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 What Are Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are abnormally enlarged veins usually found in the thigh and leg. In most cases, these large and often unsightly veins are more of a cosmetic nuisance than a medical problem. These veins connect with the main veins of the leg and play a small role in the transfer of blood to the heart. The veins become more noticeable as we reach our thirties and forties and are more common in women.

Varicose veins are a very common condition found in a large proportion of the population. They are much more common in women. As many as 60 percent of women may eventually develop varicose veins as opposed to 10 to 20 percent of men.

How do we get them?
There are many contributory factors when developing varicose veins: heredity, age, gender, posture, height and weight, occupation and hormones (estrogen, progesterone and pregnancy play a definite role). With one or more of these factors, damage is caused to the valves inside the vein, which would normally be responsible for controlling pressure and regulating the flow of blood. Also, the diseased vein walls of the superficial venous system become thicker and lose their elasticity, making it difficult for the blood to travel back to where it belongs. This means the blood pools in the legs, causing the symptoms associated with varicose veins.

Do I need varicose vein treatment?
Not all varicose veins need treatment. If your varicose veins are unsightly but do not cause medical problems like pain, skin discoloration, or other symptoms, most people can live normal lives without treatment.

Isn't varicose vein treatment considered cosmetic?
Not always. It is not unusual to get symptoms of leg discomfort from varicose veins. In addition, varicose veins generally get bigger and more numerous over time. Less commonly, complications can happen because of untreated varicose veins (superficial blood clots and skin inflammation or ulcers). And while most people appreciate the improvement in the appearance of their legs after treatment, many people seek treatment for relief of symptoms. This is different than having treatment solely to improve the appearance of your legs.

Will I be able to resume normal life after varicose vein treatment?
Depending on the extent of varicose veins, patients are usually encouraged to take it easy for a few days. However, staying in bed or lazing around is not a good idea. Walking and light daily activities will be preferable immediately following the procedure.

What can I expect from my varicose vein treatments?
You can mainly expect improvement - improvement both in the relief of pain, fatigue, aching and heaviness that most varicose vein patients experience, and improvement in the appearance of those ugly, ropy veins. What you cannot expect is for the clock to be turned back to those flawless teenage legs. Our modern treatments are a vast improvement over the techniques of just a few years ago. Scars, if any, are a fraction of what they used to be. But the key word is improvement, not perfection.