Vein Clinic in SD Discusses Varicose Veins and Spider Veins

What are varicose veins and spider veins?

Varicose veins and spider veins are dilated blood vessels with excessive blood accumulation. Spider veins look like dense clusters of blood vessels visible just under the skin’s surface without bulging outwards. They are often compared to dense clusters of spider webs under the skin’s surface. Varicose veins are thick ropes of blood vessels that bulge out of the skin’s surface. They are said to look like a mass of thick and knotted ropes or tree trunks. Varicose veins and spider veins are often symptomatic of underlying venous diseases.

What are venous diseases?

Healthy leg veins have vein valves that act like one-way doors, facilitating one-way blood flow to the heart while preventing it from flowing backward due to gravity. Venous insufficiency is a circulatory disorder in which your vein valves collapse, and blood flows backward due to gravity, pooling in your leg veins. Over time, the continued blood accumulation in leg veins leads to vein dilation, leading to venous diseases like varicose veins and spider veins.

Do I need to consult vein specialists if I have varicose veins and spider veins?

The presence of varicose veins and spider veins is a strong indication of underlying venous insufficiency. As such, you must consult vein specialists as soon as possible. The most superficial reason to consult vein specialists is that varicose veins and spider veins look hideous. They look like dense spider webs or masses of knotted ropes bulging out of your skin. Most people suffering from varicose veins and spider veins report self-consciousness and social anxiety, which can also adversely impact your mental health.

However, you must also consult vein specialists because varicose veins and spider veins are dangerous. Venous insufficiency is a chronic condition that worsens over time. Initially, vein disease will lead to benign side effects like restless leg syndrome, leg pain, frequent leg cramps, and throbbing leg veins. However, over time, you will also suffer from other venous diseases, such as skin disease, swollen ankles and feet, skin discoloration, leg ulcers, and deep vein thrombosis. As such, you must consult vein specialists before your vein disease worsens.

What is the best minimally invasive procedure for varicose veins and spider veins?

Radiofrequency ablation is widely deemed to be the best minimally invasive procedure for varicose veins and spider veins. During the minimally invasive procedure, the board-certified vein specialists drive a catheter into the diseased saphenous vein through an incision and under ultrasound guidance. Once the catheter is lodged in place, the vein specialists activate it to generate thermal energy, collapsing the diseased saphenous vein. The accumulated blood flows to healthier veins, restoring smooth blood circulation.

Radiofrequency ablation is non-surgical, causes minimal pain and discomfort, and it has a negligible risk of side effects or complications. Radiofrequency ablation is also highly-effective, with a 97% success rate. Furthermore, radiofrequency ablation concludes with an hour with no downtime, allowing you to resume your daily activities. Radiofrequency ablation is also eligible for insurance coverage because it’s medically necessary.

What is endovenous laser ablation? Is it safe?

Endovenous laser ablation is another highly-effective minimally invasive procedure for varicose veins and spider veins. During the endovenous laser ablation procedure, the vein specialists channel laser energy through an endovenous laser to collapse the diseased saphenous vein, restoring smooth blood circulation to the heart.

Endovenous laser ablation is just as safe and effective as radiofrequency ablation, with a 97% success rate and a negligible risk of side effects or complications. However, endovenous laser ablation causes more post-procedural discomfort because the laser energy is a lot hotter than thermal energy. Endovenous laser ablation is also eligible for insurance coverage.

Can you resume daily activities after a minimally invasive procedure?

All minimally invasive procedures for varicose veins and spider veins are outpatient treatments that conclude within an hour with no downtime. As such, you can immediately leave the vein care center after the treatment and resume all your daily activities. However, you may have to skip heavy weightlifting for a few days.

Contact our Vein Care Center in San Diego

Vein Treatment Clinic, San Diego, is widely considered the best vein care center in California. If you have varicose veins and spider veins or need more information, please schedule a consultation today.

To learn more about our accredited vein centers, please visit www.veintreatmentclinic.com. Our spider and varicose vein treatment clinics are certified by the IAC as vascular imaging centers and vein treatment centers of excellence. We have local affiliates in New York, Long Island, New Jersey, Texas and California, all of which are held to the highest standards of patient-centered, compassionate, care. We offer the latest technology at every location, and our harvard-trained medical directors lead a collaborative effort to ensure the best outcome for every patient we meet.