Varicose Veins Specialist

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are enlarged, ropy like veins that lie just beneath the surface of your skin and usually develop in your legs and thighs. The reason varicose veins typically occur in your legs is that these veins must work hard against gravity to return blood to your heart. Normally, veins have strong valves that direct the flow towards the heart, preventing the return of blood down to your feet and ankles. If the valves in the veins become weakened and incompetent, blood starts refluxing backwards down the leg, a condition known as venous reflux. This backward blood flow is what causes these veins to become engorged and with time they may enlarge and cause problems.

Varicose veins can be the cause many symptoms in the legs, which include:

• Pain or aching
• Tiredness and leg fatigue
• Heaviness
• Swelling
• Throbbing
• Itching
• Burning
• Bleeding

These symptoms are typically worse at the end of a day and often get better with rest or with elevating the legs. If left untreated, varicose veins may worsen over time and lead to significant complications, such as superficial blood clots, skin discoloration, and skin ulceration, particularly in later stages of chronic venous disease. With effective treatment of varicose veins, the progression to these complications may be avoided.

What causes varicose veins?

Varicose veins develop from numerous reasons, including:

• Age
• Pregnancy
• Long hours on your feet standing or sitting
• Weight issues
• Circulatory issues
• Hereditary – inheritance

How are varicose veins treated?

Our vascular experts provide several treatments for your varicose veins that are highly efficient and minimally invasive right here in South Charlotte. Our facilities provide a serene and spa-like setting. These may include:

Initial treatment:

When you are first diagnosed with varicose veins, our vascular experts may recommend an initial period of three months of what is known as conservative therapy to include Exercise of the ankles, Elevation of the legs and Elastic stockings (easily remembered as the 3 E’s). During that time, you will undergo testing of the leg and the malfunctioning veins will be identified.

• Exercise: flex and extend your ankle ten times every two hours

• Elevation of the legs above your heart for short period of times to relieve the pressure

• Elastic compression stockings

After the period of the initial treatment, our experts may recommend one of the following methods to complete the treatment of your legs depending on where the problem starts and which veins are involved:

• Endovenous ablation
• Varithena
• Vein removal

At South Charlotte General & Vascular Surgery we believe: Preserve your legs. Protect your lifestyle.

To learn more about how you can get rid of unsightly and uncomfortable varicose veins, call us or book an appointment online with our varicose vein specialists.