When vein doctors use the term “less-invasive,” people who are living with varicose veins may wonder what that really means.  Some of us may have heard stories in the past about people having very difficult experiences after undergoing what’s known as vein stripping or vein ligation.  That procedure was used for 40 years – during that time it was the only procedure vein doctors had available for treating varicose veins.  Today you have other options for varicose vein treatments.
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Varicose veins aren’t just unsightly, says vein doctor David Engleman.   They’re an inherited, progressive condition that can become serious over time.   We asked Dr. Engleman to answer some of the questions you might be asking yourself if you have varicose veins.   Dr. Engleman graciously spent time with us to share his expertise and talk about what a good vein doctor can do to help with venous diseases. › Continue reading

Today your varicose veins can be fixed in a vein clinic rather than at a hospital. Unlike twenty or even ten years ago, you have many choices today.  You no longer need to undergo vein stripping, which is major surgery—with all the potential pain, side effects, and complications.  Today’s procedures are much simpler, and a good vein clinic can offer you all the latest options.  Current minimally invasive procedures include ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy for spider veins and endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) for varicose veins.  But which vein clinics are reputable and how would the average person know? › Continue reading

Getting treated for any vein problem by a vein doctor is like any other medical problem.  You have to get a full examination to get an accurate diagnosis.  Whoever you choose as your vein doctor should have a lot of experience dealing with varicose veins and other types of vein problems.

If you want to try helping yourself before you see a vein doctor, there are some things you can do to help keep your varicose veins from getting worse. The Mayo Clinic recommends these self-care methods for varicose veins: exercise, losing weight, avoiding tight clothes, elevating your legs as often as possible, and not standing or sitting for long periods.  These actions coupled with using compression stockings may help keep varicose veins from getting worse. › Continue reading

If you have a protruding vein, you may be wondering if it could be a varicose vein and if you should consult a vein doctor.  According to the MayoClinic, veins could be varicose veins if they are painful, dark purple or bluish colored or if they are twisted, rope-like or bulging. Your symptoms could also include achy, heavy feelings in your legs, burning or itching around the veins or pain that worsens after sitting or standing for a long time. › Continue reading

We caught up last week with Dr. Andrew Kwak of Lumen Laser Center in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He was kind enough to spend some time with us on the phone to share his perspective on some of the questions people with varicose veins often ask. Thanks, Dr. Kwak, for sharing with our readers here on the www.vein-treatment.com blog:

What’s this new laser treatment for varicose veins, how was it discovered, and how does it work? › Continue reading

Vein treatment methods have come a long way in the past decade. As recently as ten years ago varicose vein stripping was the only real treatment available to patients. Vein stripping typically requires patients to undergo general or regional anesthesia, and then incisions are made where the veins are tied off and removed. Recovery can take up to four weeks for some patients having the procedure and, as www.emedicinehealth.com notes, varicose vein stripping may leave scars, bruising and can cause bleeding. On top of this, they say that there is a possibility of negative side effects, such as persistent numbness to the skin if nerves were damaged in the surgery. Luckily, there are more options available today than ever before. › Continue reading