Varicose veins may initially just look unsightly, but they can eventually become painful and troublesome. If you have varicose veins, Georges Feghali, MD, of HeartPlace can help. At locations in Dallas and Corsicana, Texas, Dr. Feghali can assess the damage to your veins and use advanced treatments such as sclerotherapy and endovenous ablation to resolve the problem. Call HeartPlace today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.
Varicose veins often develop from middle age onward, when large, bulging blood vessels appear. These diseased veins form twisted coils under the skin and may remain flesh-colored or become red, blue, or purple.
As they worsen, varicose veins are likely to become increasingly uncomfortable, and you may experience symptoms in your legs such as:
Severe varicose veins that are left untreated may lead to leg ulcers developing. These serious, nonhealing wounds are prone to infection and can persist for months or even years.
Varicose veins are usually a visible symptom of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
CVI arises because of faulty valves along your veins. These valves are part of the one-way system that keeps blood pumping back to your heart and stops gravity from pulling your blood back down your legs.
Valves may get weak or suffer damage, which affects their ability to close properly. Blood can then collect in the affected veins and make them swell, forming varicose veins. Factors that make you more likely to have varicose veins include:
Varicose veins could affect anyone, but your risk of developing them increases with age, and they affect women more often than men.
Dr. Feghali offers several advanced in-office treatments for varicose veins, including:
Sclerotherapy involves having an injection of a sclerosant solution into the varicose veins. The sclerosant irritates the vein walls, so they collapse and prevent blood from using that route.
Endovenous laser therapy uses light energy to collapse the veins.
Radiofrequency ablation also collapses your varicose veins but uses radio wave energy rather than lasers or a sclerosant.
All of these treatments stop blood flowing along the varicose veins, so it diverts along other, healthier veins. The treated varicose veins break down over time and disappear.
Although the treated veins won't cause any further problems, you could develop new varicose veins in time. Taking steps to reduce your risk factors and improve the health of your legs can help prevent new varicose veins from forming.
If you're developing varicose veins, call HeartPlace today and schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.
