Varicose Vein Treatment in Hartford, CT
At our vein center in Bloomfield, we serve the entire Hartford area with state-of-the-art varicose vein treatment performed by one of the country’s top vascular surgeons, Dr. Lori Greenwald.
The painful, discomforting cousin of spider veins – varicose veins often appear as swollen, rope-like veins raised from the skin. Unlike spider veins, they can pose medical complications if left untreated and are almost always caused by inability to pump blood out of the leg and back to the heart. Each vein in the human body is equipped with one way valves that allow blood to travel in one direction and one direction only (think of a concert or subway turnstile).
However, as the body ages and the vein is stressed (through exercise, sun exposure, prolonged time spent standing, etc.), these valves can begin to fail and blood can flow backwards. The result is varicose veins – a pooling of blood that stretches and distends the vein, further damaging the valve. This is called venous reflux or venous insufficiency. Beginning just as a cosmetic concern, varicose veins (if left untreated) can lead to chronic swelling, skin discoloration, and in some cases, painful, dangerous skin ulcers.
At Vanishing Veins our most common varicose veins treatment is called Closure or radiofrequency ablation. It is superior to laser treatments, with less pain and bruising.
How do Varicose Veins Happen?
The noticeable, rope-like bulge on your legs and knees are varicose veins. They may look unattractive, but they harbor underlying complications if ignored. Varicose vein treatment in South Windsor, CT, is the answer, but it’s equally essential to learn how varicose veins happen and whether varicose veins are detrimental to my health.
The veins in your body need to return blood to the heart. Part of the journey is fighting gravity while carrying blood from the feet and legs. To aid in the upward battle are veins with special valves that open to move the blood upward and close to keep it from falling backward.
Varicose veins appear when those vein valves cannot keep the blood moving. The veins move the blood upward, but the valves can’t close, causing it to fall backward. Combine that with the blood behind it, and it causes a pileup. Because the blood can’t move up or down, the veins stretch, twist, and swell to accommodate it. It appears on the legs, feet, and pelvis. Vanishing Veins can provide reliable varicose and spider vein treatment.
Although men can develop varicose veins, women are more likely to have them. The causes are:
- Family history: You could inherit them if the gene runs in the family.
- Weight gain: The extra weight adds extra pressure to normal veins, stretching them and breaking the vein valves.
- Age: The wear and tear stretch the veins and form varicose veins and leaky vein valves. While they can develop as early as the teen years, patients over 50 are more likely to create them. As we age, our veins stretch and dilate, causing the leg vein valves to leak and become varicose veins.
- Hormonal changes: Menopause, pregnancy, periods, and birth control use stretch the vein walls, causing them to develop.
- Tobacco: Smoking and tobacco products constrict blood flow, causing vein damage.
- Inactivity: Blood flow favors movement or an active lifestyle. Standing or sitting in one place for a long time causes the blood to pool, stretching out the vein walls.
Varicose Veins
Are Varicose Veins Detrimental to My Health?
It depends. Some patients with varicose veins have no issues. Other patients have varicose veins or chronic venous insufficiency with underlying health risks. Regardless, varicose veins can cause ulcers, skin discolorations, and bleeding without vein treatment. Chronic venous insufficiency, or blood flow in the wrong direction, causes blood pooling in the leg, another serious concern without treatment.
Significant complications include superficial thrombophlebitis and DVT (deep vein thrombosis). Both are blood clots that cause severe pain, but the first one is inside a vein close to the skin, while the second is inside a deeper vein. A pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that travels to the lungs, is a medical emergency that causes pain and shortness of breath and needs immediate attention.
Varicose Veins Patient Testimonials
Barb C. Hartford, CT
Lilly F., West Hartford, CT
P.W. Bloomfield, CT
The Role of Ultrasound in Spider Vein Identification
Our spider vein treatment in Windsor may begin with a venous ultrasound procedure. A venous Doppler ultrasound exam allows us to get a full diagnostic evaluation of the venous system to identify any spider veins, damaged veins, and valves. It helps us pinpoint spider veins for easier, more accurate treatment. The ultrasound process is completely harmless, painless, and noninvasive. A special ultrasound gel is rubbed onto the area, and an imaging device is moved along the area to look for affected veins. The whole process lasts approximately 30-60 minutes.
Using ultrasound allows the doctor to check the circulation in various veins to find blockages or blood clots. It also makes it much easier for the doctor to see where the spider veins are located during the treatment process in Windsor. While ultrasound is most commonly used before treatment for varicose veins, it also locates the leaky valves and helps map the diseased veins that need to be treated.
Call now to Schedule an Appointment!
Patients, especially women, deal with the pain or use home remedies to relieve pain. That’s because everything else comes before varicose vein treatment. Dr. Lori Greenwald and the team at Vanishing Veins will put you first. Don’t miss out on other services like venous ulcer treatment.
Their treatment instantly removes painful and unsightly veins with little downtime. Pain, swelling, itching, and other discomfort in the leg, pelvis, and feet are no more. Your confidence will grow because your legs will look smooth on the outside and healthy on the inside. Through a physical examination and a few tests, we can determine the best vein treatment to get the results you want.
Contact us to schedule an appointment at our South Windsor, CT, office. Let this call be the first step toward pain relief and better-looking legs.
