Varicose veins and spider veins can affect anyone. Luckily you can explore your varicose and spider veins treatment options with your doctor, Dr. James McGuckin at Pennsylvania Vascular Institute serving East Stroudsburg, Bethlehem, Limerick, King of Prussia, and Philadelphia, PA.
What Are Varicose Veins and Spider Veins
These veins are small blood vessels with weak walls that become distended and contain pools of blood.
These veins form a spidery network across your skin surface that could be flesh-colored, greenish, reddish, or purplish.
Varicose and spider veins are more common in women than men. Other factors that increase your risk of developing varicose and spider veins are:
- Hereditary
- Standing for long hours
- Obesity
- Puberty, pregnancy, and menopausal hormones
- Hormone replacement
Treatment for Varicose Veins and Spider Veins
Some people with varicose veins report feeling a deep pain in their legs. Another reason to treat the web of veins on your leg is that you don't like their appearance. Varicose and spider veins also increase your risk of developing blood clots.
Your doctor will begin your varicose vein and spider vein treatment with conservative methods.
For instance, your doctor might suggest taking a break from prolonged sitting or standing every 30 minutes. This should reduce the blood pooling at your feet. Keeping your feet elevated should also relieve some of the pressure on your feet.
Compression stockings hug your legs firmly to help move blood back to your heart. Therefore reducing your chance of developing blood clots and decreasing your discomfort.
If you want the web of veins on your body gone, you won't get that with compression stockings. However other minimally invasive procedures with your doctor can help reduce their appearance.
At the Pennsylvania Vascular Institute serving East Stroudsburg, Bethlehem, Limerick, King of Prussia, and Philadelphia, PA, your doctor can treat your varicose veins with sclerotherapy and venous ablation.
Your doctor injects a chemical into the desired vein which causes it to close up during Sclerotherapy. Hence your blood moves on to other healthier collateral vessels. Over time the closed blood vessel begins to disappear.
For venous ablation, your doctor will direct a tiny wire into your vein which sends heat from radiofrequency or laser to cause scarring and close the vein. Once again your body sends blood back to the heart through collateral blood vessels and your damaged veins disappear.
Do you want to get rid of your varicose veins and spider veins in East Stroudsburg, Bethlehem, Limerick, King of Prussia, and Philadelphia, PA? Call 800-296-9294 to schedule your appointment at Pennsylvania Vascular Institute with Dr. McGuckin.