Between 25% and 30% of adult Americans have varicose vein disease. Characterized by enlarged, bluish-purple veins just under the surface of your skin, varicose veins often appear on legs and feet. However, an extensive network of invisible, to-the-naked-eye, varicose veins For most people, varicose veins are painless. But for others, damaged veins are a source of pain.
While varicose veins don’t always cause pain, they can be unsightly or embarrassing. When your veins are damaged, they can appear enlarged and twisted, and they can make you think twice about wearing shorts or sandals when the weather gets warmer.
Dr. Clement Banda of MD Vein & Skin Specialists offers the latest in vein treatment technology. Varicose veins are common, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with the pain or embarrassment that comes with this condition. Endovenous ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that can significantly improve your veins.
Your veins return blood to your heart, but when they become weak or damaged, they can leak or collect blood. This leads to swelling and varicose veins.
Certain factors put you at increased risk for developing varicose veins. For example, your veins are more likely to weaken as you age. Women may develop varicose veins due to hormonal changes throughout their lives. Obesity and some occupations are contributors as well. If you stand or sit for long periods of time, your veins must work harder to send blood back to your heart.
In addition to discolored or enlarged veins, other symptoms of varicose veins include:
If damaged veins are causing you discomfort or pain, it’s time to seek treatment. Some patients find relief through conservative lifestyle changes, like wearing medical grade graduated compression socks or exercising regularly. For more serious cases, endovenous ablation is a common treatment that can improve many symptoms of varicose veins, from aching pain to discoloration, and more.
If you suffer from damaged veins, you have options. Dr. Banda often recommends endovenous ablation for patients experiencing pain and other symptoms of damaged veins, but this minimally invasive procedure can also be a cosmetic solution.
Varicose veins develop when blood leaks or pools in your veins. Endovenous ablation uses laser, chemical injections or radiofrequency to close off damaged veins, preventing blood from collecting. Three common types of endovenous ablation are:
Laser ablation and radiofrequency ablation use targeted energy to close damaged veins. Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy, involves an injection of foam into your vein to close it. All methods seal off the damaged veins, and your body routes blood through other veins. As your body heals, the enlarged varicose vein disappears, and you can expect pain and other symptoms to fade over time.
Dr. Banda performs endovenous ablation in an outpatient setting with local anesthesia. There’s no hospital stay and typically no downtime following treatment. He provides guidelines for recovery that you should follow closely, and he may give you compression socks to encourage blood flow as your body heals.
You don’t have to live with damaged, painful, or unsightly veins. Dr. Banda and the team at MD Vein & Skin Specialists provide endovenous ablation to patients living in Columbia, Maryland, and nearby communities. Contact our office today — you can call or use the convenient online booking form — to learn more.
