the pressure and support the veins need.

Other varicose vein treatments include sclerotherapy procedures like VenaSeal, in which the damaged vein is sealed off from blood flow.

However, patients with more severe varicose vein problems may require more extensive varicose veins treatments, such as laser vein treatments or varicose veins surgery.

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Laser Vein Treatments

Laser vein treatments are among the most commonly used procedures to seal off varicose veins and spider veins. Also known as endovenous vein ablations (EVLTs), laser vein treatments are a minimally invasive form of vein treatment that is used to close off smaller varicose veins and spider veins. This approach can be used to treat conditions like chronic venous insufficiency and swollen legs as well.

During laser vein treatments, a needle is used to insert a small optic fiber into the affected vein using a needle. Laser light is then transmitted through the fiber into the vein, heating and closing the vein.

Many patients prefer laser vein treatments to varicose veins surgery because there is less pain involved, lower risks of complications, no recovery period, and minimal, if any, scarring.

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Varicose Veins Surgery

While laser vein treatments are usually sufficient for smaller varicose veins and spider veins, larger, more serious varicose vein treatment may require varicose veins surgery.

Ambulatory phlebectomy, high ligation (also known as vein stripping), and endoscopic vein surgery are just a few of the varicose veins surgeries utilized to treat your varicose veins.

In these types of procedures, incisions are made and the vein is sealed off and removed. Varicose veins surgeries are in-office procedures requiring only local anesthesia.

Your vein doctor will perform a thorough exam and go over all your options to help you decide which varicose vein treatment option that’s best for you.

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Varicose Vein Treatments at the BASS Vein Center

If you live in the East Bay Area and are tired of looking at your varicose veins or are experiencing aches and pains in your legs, the BASS Vein Center is here to help. We provide patients with a wide range of varicose veins treatment options, including laser vein treatments and varicose veins surgery. Get in touch with the BASS Vein Center today to learn more about our treatment options for varicose veins.

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