Varicose Veins

Most people seek treatment for varicose veins because they want to eliminate unsightly veins or get relief from leg pain. But there’s more to worry about than cosmetics. That’s why Enrique Hernandez, MD, at Advanced Vascular Cardiac & Veins in Miami, Florida, recommends seeking an early evaluation and treatment. Varicose veins are the top sign of an underlying vascular disease that can lead to non-healing leg ulcers and severe infections. Call the office or request an appointment online today to learn more about advanced, minimally invasive treatments for varicose veins.

What causes varicose veins?

The veins in your legs carry blood up your legs, returning oxygen-depleted blood to your heart. A network of one-way valves in the veins keeps blood moving in the right direction, opening to let blood go up and closing to stop it from flowing back down the vein.

Weakened valves let blood flow in the wrong direction, a condition called venous insufficiency. Varicose veins develop as the refluxing blood accumulates in the vein. As a result, the vein becomes engorged and twisted, typically bulging above the skin’s surface.

What symptoms accompany varicose veins?

In addition to unsightly dark blue and purple veins, varicose veins often cause leg symptoms, including:

• Pain
• Cramping
• Swelling (fluid retention)
• Heavy or tired legs
• Itching or burning
• Skin rash
• Thickened skin
• Reddish-brown skin
• Non-healing leg ulcers

Venous insufficiency increases blood pressure in the lower leg vein, leading to skin symptoms and skin deterioration that causes ulcers. Venous ulcers don’t heal without treatment. Instead, they keep expanding, leading to serious skin and bone infections and in severe cases, amputation.

How are varicose veins treated?

Treating your varicose veins also eliminates the underlying venous insufficiency, helping to heal skin symptoms. But if you have a venous ulcer, your provider performs intensive wound care to prevent infections and promote healing. When needed, they also offer expert limb salvage to prevent amputations.

Advanced Vascular Cardiac & Veins eliminates varicose veins using one of the following minimally invasive procedures:

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy involves an injection of medication that closes the vein by making the vein walls collapse and turn into scar tissue. Your body reroutes blood flow through a healthy vein and gradually eliminates the scar tissue, making your varicose veins disappear.

Endovenous ablation

Endovenous ablation closes the vein using heat from laser or radiofrequency energy. Your provider makes a tiny cut, inserts a catheter (long, flexible tube) into the vessel, and guides it to the end of your varicose vein.

They use a device in the catheter to release controlled energy. The vein collapses and like sclerotherapy, circulation is restored in another vein and your body eliminates the treated vein.

Endovenous glue 

Your provider closes the vein using a catheter to release a medical glue, making the vein walls stick together.

Don’t wait to get treatment for varicose veins. Call Advanced Vascular Cardiac & Veins or request an appointment online today.