Varicose Veins/Venous Insufficiency

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted, enlarged veins that rise above the surface of the skin, usually on the legs. That’s because standing and walking upright increases the pressure in the veins of your lower body.

For many people, varicose veins and spider veins — a common, mild variation of varicose veins — are simply a cosmetic concern. For other people, varicose veins can cause aching pain and discomfort. Sometimes varicose veins lead to more serious problems.

If you are seeking treatment for varicose veins, Champlain Valley Vascular can help. We start with a diagnostic exam, including looking at your legs while you’re standing to check for swelling.

We may also perform an ultrasound test to see if the valves in your veins are functioning normally or if there’s any evidence of a blood clot. With this noninvasive test, a technician runs a small hand-held device (transducer), about the size of a bar of soap, against your skin over the area of your body being examined. The transducer transmits images of the veins in your legs to a monitor, so the technician and the doctor can see them.

Conservative Treatment

Self-care — such as exercising, losing weight, not wearing tight clothes, elevating your legs, and avoiding long periods of standing or sitting — can ease pain and prevent varicose veins from getting worse.

Wearing compression stockings during the day is often the first approach to try before moving on to other treatments. They steadily squeeze your legs, helping veins and leg muscles move blood more efficiently. The amount of compression varies by type and brand.

Compression stockings can be purchased at most pharmacies or medical supply stores as well as online. Prescription-strength stockings are also available, and may be covered by insurance if your varicose veins are causing symptoms.

Additional Treatment Options

If you don’t respond to self-care or compression stockings, or if your condition is more severe, we offer the following varicose vein treatments:

Radiofrequency Ablation

With this treatment, the doctor, under local anesthesia inserts a thin tube (catheter) into an enlarged vein and heats the tip of the catheter using either radiofrequency energy. As the catheter is pulled out, the heat destroys the vein by causing it to collapse and seal shut. This procedure is the preferred treatment for larger varicose veins.

High ligation and vein stripping

This rarely used procedure involves tying off the saphenous vein before it joins a deep vein and removing the vein through small incisions. This is an outpatient procedure for most people. Removing the vein won’t adversely affect circulation in your leg because veins deeper in the leg take care of the larger volumes of blood.

Microphlebectomy