Varicose Veins

Up to 35% of people in America have varicose veins, meaning millions are living with leg pain, tiredness, itching, and other disruptive issues. At Park Slope Medical Office, PC in New York City, skilled vascular surgeon Anjan Rau, MD, and the team offer comprehensive varicose vein care, from vascular studies and diagnosis to leading-edge treatments. Call the office in Park Slope, Brooklyn, or Jackson Heights, Queens, or click online scheduling today.

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are bulging, twisted, and knotty veins that commonly develop in the legs. They often cause leg pain, itching, tiredness, and heaviness. Varicose veins are common, affecting up to a third of the country, according to the Society for Vascular Surgery.

Why am I getting varicose veins?

Varicose veins develop when vein valves weaken or suffer damage. The job of the vein valves is to push blood upward so it can return to your heart for recirculation. 

Damaged or weak vein valves can't do their job, so the blood leaks back into the veins. When blood accumulates, it causes a vein to become varicose (swollen) and protrude from the skin. 

Valve problems can develop due to many factors, such as:

• Aging
• Weight gain
• Routinely sitting or standing for long periods
• Pregnancy
• Genetics 

When you come to Park Slope Medical Office, PC, for your vascular evaluation, your provider carefully inspects your veins, reviews your medical history, and discusses your symptoms to help determine what factors contributed to your varicose veins.

A vascular study, including a color Doppler ultrasound, allows the team to precisely identify your varicose veins and their connecting veins.

What is the most effective treatment for varicose veins?

Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for varicose veins today. Some of the in-office, nonsurgical treatments the Park Slope Medical Office, PC team may recommend are:

• Endovenous laser ablation: destroys the vein wall using laser energy 
• Radiofrequency laser ablation: kills the inner vein tissue using radiofrequency pulses
• Asclera® sclerotherapy: injected liquid or foam substance causes vein withering 
• Varithena® injection: injected foam forces the vein to collapse 

Many people with varicose veins also develop spider veins, so the team can recommend procedures to treat those unwanted veins. The Excel® V vascular laser is a popular option, which uses targeted light energy to treat spider veins and other vascular and pigmented lesions.

After treatment, changing your lifestyle can help you prevent new varicose veins. The team might recommend a plan that includes eating healthy, losing weight, exercising regularly, and tracking your hormone levels to help you take charge of your vascular health in the future. 

Call Park Slope Medical Office, PC, or click the online scheduler today to learn more about varicose vein treatments with no downtime.