Varicose Vein

If left untreated, severe varicose veins can lead to chronic swelling, skin color changes, exema type symptoms and finally to ulcerations that will not heal until the veins are taken care of.

Varicose and spider veins are not just a cosmetic problem, but can cause a variety of symptoms including aching, fatigue, heaviness, burning, throbbing, itching, cramping , swelling, as well as ulceration. The causes of varicose veins include heredity, pregnancy, obesity, prolonged standing and hormonal influences.

Varicose veins are those superficial veins that have become enlarged and have lost their ability to effectively transport blood. 90% of all blood volume is carried by the deep system and the normal channels so the varicose veins are not effectively contributing to your overall circulation. If the blood doesn't flow efficiently, the veins become enlarged because they are congested with blood. They appear distended and ropey looking.

Treatment Options

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

This procedure involves removing varicose veins surgically through incisions so small that sutures are not needed, post-op discomfort is minimal and scars are usually not even visible. The concept is quite simple and was developed by a Swiss dermatologist. Varicose veins can be likened to balloons: when they are inflated they are large, but when deflated they are quite thin walled and small. Have you ever noticed what happens to your veins when you lie down and elevate your legs? They empty and collapse, just like balloons. Thus, using a special technique and small instruments, large veins can be removed through tiny incisions.
Ambulatory phlebectomy, as the name suggests, is always an outpatient procedure which can be done in the office under local anesthesia if the extent of the condition is not too great. In severe cases patients are more comfortable asleep. Regardless, they are encouraged to walk one klimeter the next morning and resume normal activities except for strenuous exercise (like aerobics) for a week or two. A firm support stocking is worn during the day for about ten days

Minimally Invasive Vein Stripping

In spite of all the technological advances in vein treatments there are still occasional cases in which the most appropriate treatment is surgical stripping. Fortunately, about ten years ago a brilliant Swiss vascular surgeon named Andreas Oesch developed the PIN stripper. This device allows large veins to be stripped through much smaller incisions and much less traumatically than conventional techniques.