A sign of a diminished or damaged circulation system, highly visible bulging veins, purple or blue veins, spider veins and skin discoloration are ugly and embarrassing. Unfortunately, they're also painful. Men and women live their lives covering their legs, hiding from the shame of how they look, desperate to find out if anything can be done to help.
What Are They?
Varicose veins are bulging visible veins on the surface of the legs which are caused by the failure of tiny valves inside the veins. When these valves fail, the blood pools and backs up in the legs under pressure. The pressure inside these veins causes numerous branches to blow up like a balloon. Veins bulge out and become visible as a result, and continue to enlarge each year, becoming progressively more unsightly until the vein condition is treated.
Why Do I Have Them?
People develop a vein condition usually due to factors beyond their control. The most common causes are genetics and family history. In women, the presence of female hormones are designed to dilate blood vessels for pregnancy. These hormones will cause veins to enlarge, which can then cause the tiny valves inside to fail. Since hormones increase during pregnancy, women often see an increase of visible symptoms during this time. Another less common reason is trauma to the veins. Lastly, obesity can also promote vein conditions, however, vein problems are then caused by pressure on the veins from the weight of an obese abdomen instead of abnormal function of the veins.
Are There Other Symptoms?
In addition to leg veins that look disfigured or deformed, patients with vein conditions often develop additional symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep, aching legs, restless legs, leg cramps, foot or leg numbness, tingling, burning stinging, coldness and swelling. These symptoms worsen at the end of the day and throughout the night, and improve by morning.
What Can I Do?
Home treatments can improve symptoms but do not help with the visible varicose or spider veins. Things like leg elevation, periodic walking, compression stockings and anti-inflammatory analgesics, and over-the-counter medications & creams may provide some relief, but do not reverse the condition or prevent the progression.
There Is Hope!
Everyone deserves to look down at their legs and know that they look natural and healthy. After treatments, our patients feel and look normal again! Patients with disfigured ropy veins or patches of blue spider veins who felt shame and low self-confidence get back to looking normal again. Even more, treatment also restores a healthy, confident self image, and patients are able to wear shorts and skirts again. They don't have to suffer from stares at their legs anymore. Many are inspired to tackle other health goals, such as quitting smoking, losing weight and exercise. We invite you to see our before and after photos of patients, and then contact us to find out if we can do the same for you.
