Varicose veins are embarrassing, but they are also excruciating pain and discomfort. In some cases, varicose veins may contribute to skin damage or, worse, blood clots. The Warner Robins varicose veins experts at Middle Georgia Vascular Surgery Center & Vein Solutions offer advanced but minimally invasive treatments that guarantee excellent results with minimal side effects.

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins refer to the large, twisted, ropelike veins near your skin’s surface. These unsightly veins occur anywhere on your body, but they often develop behind your legs. These veins occur due to weak or malfunctioning valves, causing the backward flow of blood, resulting in pooling in the veins in your legs.

The tiny valves in your legs regulate blood flow by opening to allow blood to flow to your heart and closing to prevent backward flow. Damaged valves allow blood to flow backward and accumulate, causing your veins to twist and stretch, resulting in varicose veins.

What symptoms indicate that you have varicose veins?

In most cases, varicose veins are not a cause of alarm since they rarely cause any symptoms. However, some people may experience painful and uncomfortable symptoms that need medical intervention. If you experience the following symptoms, inform your provider immediately:

• Pain that deteriorates after standing or sitting for an extended period
• Skin color change around the varicose vein
• Swelling, muscle cramping, or throbbing in your legs
• Itching around the affected veins.

Spider veins are a smaller version of varicose veins, but they appear on your skin’s surface. The spider veins usually appear on the legs, but they can also develop on your face. Suppose you feel that your varicose veins affect your physical appearance or self-esteem. In that case, you can consult the Middle Georgia Vascular Surgery Center & Vein Solutions professionals about the available treatment options.

Myths you should not believe about varicose veins

Considering that most people don’t understand the underlying cause of varicose veins, veins myths that may be misleading are inevitable. The most popular myth is that crossing your legs contributes to the occurrence of varicose veins. These unsightly veins are due to weakened valves, and crossing your legs does not damage or weaken your valves.

 Another myth is that these veins are a purely cosmetic concern. Varicose veins are unsightly, and no one enjoys having them stick out from their legs. However, some of these veins are more than just a cosmetic issue and if not attended to, they may cause devastating complications such as vein ulcers.

Are there treatments for varicose veins?

Your provider may need to perform a comprehensive medical exam to determine the root cause of your varicose veins. Afterward, Dr. Burkett may educate you on the available treatments and help you choose the most effective one. He may recommend the ClosureFast procedure, which involves the application of radiofrequency to close the veins.

He may also recommend sclerotherapy, which uses Varithena to seal unsightly veins. Dr. Burkett often begins treatment with minimally invasive treatments before moving on to surgical options.

Call Dr. Burkett or schedule an appointment today to eliminate the unsightly veins behind your legs.