Varicose veins develop in the legs because the muscles, vein walls and valves inside the veins that help keep the blood circulating become weak. There are several reasons why veins become weak and cease to function properly starting with heredity. If your parents or grandparents had varicose veins, there is a good chance you will too. Fortunately, there is a minimally-invasive procedure available for treating varicose veins and spider veins, and it has been used successfully since the 1930s. This procedure is known as sclerotherapy.
Sclerotherapy is performed by a trained technician who injects a special solution called a sclerosant directly into the varicose vein. The sclerosant damages the vein wall and coagulates the blood, causing the vein to collapse. The blood that would normally go through this vein is naturally diverted to healthy veins. The collapsed vein is gradually absorbed by the surrounding tissue and eliminated completely.
When the veins and tiny valves inside the veins no longer keep the blood flowing back to the heart, the blood starts to collect or pool in the vein, making it stretch out of shape and eventually bulge above the surface of the skin. These veins look like blue and purple ropes along the legs and ankles and can negatively affect appearance. They cause embarrassment and can even affect your lifestyle as they dictate the type of clothes you wear and activities you do. As such, treating varicose veins is an understandable step.
In some cases, varicose veins may not show beneath the surface of the skin, but the symptoms can still be felt. Your legs may ache, become swollen and appear reddish. They may feel tight and heavy. If you experience any of these symptoms, we recommend you consult with our specialist to have your veins diagnosed early.
While varicose veins don’t pose a major health issue at first, they will not go away naturally and need to be treated. The earlier they are diagnosed and treated, the less invasive the treatment needs to be. If they are not treated, they can pose serious health problems after some time. Ulcers may form on the varicose veins that are very difficult to heal and if bumped can open and start to bleed. If the bleeding is not stopped quickly, the person could face a serious loss of blood.
Sclerotherapy is a safe, effective, minimally-invasive method of treating varicose veins, and it is readily available at Canada Vein Clinics. Contact us today to book a consultation at one of our locations in Ottawa, Richmond Hill, Orleans, Moncton, Vaughan, Kawartha Lakes, Kanata, Dartmouth, Halifax or Toronto.
