4 Reasons to Have Your Varicose Veins Removed

You may not know why they happen, but you probably know what varicose veins look like. They’re the colored, ropy protrusions on the calves and feet that are generally associated with getting older.

However, varicose veins are more than just an eyesore. They indicate that the vascular side of your circulatory system is compromised and needs medical attention.

At Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota, board-certified general surgeon Dr. John Bollins and our team diagnose and treat varicose veins at our three Northern Minnesota locations. If you’re debating what to do about your varicose veins, here are four good reasons to have them removed.

What is venous insufficiency?

The conduits of your circulatory system that carry blood to and away from the tissues are the arteries and veins. Arteries carry oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to the body, and the veins carry depleted blood back to the heart and lungs.

Of the two, the veins have the harder task since they have to pump the blood against the pull of gravity from the feet all the way up to the heart. The body has devised two adaptations to ease the journey.

First, the calf and thigh muscles contract, pushing on the veins to move the blood forward. Second, the veins contain small, one-way valves that snap shut after the blood has passed so it doesn’t backtrack along its path.

The valves, though, are subject to injury, especially if you have high blood pressure. If they cannot close fully, blood is free to backtrack, the overall flow becomes sluggish, and blood pools in the superficial veins, which become varicose.

This state of sluggish flow and pooling blood is called venous insufficiency. It’s the first stage of vein disease, which can cause complications like blood clots, broken blood vessels, and slow-healing ulcers on the legs and feet.

Progression of vein disease: reasons to have varicose veins removed

Varicose veins can sometimes cause itchiness, a “heaviness” in the legs, and pain. If you’re symptomatic, that’s a great reason to have the veins removed. However, varicose veins can lead to other problems, too, making their removal more urgent.

First, sluggish flow in the superficial veins can lead to sluggish flow in the leg's deep veins, along with the development of clots. Clots can further slow down flow or block it completely if they’re big enough.

The bigger problem is if the clot, or a piece of it, breaks off from the vein wall and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs. There, it can lodge itself in an airway, interfering with breathing. This pulmonary embolism, as the clot is called, is a life-threatening emergency and must be treated immediately.

Second, as the term venous insufficiency suggests, varicose veins cannot meet the oxygen and nutrient demands of the tissues, forcing the heart to work harder to pump more blood through the system. The harder the heart works, the higher your blood pressure rises, leading to more vein damage and other heart-related problems.

Third, the build-up of blood in the lower extremities leads to vein leakiness, and tissues swell with blood byproducts and fluid, a condition called edema.

Fourth, the edema can rupture blood vessels, causing discoloration of the skin above the area and open wounds called venous ulcers. These wounds heal slowly, if at all, and can become easily infected. If left untreated, they can lead to lower leg amputation.

Having your varicose veins removed solves all these problems.

Treating varicose veins

Several minimally invasive treatments can eliminate varicose veins.

Sclerotherapy

Dr. Bollins uses a tiny needle to inject an irritating solution into the vein, which makes the vein walls collapse. Your lymphatic system removes the treated tissues, and your body reroutes blood flow through a nearby healthy vein.

Venous ablation

Ablation uses heat from radiofrequency energy to seal the vein shut. Then, as with sclerotherapy, your body absorbs the tissue, eliminates the treated vein, and restores healthy circulation through another vein.

VenaSeal®

VenaSeal is another type of injectable treatment that contains a medical-grade adhesive that makes the vein walls stick together. Since VenaSeal remains in the vein, the vein tissue isn't eliminated, even though your varicose veins disappear.

Are you tired of looking at the roadmap of colored lines across your legs and feet and concerned about more advanced vein disease? Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota can help by removing your varicose veins and restoring vein health. 

To schedule a consultation with our office, call us in Hibbing, Duluth, or Ely, Minnesota, or book your appointment online.

We proudly accept Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, HealthPartners, Humana, UCare, Medica, and SecurityHealthPlan.