The Best Vein Doc in New Jersey Answers Vein-Related FAQs

Dr. Sareh Rajaee

• Board-certified vascular surgeon
• Medical director at our spider vein and varicose vein treatment center
• Undergraduate studies from the University of Rhode Island
• Medical doctorate from the Alpert Medical School at Brown University
• Master’s in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health
• Vascular Surgery Residency from the Yale New Haven Hospital
• Advanced training in minimally invasive spider vein and varicose vein treatments
• Vein clinic location: 1117 US-46 Suite 205, Clifton, NJ

Dr. Todd Kobrinski

• Specialized training in venous medicine and cardiovascular disease
• Bachelor’s and Master of Science degrees from The George Washington University
• Medical degree from Nova Southeastern University in Florida
• Post-graduate training through the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City
• Residency in Internal Medicine
• Fellowships in Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
• Vein center location: 140 NJ-17 #103, Paramus, NJ

What are spider veins and varicose veins?

Spider veins are dense clusters of blood vessels visible just underneath the skin’s surface — they look like spider webs expanding outwards from a central point. Varicose veins are large blood vessels that protrude out of the skin’s surface — they look like tangled, twisted, and knotted ropes.

What is the main cause of varicose veins?

Chronic venous insufficiency is the primary root cause of varicose veins. Venous insufficiency is a medical condition wherein your vein valves collapse, causing blood to flow backward due to gravity. Over time, blood accumulates in the leg veins, leading to vascular dilation and the formation of spider veins and varicose veins.

Do varicose veins go away naturally?

No. Varicose veins don’t go away naturally because they’re caused by an underlying circulatory problem. The longer you wait for treatment, the worse your varicose veins will become.

What happens if you don’t treat varicose veins?

If you don’t seek varicose vein treatment, blood will continue accumulating in the leg veins, leading to excessive vascular dilation. Over time, the varicose veins may become overextended and rupture, leading to profuse bleeding. You have to be taken to an emergency room.

How to prevent varicose veins and spider veins?

Varicose veins and spider veins can occur due to numerous factors — genetics, age, obesity, pregnancy, hormone changes, and a sedentary lifestyle. As such, there are no sure means of preventing varicose veins, but you can reduce the risk of varicose veins with these lifestyle changes: wear compression stockings regularly, engage in cardiovascular exercises, walk frequently, elevate your legs while sitting, and remain active.

Can compression socks improve varicose veins?

Compression stockings are skin-tight garments that apply pressure on the leg veins, pushing the accumulated blood towards the heart. As such, wearing compression stockings can reduce the symptoms of vein disease, such as leg fatigue, heaviness, and swelling. Your varicose veins may also seem to improve. But the relief is temporary — you still need minimally invasive spider vein and varicose vein treatments for lasting relief.

What are the best treatments for varicose veins?

Radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser ablation, and venaseal are considered to be some of the best minimally invasive treatments for varicose veins. These procedures treat the root cause of varicose veins and not just the superficial symptoms. During these procedures, the vein doctor channels thermal energy, laser energy, or medical adhesives into the diseased saphenous vein to seal or collapse its walls. The accumulated blood reroutes into healthier leg veins, restoring optimal blood circulation. There are no harsh side effects and no downtime.

What is the best spider vein treatment?

Sclerotherapy is widely considered the best spider vein treatment. During this procedure, the vein doctor injects sclerosant medicine into the spider veins to seal their walls shut. The spider veins eventually turn into hardened scar tissues and get absorbed by the body. They fade away from the skin’s surface within a few weeks. This procedure is only suitable for spider veins — not the underlying chronic venous insufficiency.

What’s the recovery process after vein treatments?

Minimally invasive spider vein and varicose vein treatments don’t involve any downtime. You may experience mild swelling, redness, tenderness, or bruising around the treatment areas. However, these side effects fade away after a few days. You can resume your daily activities and work immediately after the vein treatment — no downtime.