Visible varicose veins aren’t the only reason to give yourself the benefit of a thorough evaluation by a qualified vein doctor.  If your legs feel heavy, if they seem to feel more than ordinarily tired from walking or exercising, or if they ache or feel tender — those are all good reasons to visit a vein doctor.  Read more about other symptoms of varicose veins.
› Continue reading

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.
› Continue reading

Vein specialists treat a number of vein problems, and spider veins are among them.  Vein specialists will tell you it’s a common condition.  According to the US government’s women’s health site (and of course men get them too), you might be more likely to develop spider veins and/or varicose veins if any of the following factors are influencing your body: › Continue reading

Your veins can cause trouble in many areas of your body, but by far the most common reason people visit vein doctors is for problems with the veins in their legs.  The reason is simple—the veins in our legs do a tremendous amount of the work.  They have to fight gravity constantly to keep pumping blood back up to our hearts.  They use an ingenious system of valves to keep blood from flowing back down into our legs—where gravity keeps pulling it.  And sometimes, as your vein doctor will explain, the valves can wear out, slow down, or even stop working entirely. › 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

It’s not easy to make a choice when it comes to deciding on the best vein doctor and vein center to treat your varicose or spider veins. Not only are there many vein centers to choose from, but the number of doctors is also growing. It’s a good idea to first evaluate the individual vein doctor — because chances are, if the doctor meets the test, he or she will likely be working with a vein center that you can trust.

What’s a good way to start? Here are some important tips on how to choose the best vein doctor: › Continue reading

There’s exciting news in the world of vein clinics and varicose vein treatment. Advancements in varicose vein and spider vein treatment have made a significant improvement in many aspects of the patient’s experience. And today more insurance companies offer fair coverage for such treatment, which means many more people who need it can receive it.

Video of ultrasound-guided diagnosis of varicose veins

› 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

You don’t have to be old to have varicose veins.  You could be uncomfortable or unhappy about them at any age.  And you might worry that treating varicose veins might hurt, cost too much, or not work very well.

You’re not alone.  It’s perfectly reasonable to research the procedures available to treat varicose veins.  If simple diet, exercise changes or possibly compression stockings don’t do the trick, here are some options…

› Continue reading