Varicose Veins & Their Treatment
What Are Varicose Veins?
Veins are vessels that drain blood from the body's peripheral parts and channel it back to the heart. Varicose veins are enlarged, deformed, superficial veins in which blood flow is slowed or even reversed compared to the normal venous circulation. Varicose disease results from stretching of the vein walls and malfunction of the valves that normally direct blood back to the heart. Spider veins, or telangiectasia, are tiny varicose veins.
The Vein Treatment Centre specializes in the treatment of varicose veins. Our doctors and staff are highly experienced and qualified in the treatment of spider veins as well. Let The Vein Treatment Centre provide you with the best possible care and most appropriate treatment solution for your specific situation.
How Are Varicose Veins Caused?
Ageing and heredity are the largest contributing factors for varicose veins. Women are two to three times more likely to develop varicose veins than men. Hormonal changes produced by puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and sometimes using birth control pills and estrogen promote varicose disease development. Many pregnant women develop varicosities during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Fortunately, veins devloped due to pregnancy will often improve within a few months following delivery. Other predisposing factors include obesity, excessive heat, disorders of the lower limbs (such as flat feet) and prolonged standing – as in occupations such as sales, nursing, teaching, hairdressing, and waitressing. Uncommonly, varicose veins can result from an injury to the leg or a clot in the deep veins, commonly referred to as deep vein thrombosis.
What Are The Symptoms Of Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins can cause pain, heaviness, swelling, aching, burning, tingling and itching. They often produce leg discomfort or restlessness at night. When severe, they can lead to rashes, ankle discolouration, phlebitis, bleeding, and leg ulcers. They can also create a general feeling of fatigue. The appearance of these veins can also make people feel self-conscious and avoid situations where they may expose their veins.
The Vein Treatment Centre is here to help relieve the discomfort and appearance of varicose veins with various forms of treatment methods. Let us help you get back to living life without discomfort and being limited by your varicose veins.
Calgary’s Leading Varicose Veins
Treatment Specialists
We are vein treatment experts in Calgary, with a convenient office location in the northwest quadrant. Contact us to book a free consultation and take the first step in your varicose vein treatment.
How Can Varicose Veins
be Treated?
There are several methods of treatment for varicose veins. Our team is experienced in the full spectrum of varicose vein treatment. It is extremely important to ensure that your treatment team is able to offer you all the best treatment options. You don’t want to be offered a treatment simply because it is the one available. Endovenous Laser is the international Gold Standard treatment and should be considered first. Some patients are not candidates for this and may consider surgery, sclerotherapy, or Venaseal. Make sure you are being offered all the treatment options by experts that perform the treatments. When you come to The Vein Treatment Centre you can trust that the treatment plan is customized to your needs reflecting the best scientific evidence for success.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy involves injecting special medications into varicose veins, which irritate their inner walls and result in collapse and permanent closure of these veins. The majority of varicose veins can be treated by sclerotherapy. Varicosity of the two main superficial veins, called the great and small saphenous veins, can be treated with ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy.
Sclerotherapy is done in our clinic and does not require the loss of time from work or other activities. It does not require anesthesia, and there is no resulting scarring. Modern lasers work well for facial veins but have inconsistent results for small leg veins. Experts agree that sclerotherapy remains the gold standard for small visible leg vein treatment and is a part of many good treatment plans.
Surgery
Ligation (tying off a vein) and stripping (removing a vein) treat varicosity of the two main superficial veins (called the great and small saphenous veins). Modern surgery requires only two small incisions on the leg. Extensive surgery resulting in multiple scars is no longer needed because new methods combine surgery with sclerotherapy.
Surgery is done in the hospital, but frequently, patients are discharged the same day. In some cases, local or spinal anesthesia is an option. Follow-up sclerotherapy treatments can be started about four weeks after surgery.
Office outpatient surgery of varicose veins, also known as ambulatory phlebectomy, is rarely practiced in most Canadian provinces. Most provincial health insurance plans do not cover it, and it's subsequently costly for patients.
Surgery is an effective, tried and true treatment option with good long term results. Many patients will choose a minimally invasive option like endovenous laser to reduce their down time, avoid waiting in the public system, and eliminate the need for general anesthetic.
Compression Stockings
Graduated compression stockings help the veins function correctly and significantly relieve pain and swelling and reduce new varicosities. They do not cure varicose veins. Compression stockings are best used in conjunciton with curative treatments.
Prevention
When you're looking to prevent varicose veins, there are several things you can do. By exercising, practicing weight control, wearing medical compression stockings and getting yearly check-ups, you can slow the development of these veins.
Contact us at The Vein Treatment Centre to learn more about how we can help prevent vein problems and treat your veins.
“I am very grateful to have found Dr. Hill. He is kind, caring and the best vein treatment doctor in Calgary. I have been to other offices and have not found the care that I have found at Dr. Hill’s office. His staff are also kind, caring and professional. I always look forward to my appointments!”
— J.S.