Varicose Veins & Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins near the skin surface, usually in the legs, caused by weakened vein valves that let blood pool. They range from a cosmetic concern to a source of aching, swelling, and skin damage, and modern treatment is minimally invasive in most cases.
Overview
Healthy leg veins carry blood upward toward the heart through one-way valves. When these valves weaken or fail — a condition called chronic venous insufficiency — blood flows backward and pools in the vein, stretching it. The result is the bulging, rope-like veins visible under the skin. Risk factors include family history, prolonged standing, pregnancy, higher body weight, and age. Left untreated, severe cases can progress to skin discoloration, dermatitis, or venous ulcers near the ankle.
Signs & Symptoms
- Visible bulging, twisted veins in the legs
- Aching, heaviness, or throbbing after standing
- Swelling around the ankles, worse in the evening
- Itching or burning over a vein
- Night cramps or restless legs
- Skin darkening or hardening near the ankle in advanced disease
How It Is Diagnosed
Diagnosis starts with a physical examination and a duplex ultrasound scan — a painless test that maps blood flow and shows exactly which valves leak and in which direction blood refluxes. This map guides whether treatment should target the main saphenous vein, tributaries, or smaller surface veins.
Treatment Options
Lifestyle measures and compression stockings
First-line care for mild symptoms: regular walking, leg elevation, weight management, and medical-grade compression stockings that support the vein walls. These control symptoms but do not close diseased veins.
Endovenous thermal ablation (laser or radiofrequency)
A thin fiber or catheter is placed inside the diseased vein under local anesthesia and heats the vein wall so it seals shut. Blood reroutes through healthy veins. Walk-in, walk-out treatment with rapid recovery for most patients.
Non-thermal closure (medical adhesive)
A medical-grade cyanoacrylate adhesive closes the vein without heat, usually without tumescent anesthesia injections along the leg. Suitability depends on anatomy and physician assessment.
Sclerotherapy
A liquid or foam agent injected into smaller varicose veins and spider veins irritates the vein lining so it closes. Often used to complement ablation of the main trunk.
Surgical options
High ligation and stripping or phlebectomy remove the diseased vein through small incisions. Today surgery is generally reserved for anatomies unsuitable for endovenous techniques.
When to See a Doctor
See a vascular specialist if leg aching or swelling affects daily life, if skin near the ankle darkens or hardens, if a vein bleeds, or if an ulcer forms. Sudden painful swelling of one leg may indicate a blood clot and needs urgent evaluation.
Related INVAMED Technologies
Frequently Asked Questions
Do varicose veins go away on their own?+
No. Once a vein valve has failed, the vein does not repair itself. Compression and lifestyle measures ease symptoms, but closing or removing the diseased vein is the only definitive treatment.
Is varicose vein treatment painful?+
Modern endovenous procedures are performed under local anesthesia. Most patients describe pressure rather than pain, walk immediately afterwards, and return to normal activity within days. Discomfort varies by technique and individual.
Will treated veins come back?+
A properly closed vein stays closed. However, venous disease is progressive, and new varicose veins can develop in other segments over the years, so periodic follow-up is sensible.
Are varicose veins dangerous?+
Usually they are a quality-of-life problem, but severe untreated reflux can cause skin damage and venous ulcers, and superficial clots occasionally extend toward deep veins — reasons not to ignore progressive symptoms.
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