Everyone knows what varicose veins look like – twisted, blue and purple squiggles that bulge out of the legs – but what exactly are they? And what about spider veins?
Varicose Veins are Damaged Blood Vessels
Veins are blood vessels that carry blood from the body towards the heart (as opposed to arteries, which move blood away from the heart to the body). As such they must work against gravity, with the help of valves, to get blood from the feet, legs, and abdomen up to the chest. When the veins and valves aren’t healthy and strong enough for the task, varicose veins can result when the blood pools along sections of the vein. That’s when they become visible through the skin of the leg.
Varicose veins are not only unsightly, they can be painful, too. This pain may take the form of cramping, throbbing, tingling, burning, or tiredness.
The Difference Between Varicose Veins and Spider Veins
Like varicose veins, spider veins are also damaged vessels that become visible in the legs, just less severe. They’re usually smaller, thinner, not raised, and not associated with pain.
Although they’re less visible than varicose veins, spider veins are still unsightly and people who have them may want to treat them for cosmetic reasons.
What Can Be Done About Varicose Veins and Spider Veins?
Leg veins can be treated with great results. There are a number of minimally invasive options out there today, including sclerotherapy, where a solution is injected into the vessel, laser treatment, and radiofrequency ablation. All three work by permanently closing the vessel.
Leg Vein Treatment in Danville, CA
In our practice in Danville, CA, we offer leg vein treatment to our patients in a safe and comfortable environment. A diagnostic ultrasound looks to see if a larger vein is feeding the smaller visible veins. If it’s not, a simple injection can treat the visible leg veins easily. If it is, then the larger veins must be treated first, or else treating the smaller veins alone will be unsuccessful.
We’re very happy to have Dr. Monica Brar working with us. Dr. Brar focuses exclusively on the diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins and spider veins and has been specializing in this area for 14 years. She gets fantastic results for her patients, always with safety as the #1 goal.
If you’re ready to do something about your unsightly leg veins and you live in the Danville area, call us at 925-838-4900 today to schedule an appointment. We’d love to help you look your best.