What Can I Do About Vein Disease?

It is important to understand vein disease and how it affects you and what you can do to help keep your veins healthy. It is also important to realize that there is help and that there are new, minimally invasive treatments available. Furthermore, it is critical that you understand that varicose veins are more than just a cosmetic issued and may represent a significant underlying problem that deserves treatment.

Minimizing Risk though Lifestyle Changes

You can personally minimize your risk factors for vein disease by altering your lifestyle or habits. Compression stockings are a crucial component of vein disease treatment. When worn, they support the legs, reducing the pressure in the veins and also, the amount of blood that is “pooled” in each vein. If the veins are supported, they are less likely to progressively dilate and if there is less blood in the varicosed vein, less chance of forming a clot. These stockings also help control the swelling in the legs at the end of the day, and therefore, reduce the risk of eczema and ulcer formation. Today, stockings are more “user-friendly” than those you saw your grandmother wear. They are sheerer and come in multiple colors and colors and styles to fit your lifestyle and activities.

If you are overweight, talk to your doctor about ideal body weight and establish a plan to achieve that goal. Weight loss can help reduce the venous pressure in the legs and the veins may become less prominent. Regular exercise such as walking or biking is important. Exercise activates the muscles of the legs and helps reduce pressure in the veins of the legs. If your job requires that you stand for prolonged periods, try to move your legs and flex your feet up and down intermittently. Periodically elevate your legs during breaks while at work. Even brief periods of elevation can effectively reduce venous pressure. Compression stockings are very important in these situations.

Skin care is crucial. A simple step in preventing the wound complications of venous disease is to apply moisturizing cream to the skin twice daily. This helps avoid eczema or dry skin, which is more prone to injury and infection. Finally, it is important to understand your family history. If there is a significant history of vein problems involving other family members (including varicose veins, sores, wounds or blood clots), you may be at greater risk. You should consult with your doctor.

Vein Disease Treatment Options

Even though venous disease has been documented and studied since the times of the Egyptians, there is still much to understand. As we learn more, there are improved techniques to help people treat these problems. Until recently, the classic form of treatment was vein stripping. During the procedure, the diseased veins are physically removed from the leg through incisions in the skin. Recovery from vein stripping is lengthy and there is scarring from incisions in the skin. Newer techniques allow us now to treat common vein problems with less invasive techniques. This is called endovenous ablation and can be performed with laser or radiofrequency energy. The vein is treated by making a small 3-4 mm (1/8 inch) incision in the skin, a radiofrequency device or laser fiber is placed into the vein, activated and slowly withdrawn, closing the vein. The recovery time for endovenous ablation is much faster, with significantly less pain. People return to daily activities within 24 hours and the scarring from the tiny incision is minimal. This outpatient procedure is performed in the office.

Endovenous chemical ablation (also known as injection sclerotherapy) has long been an important vein disease treatment option for patients with venous disease. Frequently used for treatment of spider veins, newer techniques allow this in-office procedure to also be used for larger varicose veins. A tiny needle is introduced into the varicosed vein and a solution is injected that will cause the vein to sclerose or close off. There is minimal discomfort with sclerotherapy and normal daily activities resume immediately.

We are the first vein center in Utah to use a new varicose vein treatment called VenaSeal. The VenaSeal™ closure system uses an advanced medical adhesive to seal the malfunctioning vein in a minimally invasive procedure. Minimal discomfort and normal daily activities resume quickly.

Bulging veins that cannot be treated with endovenous ablation or sclerotherapy can be surgically removed through small incisions. This in-office treatment is called microphlebectomy and is often combined with endovenous ablation and/or sclertherapy for maximum results.

Call for an appointment, today!

(801) 261-8346
5323 South Woodrow St.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84107

(801) 476-8346
1486 E. Skyline Drive, Suite 201
South Ogden, Utah 84405