What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are swollen, irregular or ropy veins that result from a condition called “venous insufficiency.” Inside of a vein, you’ll find tiny one-way valves that divide the vein into a series of chambers in order to keep blood flowing upward — against gravity — back to the heart. Each heartbeat moves blood from chamber to chamber through the vein, but if a valve becomes insufficient, then blood can flow backward in the vein, which is called “venous reflux.” As pressure builds in the vein due to venous reflux, the vein swells and becomes varicose.

Common symptoms of varicose veins include:

Tiredness

Fatigue

Heaviness

Aching

Throbbing

Itching

Burning

Swelling

Restless legs

Resting and elevating your legs can provide some relief from these symptoms, but treating the varicose vein is necessary to stop symptoms completely.

If left untreated, varicose veins will get worse and can lead to major problems like:

Skin infection and discoloration

Skin ulcers and possible amputation in advanced stages

Blood clots

To avoid these serious complications, seek help for your varicose veins.

What causes varicose veins?

Genetics play the most important role in determining whether your veins will wear out over time. However, several other factors also play a role, including:

Pregnancy

Being overweight

Medications that contain estrogen and progesterone, such as birth control

History of blood clots

Standing, sitting or flying for long periods of time without graded compression stockings

Although you generally can’t do anything to prevent varicose veins, addressing them immediately can help you avoid more serious symptoms, such as blood clots and ulcers.

What treatments are available for varicose veins?

Everyone suspected of having varicose veins will undergo an ultrasound exam to reveal the true nature of each unique problem. If the doctor determines that you would benefit from treatment, you have different options:

Endovenous Ablation (EVA) – Using a laser, the doctor internally heats up the varicose vein to shut it down. This prompts a rerouting of blood and a reabsorption of the vein.

Sclerotherapy – The doctor injects medication into the varicose vein that irritates the internal lining and causes it to close. Similar to EVA, the body reroutes blood to other veins and the varicose vein is gradually reabsorbed.

Both of these treatments are performed with only local anesthesia and involve little to no downtime. Our vein doctor is extremely efficient, so you should be in and out of treatment in under an hour.

Does insurance cover varicose vein treatments?

Most insurance carriers cover medically necessary varicose veins, which is determined through an ultrasound evaluation. Your exact level of coverage is determined by your individual policy, so not everyone will have the same out-of-pocket costs. We will contact your insurance company prior to any treatment so you are aware of any out-of-pocket costs you may be responsible for.