Varicose veins are veins that are larger than normal. They occur most often in pregnant women, obese and elderly individuals. Although varicose veins are not necessarily dangerous, in some cases you may need to seek vein treatment to deal with potential complications. Before seeking medical treatment for varicose veins, you may want to see whether any of the lifestyle changes recommended for varicose veins help.
These include walking more, elevating your legs, not crossing your legs when seated, wearing compression stockings, avoiding tight clothing, not drinking alcohol, and losing any excess weight you may be carrying.
Varicose veins can form due to blood clots, and in these cases, you will want to see your doctor. Signs of a potential blood clot or other complications include leg pain, unexplained swelling, discoloration, chest pain, or difficulty breathing. Likewise, if you cut yourself due to thin skin over a varicose vein and you can’t get it to stop bleeding, you should go to the doctor right away.
Medical treatment for varicose veins available in Boca Raton includes sclerotherapy and laser treatment, but these treatments are mainly only effective with smaller veins and spider veins. Large varicose veins may require surgery involving vein stripping, ligation, endovenous laser therapy, or avulsion. Even with surgery, there is a risk that your varicose veins may come back again. These surgeries are usually performed on an outpatient basis, but you will need some time afterward to recover fully, and you will probably have at least some bruising as well as scars, depending on the type of surgery used.