phone icon

Our Blog

HomeVein ClinicTreat Your Vein Problems at a Vein Center

Treat Your Vein Problems at a Vein Center

Blog Author January 4, 2017
Although vein problems are common, affecting up to 35 percent of the population, according to the Society for Vascular Surgery, you don’t have to sit back and simply deal with yours. A visit to a vein center can help determine if a vein treatment will help and can help you see if your varicose veins or other vein problems are mostly a cosmetic issue or something more serious.

How a Vein Center Can Help You

Assess Your Problem

It’s easy to panic when you first notice a bulging, blue vein on your leg. Is it something serious or just a cosmetic issue? you might wonder. A vascular surgeon can get right down to the bottom of the issue and let you know what’s going on with your veins. Usually, a surgeon is able to diagnose varicose veins by looking at your legs and the veins on them. He will most likely ask you about any symptoms you’re having, such as pain or throbbing near the veins or if you feel the need to move your legs when trying to fall asleep. While a physical exam might be all that’s needed to diagnose your condition, your doctor might also use ultrasound to get a better look at blood flow through your veins.

Offer a Custom-Fit Treatment

Once you’ve gotten a diagnosis, your vascular surgeon will discuss the treatment options available to you and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for you. Vein treatments include laser ablation, a very minimally invasive procedure that usually takes about an hour. There’s no downtime after the treatment and people rarely feel discomfort. Another option is ambulatory phlebectomy, which is often performed on larger varicose veins. During the treatment, the surgeon makes small incisions around the veins and uses micro hooks to remove the varicose veins. If you have spider veins, which are smaller than varicose veins, your vascular surgeon might recommend a treatment such as sclerotherapy. During sclerotherapy, a chemical is injected into the spider veins. The chemical causes the veins to shrink and collapse. After a few weeks, they fade from view completely.

Give Your Tips for Lifestyle Changes

Your vein doctor won’t just recommend treatments to you to help with your vein problem. He is also likely to recommend a few lifestyle changes that can help keep your vein problems from getting worse or from recurring after treatment. For example, he might recommend losing weight if you are overweight. Excess weigh in the body puts extra pressure on the legs and the veins, increasing the risk for varicose veins. Getting more exercise, avoiding high heels, and wearing compression stockings as needed can also help keep varicose veins from becoming worse. Ready to learn more about vein treatments and your options? Contact the Kimmel Institute for an appointment today by calling 561-948-5560.