Enjoy Life with Sensational LegsEnjoy Life With Sensational Legs!

Summer is the perfect time to show off your legs. But if your legs have bulging, rope-like varicose veins, you may be tempted to hide them under the beach blanket. There is no need to worry. Today’s sophisticated techniques for eliminating varicose veins will have you stepping in style again.

Why do people get varicose veins? Approximately 80 million Americans suffer from some form of venous disorder, reports the American College of Phlebology, an association devoted to the study of vein diseases. Heredity is a prime factor, explains vascular surgeon Peter Golueke, MD. “About 80 percent of cases are in women. Hormonal factors such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and varying levels of estrogen and progesterone cause the condition.”

The Skinny on Varicose Veins
Arteries bring blood from the heart to the extremities. Veins, which have one-way valves, bring blood back to the heart. If these valves stop functioning properly, blood doesn’t flow efficiently. Veins become enlarged as they congest, or pool, with blood. Spider veins are small bluish-purple veins on the skin’s surface. Varicose veins are larger, distorted raised veins located deeper under the skin.

Ignoring the problem will not make it go away. “Varicose veins get progressively worse as you get older,” explains Dale Buchbinder, MD, Chairman, Department of Surgery. Left untreated, varicose veins can lead to painful, unsightly ulceration, infection and difficulty walking.

Treatment ranges from simple steps such as compression stockings to corrective techniques. For small reddish-purple lines called spider veins, sclerotherapy works best, he says. In this procedure, a tiny amount of a chemical solution is injected into the vein to irritate it. This causes the vein to collapse and then disappear. For midsize veins, a combination of injections and surgery may be used.

Are You at Risk?
To prevent varicose and spider veins
and relieve discomfort from ones you
might already have:
• Watch your weight to avoid placing
 too much pressure on your legs.
• Exercise to improve circulation, leg
 and vein strength.
• Don’t cross your legs.
• Avoid standing in one place for long periods.
• Wear elastic support stockings and avoid clothing that is too tight or constricting.

The largest, most painful varicose veins often benefit greatly from the newest technique, called the VNUS® closure procedure. This minimally invasive procedure places a catheter in the vein to deliver high frequency energy to the vein wall. The vein wall collapses and seals shut. Then, healthy veins take over and redirect blood flow.

Surgeons emphasize that no one needs to suffer from painful, unattractive varicose veins. Diagnostic techniques, including non-invasive ultrasound, can be used to determine the severity of the condition. From there, a customized treatment plan can be developed. After surgery, patients return to regular activities the next day, with minimal restrictions.

If you or someone you know wants to eliminate unsightly
varicose veins, contact the Greater Baltimore Vascular Surgery Center at 443-849-3431 or Vascular Surgery Associates at 410-825-4928.