14, 11, 2022

Radiofrequency Treatment for Varicose Veins
Gallery

Radiofrequency Treatment for Varicose Veins

LJVascular2022-10-24T11:00:17-07:00

At La Jolla Vein and Vascular, we use a special procedure called radiofrequency treatment for varicose veins. This treatment uses a radiofrequency energy to heat up the wall of the vein. This treatment is used for varicose veins. Varicose veins develop when valves in the veins are damaged and this causes the veins to bulge or twist and stand out in the legs. Radiofrequency ablation treatment closes off the blood flow in the vein that causes the varicose veins.

Radiofrequency Ablation for Saphenous Vein Reflux

Why was I offered an endovenous radiofrequency ablation procedure?

Most patients who are offered a radiofrequency ablation procedure is for backwards flow (or reflux) in the saphenous vein(s). The great and small saphenous veins are the two main superficial veins of the leg. They run along the inner leg and the back of the leg, respectively. This minimally invasive procedure can be performed in the office in less than an hour and patients return to their usual level of activity the same day.

How does the treatment work?

The skin is numbed with lidocaine, then a tiny wire and the Closurefast catheter are inserted into the vein. The catheter delivers radio-frequency energy to the vein wall, causing it to seal shut. The remaining healthy veins continue to bring blood back to the heart.

What should I expect on the day of treatment?

The procedure is performed with local anesthesia, but many patients elect to use a mild oral sedative (Valium), which is taken after checking in and completing all paperwork. You will change into a gown and leave underwear on. Depending on the vein to be treated, you will lay on your back or on your belly. We do our best to make special accommodations (for example, if you cannot lie flat or cannot bend a knee very well) with body positioning and using pillows. We will do our best to make you comfortable. Then, we will give you the option of watching a movie on Netflix or listen to music. Once you are comfortable, your leg will be prepped with a cleansing solution for the sterile procedure. The doctor will perform an ultrasound to map the vein to be treated. Then, a numbing agent (lidocaine) will be injected into the skin.

In the numb area of the skin, a tiny puncture is made to pass the radiofrequency catheter. Your doctor will then use a needle to administer a combination of cool saline and local anesthetic around the vein either in the thigh or calf (depending on which vein is treated). This solution numbs the vein and insulates it from the surrounding tissue. After the numbing solution is applied, the vein is painlessly treated with radiofrequency energy. Once your vein has been treated, we will clean your leg and apply a compression stocking which you will wear for 72 hours continuously. You will walk for 30 minutes prior to getting in your car.

What should I do after treatment?

You should walk 30 minutes twice daily after treatment and move your legs frequently throughout the day with short walks and/or calf exercises. This will alleviate discomfort and avoid pooling of blood in the legs. Most of the numbing solution around the vein will be absorbed by your body within a few hours, but you may have a small amount of blood-tinged saline leak from your puncture site onto the gauze. In that case, just remove the gauze and roll your stockings back up.

What should I avoid after treatment?

For at least two weeks after treatment, you should avoid airline travel to minimize pooling of blood in the legs. You should avoid strenuous exercise (anything more than a brisk walk), heavy lifting, saunas or hot tubs, and leg massages. All of these dilate the superficial veins and interfere with their healing.

What are the possible adverse effects?

Expect some bruising over the injection sites, which fades over about two weeks. The skin overlying larger varicose veins may also develop some temporary inflammation and/or brownish hyperpigmentation as the blood products within those veins are absorbed by the body. An uncommon complication is a blood clot within a deep vein.

Before and After Varicose Vein Treatment

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

Radiofrequency Treatment for Varicose VeinsLJVascular2022-10-24T11:00:17-07:00

All you need to know about varicose veins
Gallery

All you need to know about varicose veins

LJVascular2022-10-24T10:16:46-07:00

Varicose veins are swollen, blue, bulging, twisted, superficial (those closest to the skin) veins of the leg. High pressure inside the superficial veins of the leg causes varicose veins, but genetics are thought to play a large, contributing role. As many as 40 million Americans have them. Left untreated, varicose veins may become worse. Persons with varicose veins often experience leg aches and fatigue. They may also incur skin changes such as rashes, redness and ulcers.

What factors influence development of varicose veins?

Age: People between the ages of 30 and 70 often have varicose veins.
During pregnancy, 50 to 55 percent of American women experience varicose veins. In most cases, the veins return to normal within a year after childbirth.
Women who have multiple pregnancies may develop permanent varicose veins.

Risk factors include:

o being overweight, or a family history of varicose veins

o standing or sitting for long periods of time

A vascular surgeon will review your medical history, do a physical exam and look at your prominent veins. You may be sent for a duplex ultrasound test, also known as a venous reflux study, to identify the causes of your varicose veins. The painless test uses high-frequency waves to measure the venous blood flow. The test helps the physician visualize the vein structure and the blood flow in the veins.

