If you’ve noticed the appearance of enlarged and twisted veins just under the surface of your skin, you have varicose veins. This common condition can be extremely embarrassing. However, varicose veins are more than just a cosmetic concern; they can also indicate a medical problem.
CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
Varicose veins most often appear in the legs. This is because your veins lack a pumping mechanism to move blood up your legs. Instead, blood is propelled upward when the muscles in your legs contract. Blood is prevented from flowing backward with a series of valves in the veins. Varicose veins occur when there is a problem with these valves. This causes the accumulation of blood, creating an enlarged vein. There are numerous risk factors that can increase your chances of developing this cosmetic problem. You are at an increased risk if a family member has varicose veins, if you are overweight or obese, or if you sit for long periods at a time. Pregnancy also significantly increases the risk.
SYMPTOMS AND COMPLICATIONS
In addition to the displeasing cosmetic appearance of varicose veins, they can sometimes cause symptoms such as discomfort and pain. Your legs may feel heavy or achy, or they may feel unusually tired. You might also notice persistent itching, swelling, changes in skin color, scaling, and inflammation. Having varicose veins increases your risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition in which a blood clot forms in the vein. If the blood clot breaks free, it can cause a life-threatening condition such as pulmonary embolism.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Fortunately, varicose veins are easily treated at Meadows Surgical Arts. Traditionally, invasive surgery was required to strip the veins out of the body. Now, Dr. Meadows can employ a minimally invasive technique called endovenous laser therapy to seal the vein and prevent blood pooling.
At Meadows Surgical Arts, our cosmetic surgery team is pleased to offer minimally invasive endovenous therapy for varicose veins. Call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Meadows at (706) 335-3555 (Commerce) or (678) 541-0339 (Buford), or purchase your varicose vein surgery here, and we’ll call you!
