What Are Varicose Veins?

“Varicose” means dilated, enlarged and often painful veins. They are swollen, twisted veins that can be seen just under the surface of the skin. They can cause discomfort and pain and even lead to more severe health problems. They may cause you to feel uncomfortable with the look of your legs, cause you pain and discomfort, or indicate existing serious underlying health problems.

If you have varicose veins, you will usually have the appearance of ropy bulging veins close to the surface of your skin. You might experience leg symptoms such as aching or heaviness, throbbing or cramping, itching or bleeding, tenderness, painful “cords” with hardening of your veins, skin discoloration, and possibly ulcerations, which often indicate a more severe vascular problem.

If varicose veins have caused you to suffer prolonged emotional or physical harm, you may no longer feel able to ignore the issue. However, you may have also heard that varicose vein treatments usually involve surgery and can lead to pain and scarring. These fears may have prevented you from exploring medical options. Varicose vein treatments, however, have improved significantly in recent years.

One of the most significant advances in varicose vein treatment is EVLT, which has become the standard in vein care for several reasons. EVLT is a quickly performed and minimally invasive outpatient procedure that offers patients little to no downtime and a success rate of over 95%, according to clinical studies.

The Seriousness of Untreated Varicose Veins

Suppose you have suffered from varicose veins even for a short time. In that case, you are probably not very happy with the look of your legs, and you probably feel embarrassed to show them to anyone, choosing instead to cover them up whenever possible. This likely affects the activities you choose to engage in — swimming is out — and you may feel self-conscious and overly inhibited out of fear that someone might see your legs. These limitations on your activities and comfort could even lead to more severe issues like relationship problems or depression.

Varicose veins, if severe, can also result in more serious medical problems. Leg ulcers can indicate significantly high venous pressure and fluid build-up. Ulcers can be complicated to treat and may lead to infection and additional medical issues.

Bleeding from broken blood vessels near the surface of your skin poses additional risks. Blood clots are another health threat. Significant, sudden onset of swelling and pain in a leg could indicate a deep vein blood clot, a hazardous condition that may originate from varicose veins.

FAQ's About Skin Cancer Laser Treatment

Is Laser Treatment For Varicose Veins Safe?
Does Laser Varicose Vein Treatment Hurt?
What Happens To Varicose Veins After EVLT?
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Does Insurance cover EVLT For Varicose Veins?

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