Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are enlarged, bulgy veins that you can clearly see above the surface of the skin. They’re found most commonly in the legs, but not always.

Varicose veins aren’t always just directly under the skin–they often occur deeper underneath the skin’s surface where you can’t easily see them. This is where vein disease can lay hidden, worsening over time, so it’s important for vascular specialists to get underneath the surface to treat the underlying cause.

Aside from an unpleasant appearance, symptoms can include: pain, fatigue, itching, burning, swelling, cramping, restlessness, and throbbing.

Appearance

Large, bulging, rope-like; color varies

Location

Usually legs, rarely arms

Severity

Moderate, and indicative of vein disease

Discomfort

Moderate; frequently a problem

Varicose veins are caused by unhealthy valves inside the veins that impede the normal flow of blood back to the heart. Blood pools in the veins, enlarging and distorting them. Watch the video below and learn more about varicose veins and the available treatment options.

Many of us will eventually encounter vein health issues. It’s usually hereditary, so if your parents or grandparents have or had varicose veins, you’re more likely to develop them, too. If you become pregnant or have a job or lifestyle that requires standing for long periods of time, this may worsen the condition.

Varicose veins and their underlying cause are quite treatable, and it’s our specialty at Vein Clinics of America. We offer patients two main varicose vein treatment procedures – both quick, minimally invasive, and requiring no hospitalization – that seal off veins with unhealthy valves. Blood circulation then returns to the veins with properly working valves, and closed veins are eventually absorbed back into the body.