VEIN DISORDERS

Veins can be divided into two categories: Bulging Varicose Veins or Spider Telangiectasia Veins.

Varicose Veins

What are Varicose Veins

Varicose veins usually are the result of a breakdown of the Great Saphenous Vein, an internal vein on the inside of the thigh. The great saphenous vein is only visible with an ultrasound test, therefore, all patients with bulging varicose veins need ultrasound testing prior to treatment.

What Causes Varicose Veins

The breakdown of saphenous vein one-way valves causes leakage of blood in the wrong direction. Blood leaks from the thigh into the calf and pools inside the calf veins. This pooling of pressurized blood causes veins to stretch, bulge, and become varicose. If left untreated, varicose veins can lead to dangerous blood clots or large ulcers inside of the ankle.  Veins are intended to have one-way valves so blood can return "uphill" to the heart.  When valves break down, the pressure of gravity distends and stretches vein branches.  Remember that bad veins create more bad veins in a cascading effect.

Do I Need These Veins

  • No, neither the saphenous veins, the perforators nor the varicose veins themselves are essential. In fact, since diseased veins have abnormal direction flow, they are actually detrimental to your circulation.
  • An important step in advanced vein management is to carefully identify with ultrasound the faulty veins that contribute to the problem. Normal veins are never treated or removed.

Varicose Vein Treatments

Thanks to endovenous technology, both the saphenous vein and the varicose bulges are easily treated in the office with local anesthesia. Because varicose veins are a medical problem that can lead to complications if left untreated, the treatments are covered by most insurance carriers.

Do I need Treatment on My Varicose Veins?

Without treatment varicose veins always progress.  Remember that gravity will always win! Larger and longer varicose veins are harder to treat and are associated with worse symptoms. The "end stage" of untreated varicose veins are chronically swollen legs with brown / purple discoloration (stasis dermatitis). This unhealthy skin will break down and form chronic, draining ulcers at the ankle (stasis ulcers).

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Spider Veins

What are Spider Veins

Spider veins - known in the medical world as telangiectasias or sunburst varicosities - are small, thin veins that lie close to the surface of the skin. Although these super-fine veins are connected with the larger venous system, they are not an essential part of it.

A number of factors contribute to the development of spider veins, including heredity, pregnancy and other events that cause hormonal shifts, weight gain, occupations or activities that require prolonged sitting or standing, and the use of certain medications.

Spider veins usually take on one of three basic patterns.  They may appear in a true spider shape with a group of veins radiating outward from a dark central point; they may be arborizing and will resemble tiny branch-like shapes; or they may be simple linear and appear as thin separate lines. Linear spider veins are commonly seen on the inner knee, whereas the arborizing pattern often appears on the outer thigh in a sunburst or cartwheel distribution.

Spider vs. Varicose Veins

Varicose veins differ from spider veins in a number of ways. Varicose veins are larger - usually more than a quarter-inch in diameter, darker in color and tend to bulge. Varicose veins are also more likely to cause pain and be related to more serious vein disorders. 

Spider Vein Treatments

Spider veins, unfortunately are a lifelong battle for most patients. Even after successful treatment, the body tends to continue producing them. For this reason, most patients need intermittent maintenance treatments to keep their legs vein free. Spider vein treatments are done for cosmetic reasons and are not covered by most insurance carriers

Sclerotherapy can enhance your appearance and your self confidence, but it's unrealistic to believe that every affected vein will disappear completely as a result of treatment.  After each sclerotherapy session, the veins will appear lighter. Two or more sessions are usually required to achieve optimal results.

You should also be aware that the procedure treats only those veins that are currently visable; it does nothing to permanently alter the venous system or prevent new veins from surfacing in the future.

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