Veinclinic.net
About Varicose Veins
Varicose veins develop when superficial veins distend with blood that leaks from deeper lying veins, where it belongs. This is called reflux and it is due to gravitational force on veins with valve incompetence. Normally valves prevent pooling of blood in the lower extremities during the period between heart beats when the ventricles, or pumping chambers of the heart, are refilling. At these moments blood is not being circulated through the body under the systolic blood pressure generated by contraction of the heart. During this period of no forward flow, blood in the venous system is subject only to gravitational pressure and in incompetent veins blood falls down toward the feet and outward into veins closer to the skin. Veins in the subcutaneous layer of fat and outside the muscle compartment of the legs have little support and as an increased blood volume flows into them, they balloon up and begin to function more like reservoirs than conduits.
This problem is almost always one of genetic predisposition. In other words, most people "inherit" their varicose veins. They appear first usually after puberty and particularly under the unique stresses imposed by pregnancy.
The most obvious characteristic of varicose veins, other than their larger size and what distinguishes them from spider veins, is their commonly colorless bulging through the skin. The usual symptoms of aching and heaviness are due to too much blood under too much pressure. All such veins are abnormal and their elimination with treatment improves the general circulation by assuring that blood flows only in normal, healthy deeper lying veins.
Most patients presenting for treatment of varicose veins, have uncomplicated varicose veins and can be treated with sclerotherapy alone, and in most cases will enjoy lasting improvement. If, however, a determination of underlying reflux is made, that will have to be corrected first. With only rare exception is sclerotherapy, including foam sclerotherapy and the technique of echosclerotherapy, a means of permanently terminating reflux. Recurrence of varicose veins is almost inevitable.
Rather, for even the most severe cases of varicose veins, one or more minimally invasive brief procedures can be carried out under local anesthesia, after which patients may drive home or return to work and usual activities right away. No incisions are required and therefore there are no scars anywhere on the legs. For patients who are not local and cannot return conveniently in a week or two, comprehensive treatment is provided at one visit. A follow-up appointment between six weeks and 6 months is, however, considered necessary.
Cosmetic results are superior to ligation and stripping surgery because clearing of varicose veins is more complete than can possibly be accomplished with surgical stripping alone and because treatment does not leave scars. Long term results are proving to be the best so far attainable because the mechanism by which varicose veins are most likely to form will have been, in most cases, permanently alleviated. And finally, there is no substitute for being able to return to work right away.