Varicose Veins Specialist

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are dilated, twisted blood vessels that don’t control blood flow as they should. These veins are often misunderstood as simply a cosmetic issue, but when left untreated varicose veins can progress to a more serious condition called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

Varicose veins and spider veins are not the same. Spider veins are thread-sized red, blue, or purplish veins that get their name from their weblike appearance. Spider veins are close to the skin surface, and usually aren’t painful, but people sometimes get them treated for cosmetic reasons.

What causes varicose veins?

Unlike varicose veins, healthy veins have valves that keep blood flowing toward the heart. Venous insufficiency develops when the valves stop working properly, causing blood to flow backward and pool in the lower legs.

You may be at risk of developing varicose veins if you:

• Have a family history of varicose veins
• Don’t get enough exercise
• Sit or stand for prolonged periods of time
• Use tobacco
• Are overweight or obese
• Have a history of leg injury or trauma

Pregnancy also increases your risk of developing varicose veins.

What are the symptoms of varicose veins?

Common symptoms of varicose veins and venous insufficiency include:

• Itching
• Fatigue
• Burning
• Leg pain
• Tingling
• Heaviness
• Soreness
• Throbbing
• Cramping
• Night cramps
• Restless legs
• Swollen legs
• Discoloration of the skin around the veins

You can have symptoms of vein disease without visible varicose veins. Vein disease is progressive and worsens over time.

How are varicose veins treated?

The goal of treatment for venous insufficiency is to reduce or stop the backward flow of blood. Dr. Ranson can perform diagnostic testing and then make a recommendation about which treatments are best for you. In most cases, diagnostic imaging and treatments are covered by health insurance.

With proper treatment, patients experience relief from symptoms and prevent disease progression. Without treatment, signs and symptoms can progress, which can significantly impact your quality of life and lead to venous ulcers.

Treatments for varicose veins include these in-office procedures:

ClosureFast™ procedure

The ClosureFast procedure uses radiofrequency energy that heats and closes your diseased vein. This outpatient procedure is minimally invasive and only requires local anesthesia at the site of treatment.

You can also expect:

• Less pain than laser treatment
• Faster recovery than laser treatment
• Use of compression stockings for only one week

The ClosureFast procedure is used in over 100 countries around the world and has helped more than 2 million people.

There’s no need for downtime following your varicose vein treatments. Learn more about ClosureFast here.

Endovenous Transdermal Microfoam Ablation

Polidocanol foam is injected through a catheter or by direct injection into the malfunctioning vein. The foam fills and treats the desired section of the vein, and the diseased vein collapses and the foam is deactivated.

No incisions, sedation, or general anesthesia is required and is effective to treat veins of different sizes above and below the knee. Only requires one or two needle sticks per treatment, and dissolves into the bloodstream, leaving no foreign substances in the vein.

VenaSeal™ system

The VenaSeal system uses specially formulated medical adhesives that seal (close off) the diseased vein. Your body then reroutes blood to nearby healthy veins to relieve your symptoms.

Benefits of the VenaSeal system include:

• Simple, outpatient procedure
• No tumescent anesthesia
• Less pain and bruising than thermal ablation
• Faster recovery than thermal ablation
• No need for compression stockings after the procedure

More than 100,000 people around the world have been treated with the VenaSeal system. Learn more about VenaSeal here.

To schedule an evaluation to discuss your varicose vein treatment options, contact the office of David W. Ranson, MD, FACS, by phone or book an appointment online today.