About Varicose Veins
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FAQs for Varicose Veins and Venous Insufficiency
- What are varicose and spider veins?
- What are the symptoms of varicose veins or venous insufficiency?
- How common is venous disease and varicose veins?
- Why me?
- Do I need these veins?
- How are veins treated?
- How is the VenaCure™ laser procedure different from surgery?
- Exactly how does a laser treat varicose veins?
- What is the actual procedure like?
- I've heard about lasers being used in medicine but I'm not sure how they work. Are they safe?
- How long before I see results?
- Will they last?
- Am I a candidate?
- Will my insurance cover it?
What are varicose and spider veins?
Varicose veins are swollen veins which protrude in a rope-like manner under the skin. Normal veins, by virtue of one-way valves, channel blood against gravity up the leg and back to the heart. When a valve becomes defective, it allows blood flow to leak back down the leg resulting in congestion and swelling of the vein. This is a medical condition called Venous Insufficiency.
Spider veins are small red, blue or purple veins just below the surface of the skin. They are very visible but rarely cause serious symptoms.
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What are the symptoms of varicose veins or venous insufficiency?
Symptoms caused by venous insufficiency and varicose veins include aching pain, easy leg fatigue, and leg heaviness, all of which worsen as the day progresses. Many people find they need to sit down in the afternoon and elevate their legs to relieve these symptoms. In more severe cases, venous insufficiency and reflux can cause skin discoloration and ulceration, which may be very difficult to treat. One percent of adults over age 60 have chronic ulceration.
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How common is venous disease and varicose veins?
Chronic venous disease of the legs is one of the most common conditions affecting people. Approximately half of the U.S. population has venous disease - 50 to 55% of women and 40 to 45% of men. Of these, 20 to 25% of the women and 10 to 15% of men will have visible varicose veins. Varicose veins affect 1 out of 2 people age 50 and older, and 15 to 25% of all adults. People without visible varicose veins can still have symptoms. The symptoms can arise from spider veins as well as from varicose veins, because, in both cases, the symptoms are caused by pressure on nerves by dilated veins.
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Why me?
Heredity is a major cause of varicose and spider veins. Women are more likely to suffer from these abnormal leg veins. Other factors that can accelerate and aggravate the appearance of veins include pregnancy, leg injury, obesity, lack of exercise, weight fluctuation, and long periods of sitting or standing.
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Do I need these veins?
Not really. Veins bring blood back from the legs to the heart. Your abnormal veins are letting blood go the wrong way back down your leg and are working against you. Once these veins are closed, the blood in the legs will actually circulate more quickly and normally back to the heart by way of the many other good veins that you still have in your leg.
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How are veins treated?
There are many treatment options; generally they can be classified into 2 forms:
- Supportive
- Exercise
- Elevation
- Avoiding prolonged standing or sitting
- Elastic Support Hose
- Corrective
- VenaCure™ Laser Treatment - the primary technique used at our Vein Centers. An innovative, minimally invasive outpatient procedure that provides patients an effective alternative to surgical stripping of the greater saphenous vein.
- Sclerotherapy - used to treat both spider veins and some varicose veins. A simple procedure where a tiny needle is used to inject the veins with a medication that irritates the lining of the vein. Over a short time the vein closes and is reabsorbed. The blood from the closed vein is re-routed to properly working veins, restoring correct circulation. Sclerotherapy is often used in combination with other treatments. Our doctors sometimes use ultrasound to guide sclerotherapy treatment to an abnormal vein below the skin.
- Micro Phlebectomy - minimally invasive technique performed under local anesthesia. Using this technique, varicose veins are easily removed through tiny nicks in the skin. Micro phlebectomy is often used in combination with VenaCure Laser Treatment or sclerotherapy.
- Other Treatment Options (not performed at The Vein Centers):
- Surgery - Vein Ligation and Stripping
- Topical Laser Treatment
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How is the VenaCure™ laser procedure different from surgery?
Surgery involves considerable preparation, general anesthesia, larger skin incisions, pain in the affected areas, and a lengthy recovery period. The medical laser technology used in VenaCure™ Laser Treatment is a marked advance in several ways.
First, it's "minimally invasive," meaning the entry point through which your physician gets the laser fiber into the vein is extremely small, not even requiring stitches. Instead of larger open incisions and "stripping" the vein out of the leg, VenaCure™ Laser Treatment uses precise ultrasound guidance and laser energy to close the vein without stripping.
Second, there is really no "recovery" to speak of. In fact, you'll be up and walking as soon as it's over, able to return to work the next day.
Third, the risk of infection and other complications of surgery are extremely low.
Fourth, it involves minimal discomfort.
Fifth, the clinical results of VenaCure™ Laser Treatment are better than surgical vein stripping
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Exactly how does a laser treat varicose veins?
VenaCure™ Laser Treatment fixes this problem at the source by delivering just the right wavelength of laser energy to just the right tissue, causing the abnormal vein to close while your body automatically routes the blood to other healthy veins.
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What is the actual procedure like?
It takes about 90 minutes and is done right in our office and no general anesthesia is required, just a local anesthetic. Your physician then inserts a thin laser fiber into the vein and the laser light is emitted through the fiber. While you might feel some unfamiliar sensation, any discomfort is minimal.
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I've heard about lasers being used in medicine but I'm not sure how they work. Are they safe?
Simply put, a laser is a highly concentrated beam of light. Medical lasers work by delivering this light energy to the targeted tissue with extreme precision so as not to affect the surrounding tissue. And they've proven their safety and effectiveness through years of use in all kinds of medical procedures, from eye surgery to dermatology. In the hands of a skilled physician, venous laser offers far less risk and complications than conventional surgery, and with better results.
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How long before I see results?
You should start seeing results right away. The procedure does cause some bruising which can last several weeks. We ask that you wear compression stockings during this time to help the healing process.
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Will they last?
In clinical trials, laser treatment has proved to be 95% effective - an outstanding record of success. Therefore, you should not experience recurrence of the veins that have been treated.
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Am I a candidate?
If you have varicose veins, then you are probably a candidate for VenaCure™ Laser Treatment. Varicose veins are caused by a condition known as "Venous Insufficiency". To diagnose this condition, our physicians perform a thorough evaluation that includes a medical history, physical exam, and usually a specialized ultrasound study called Duplex Ultrasound. After this evaluation, our physicians will be able to tell you if you are a candidate for VenaCure Laser Treatment.
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Will my insurance cover it?
Following a consultation when a treatment plan has been determined, our Vein Center Coordinator will be happy to assist in calling your insurance provider to find out what your coverage will be. For varicose veins, insurance usually covers this condition but pre-authorization is usually required. Spider vein treatments are typically not covered by insurance.
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The Vein and Vascular Center of Fairfax Radiology offers a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan for blue and purple spider veins, varicose veins, venous insufficiency as well as leg pain and cramps. Our Interventional Radiologists will provide the most appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan using venous doppler, sonogram and ultrasound, venous ablation, micro phlebectomy, sclerotherapy and VenaCure laser treatment to alleviate your discomfort and improve your appearance.
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