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Varicose Veins

Varicose Vein Treatment

VARICOSE VEINS affect both women and men. They are not just a cosmetic problem. They are a common medical problem that affects 25% of woman and 10% of men. Left untreated, these damaged veins may progress to a more serious form of venous disease called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Upstate Vascular Services offers minimally invasive procedures to treat varicose veins that allow for a short recovery and a quick return to everyday activities.

Why Do I Have Varicose Veins?

Varicose Vein illustration

Varicose veins are caused by broken or missing valves inside the veins. The valves are normally one-way, directing blood from the feet back up to the heart. Once damaged, some blood flows back down the vein and can pool. This is called reflux. As pressure builds up in the veins from blood pooling, the walls of the vein stretch and become thin and twisted. Some will show beneath the skin as deep blue, often raised, crooked lines.

Risk factors for varicose veins include family history, obesity, pregnancy; occupations that require prolonged standing or sitting, aging, and female sex.

Are Varicose Veins a Medical Problem?

Not all varicose veins require treatment. As with any medical condition, it is best to have a complete evaluation with a vein specialist to determine the appropriate way to manage your symptoms. Some symptoms can be managed with compression stockings. Others will need procedures performed to remove the damaged veins to alleviate pain and swelling and prevent more serious complications. Most insurance plans will cover treatment for varicose veins that cause pain or swelling in the legs.

Should I Have My Varicose Veins Treated?

  • Do you experience leg pain, aching or cramping?
  • Do you experience leg or ankle swelling, especially at the end of the day?
  • Do you feel "heaviness" in your legs?
  • Do you experience restless legs?
  • Do you have skin discoloration or texture changes in you lower legs?
  • Do you, or have you ever had open wounds or sores on your legs?
  • Do you stand for long periods of time, such as at work?
  • Do you frequently perform heavy lifting?

If you have answered yes to 2 or more of the above questions, you may have varicose veins with significant venous reflux disease and may be a candidate for treatment to remove the damaged veins that cause symptoms.

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In addition, please click on "OUR TEAM" to learn more about our Varicose Veins experts.

How are Varicose Veins Treated?

At Upstate Vascular Services you will have a complete evaluation by a vascular specialist or a vascular surgeon. These are doctors who specialize in blood vessel conditions. This evaluation may include a duplex ultrasound to exam the direction of blood flow in your veins and will help determine the treatment plan that’s most appropriate for your condition.

Sclerotherapy is used to treat smaller varicose veins and spider veins.

Endovenous Ablation Therapy

Endovenous Ablation Therapy uses lasers or radio waves to create heat to close off a varicose vein. At Upstate Vascular Services, we use Endovenous Thermal Ablation. Endovenous thermal ablation is a minimally invasive treatment that involves the insertion of a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a diseased vein and uses heat to seal it shut. Blood that would normally return toward the heart through these veins will then travel through other veins instead. Over time the treated vein shrinks and is absorbed by the body. Compared with surgical options like vein stripping, endovenous thermal ablation results in less pain and quicker average recovery time.

Varicose Vein illustration

Ambulatory Micro-Phlebectomy is a procedure to remove the larger varicose veins closest to the surface of your skin. Very small cuts are made in your skin over the veins and the veins are removed in segments. The small wounds heal quickly and don’t require sutures.

Laser Vein Ablation: Lasers are used to treat superficial varicose veins and spider veins that are 4 mm or smaller in size. They are effective in removing cosmetically troubling veins and are an alternative to sclerotherapy. Since lasers are used for treatment of cosmetic veins this treatment option is not covered by insurance plans. It is often performed without a diagnostic evaluation of the venous system. Removing superficial varicose veins may be temporary if there is an underlying reflux problem in the larger veins. New varicosities can surface if the greater problem is left untreated.

Upstate Vascular Services is a Team Dedicated to Central New York

When you chose a doctor to treat your vein problems, consider a vascular specialist with Upstate Vascular Services where you will have a complete evaluation of your vascular system and you can be assured your treatment will be planned according to your personal and medical needs. We have multiple community based office locations where a consultation may be performed at your convenience.

Call us for a consultation appointment today at (315) 464-VASC.

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