Get Rid of Varicose Veins in Time for Swimsuit Season with Venous Ablation

As the snow melts behind us and we move forward to the warmer weather, you’re probably itching to get into your swimsuit and plunge into the water. What’s keeping you? For many people, the answer is varicose veins. These ropy, colored protrusions that snake around your thighs and calves are unquestionably an eyesore and not something you want others to see.

Dr. John Bollins and his team recommend regular vein checks and early treatment for varicose veins at Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota. That’s because they’re not only an eyesore, but they’re also a potential step to more advanced stages of vein disease, ones that can jeopardize your health. Fortunately, venous ablation can take care of them. Here’s how.

Your veins’ role in circulation

The arteries of your circulatory system deliver oxygen-and nutrient-rich blood from your heart to your body’s tissues; the veins return deoxygenated blood to the lungs and heart.

Veins, though, have the more difficult task because they’re moving blood against the pull of gravity. Our bodies have come up with a couple of workarounds. First, the muscles in your calves and thighs contract, squeezing the elastic vein walls to force the blood forward. Second, the veins contain a series of one-way valves that close tightly shut once blood flows through, preventing backflow. 

Unfortunately, the walls and valves can be damaged by injury or consistently high blood pressure. Damaged valves can’t shut completely, so blood flows back toward the legs and feet, where it pools around the damaged area. When the superficial veins become engorged, you end up with varicose veins.

Suppose you don’t treat your varicose veins. In that case, the sluggish flow and pooling become chronic, a condition called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) because blood flow is insufficient to meet the body’s needs. Some 40% of adults in the United States deal with CVI.

Vein disease stages: why you should worry

If not treated early and completely, vein disease can become a chronic issue with multiple, increasingly serious scenarios. Here are the advanced stages it goes through.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Varicose veins are near the skin’s surface, so they’re visible, but DVT affects veins deep in the leg tissue. When blood flows slowly, it’s more likely to clot. The clot may be big enough to block blood flow in the vein completely, or a piece can break free of the vein wall and travel to the lungs. If it lodges in an airway, it may cause a pulmonary embolism (PE), a life-threatening emergency.

Edema

DVT can cause the veins to leak, which leads to edema (swelling) in the area around the damaged vein. If you press on the skin, you’ll see an indentation from the fluid build-up. You may also experience pain and stiffness in the affected leg.

Venous stasis dermatitis

As vein disease progresses, you may see a brown or red discoloration around your lower legs and ankles, sometimes called cayenne pepper spots. These derive from hemosiderin deposits; this indicates that hemoglobin, the molecule that transports oxygen, is breaking down. Your skin may also appear shiny, scaly, thickened, or scarred.

Venous ulcers

Venous ulcers are easy to spot — they’re slow-healing open sores on the lower leg or ankle surrounded by discolored or thickened skin. Because blood supply is inadequate, they heal slowly and can become easily infected, especially in people with diabetes. The sore is relatively painless, but you can experience pain from related edema or infection. If the infection becomes too advanced to treat, the doctor may need to amputate the lower leg.

The benefits of venous ablation

Endovenous thermal or radiofrequency ablation is a quick and easy way to get your legs swimsuit-ready. The doctor::

• Finds your vein with an ultrasound
• Makes a small incision in your leg, below your knee, or near your ankle
• Inserts a catheter (thin tube) into the incision and guides it into the damaged vein
• Guides a thin tool into the catheter that uses a laser or radiofrequency waves to generate heat, which permanently seals off the vein
• Places a bandage over your incision

Your body treats the sealed-off vein as debris, and the lymphatic system flushes it out while rerouting blood flow to nearby, healthy veins.

Get your legs ready for swimsuit season and improve your vein health immediately. To schedule, call Advanced Surgical Associates of Northern Minnesota at our Hibbing, Duluth, Cloquet or Ely, Minnesota, office or book your appointment online.