What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are enlarged, often swollen, twisted veins due to damage to the valves inside them. The valves in veins facilitate blood flow in only one direction, from the rest of the body to the heart. Most of the time, they pose a cosmetic problem but in some cases, varicose veins can cause pain and discomfort.
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What is the difference between varicose veins and spider veins?
Varicose veins are usually large and appear twisted and bulged (due to the swelling). They are clearly seen as swelling along the vein. Spider veins are very tiny but visible blood vessels right under the skin. Spider veins typically develop on the face and legs while varicose veins are often seen on thighs, backs, and front of the calves (above the ankle and below the knee of legs).
What causes varicose veins (or veins to bulge)?
Veins and Arteries in the body have valves inside them. These valves allow blood to flow only in one direction. (Veins – from other parts of the body to the heart; Arteries – from the heart to other parts of the body). When the valves in the veins are damaged (for some reason unknown), the blood doesn’t flow to the heart and just gets stagnated in the region resulting in swelling of the vein along its path. Possible causes of varicose veins are heredity, pregnancy, hormonal changes in the body, overweight or obesity, sitting or standing for extended periods of time, age, injury to veins, etc.
What are the symptoms of varicose veins?
Typically varicose pose a cosmetic issue but some people with varicose veins feel aching or burning sensation in their legs, swelling of ankles, leg cramps, itching on the skin around the swollen vein area, etc. Skin ulcers can also be a result of varicose veins.
What are the treatment options for varicose veins?
Whatever may be the treatment method chosen, ultimate idea is to close (shut off) the damaged vein and divert the blood flow through good veins. The blocking of veins is done using any of the following procedures that your doctor thinks is right:
– Endovenous laser treatment
– Transilluminated powered phlebectomy
– Radiofrequency ablation
– Sclerotherapy
– Ligation and Stripping
– Surgical removal of varicose veins
What is the Nd: Yag laser used in treating varicose veins?
The Yag laser is used to treat or fade the spider veins. The tiny veins are blocked using the energy from the laser and eventually, the veins are absorbed by the body effectively removing the veins from the affected area. The laser works without cutting the top layer of the skin. (Non-ablative treatment).
What is the typical recovery time after Nd: Yag laser treatment for varicose veins?
The typical recovery time is 2 weeks after laser treatment. The patient may feel like a severe sunburn and the doctor will advise him/her to apply topical creams to reduce the burning sensation in the area.
Is there any clinic in Chennai that employs laser treatment for varicose veins?
Laser Vein Clinic is one of the finest vein clinics offering laser treatment for varicose veins, spider veins, venous ulcer treatment, and other vascular diseases. The doctors here are highly trained and highly experienced professionals practicing medicine for 28 years. If you compare varicose veins laser treatment before and after, you will see a marked difference.
What are the possible complications of varicose vein surgery?
In most cases, treatment for varicose veins has no side effects or complications. In some rare cases, the patient may see bleeding, blood clots in the vein of the leg causing inflammation, and a condition called ‘Chronic Venous Insufficiency’. Chronic Venous Insufficiency is a condition when the skin does not exchange oxygen, nutrients, and waste products with the blood properly because of poor blood flow.
What are the risk factors of varicose veins?
While there are no clear-cut reasons, medical experts have figured out some conditions that they believe might be risk factors for the development of varicose veins. They include:
– Menopause
– Pregnancy
– Age over 50 years
– A profession that involves sitting or standing for long hours
– Heredity
– Obesity or being overweight
Reference:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/240129
https://www.peachmedicalgroup.com/blog/laser-spider-vein-treatment-faq-and-patient-instructions
https://www.hearthousenj.com/services/vein-center/frequently-asked-questions/