Most doctors will suggest lifestyle changes for patients. This includes:

maintaining the proper weight
elevating legs when resting
not sitting or standing for long periods of time
wearing compression (elastic support) stockings

In some cases, a vascular surgeon will recommend additional treatments:

Sclerotherapy is the sealing of the veins via an injection of a medication. This procedure is done mainly for smaller spider veins. It is performed in a doctor’s office. The physician injects a chemical into the varicose veins to prevent the veins from filling with blood.
Vein Stripping is performed. The physician may make two small incisions, one in the groin area and another below the knee, through which the diseased veins are removed. This is an outpatient procedure, usually done under general anesthesia. Patients can resume their normal activities after four weeks.
Ablation and laser treatment are performed on patients with severe varicose veins. They are done under local or general anesthetic. The ablation procedure inserts a thin, flexible catheter into the leg vein. The tip of the catheter has tiny electrodes that heat and seal off the walls of the vein. Laser treatments use a tiny fiber placed in the vein through a catheter. The fiber sends out laser energy that closes the diseased portion of the vein. These two modes of treatment frequently replace stripping of the saphenous vein. They can be performed alone or in conjunction with removal of individual clusters of the veins known as small incision avulsion or ambulatory phlebectomy.

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

All you need to know about varicose veinsLJVascular2022-10-24T10:16:46-07:00

28, 10, 2022

Varicose Veins: Patient Transformations
Gallery

Varicose Veins: Patient Transformations

LJVascular2022-09-19T20:19:29-07:00

Varicose Veins: Patient Transformations

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are the twisted, bulging veins just beneath the surface of the skin. They are swollen, twisted veins that you can see just under the surface of the skin. These veins usually occur in the legs, but they also can form in other parts of the body, and are very common.

What causes varicose veins?

Varicose veins are caused by leaky vein valves, which allow blood to pool within the veins causing them to stretch and become enlarged. Varicose veins can be an isolated finding, but the majority of the time, they are caused by underlying venous reflux disease. Venous reflux disease is also known as venous stasis, venous insufficiency or venous incompetence. Reflux may occur in the deep and/or superficial leg veins.

La Jolla Vein Care Before and After Transformations:

At La Jolla Vein Care, we are here for our patients from beginning to the end. We love seeing the transformations that take place. Below are a few cases from our patient transformations from before varicose vein treatment to after varicose vein treatment.

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

Varicose Veins: Patient TransformationsLJVascular2022-09-19T20:19:29-07:00

Spider Veins Patient Transformations
Gallery

Spider Veins Patient Transformations

LJVascular2022-09-19T18:58:28-07:00

What are spider veins?

Spider veins are the fine, thread-like reddish veins at the surface of the skin. Spider veins are not healthy. Spider veins are often considered a cosmetic issue, but they can be associated with underlying feeder veins, not visible to the naked eye. Feeder veins are the ‘blue veins’ also known as ‘reticular veins,’ that give rise to spider veins. Spider veins may also be a sign of underlying venous insufficiency. For example, spider veins located in the inner ankles and inner thighs can indicate an underlying problem with the saphenous vein. As a result, an ultrasound examination may be recommended to identify and effectively treat the underlying source of the spider veins.

What are the symptoms?

Vein conditions affect people differently. For some, spider veins can be a painless cosmetic concern, and for others they may cause symptoms. The most common symptoms of spider veins are burning, throbbing, and localized pain. They can also feel hot and itchy and bleed.

What causes them?

Spider veins in the legs are caused by the same condition that causes varicose veins. Leaky vein valves allow blood to pool within the veins causing them to stretch and become enlarged. Spider veins on other areas of the body, such as the face, and chest can be caused by sun damage, hormone changes or liver disease. Hormones, such as with pregnancy, birth control or hormone replacement therapy can weaken the vein wall.

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

Spider Veins Patient TransformationsLJVascular2022-09-19T18:58:28-07:00

Spider Veins before and after patient transformation
Gallery

Spider Veins before and after patient transformation

LJVascular2022-09-19T18:09:07-07:00

What are spider veins?

Spider veins are the fine, thread-like reddish veins at the surface of the skin. These veins are not healthy. Veins are often considered a cosmetic issue, but they can be associated with underlying feeder veins, not visible to the naked eye. Feeder veins are the ‘blue veins’ also known as ‘reticular veins,’ that give rise to spider veins. Spider veins may also be a sign of underlying venous insufficiency. For example, spider veins located in the inner ankles and inner thighs can indicate an underlying problem with the saphenous vein. As a result, an ultrasound examination may be recommended to identify and effectively treat the underlying source of these veins.

What are the symptoms?

Vein conditions affect people differently. For some, these veins can be a painless cosmetic concern, and for others they may cause symptoms. The most common symptoms of spider veins are burning, throbbing, and localized pain. They can also feel hot and itchy and bleed.

What causes them?

Spider veins in the legs are caused by the same condition that causes varicose veins. Leaky vein valves allow blood to pool within the veins causing them to stretch and become enlarged. These veins on other areas of the body, such as the face, and chest can be caused by sun damage, hormone changes or liver disease. Hormones, such as with pregnancy, birth control or hormone replacement therapy can weaken the vein wall.

Below you can see the transformation of 3 of our patients who received vein treatment.

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

Spider Veins before and after patient transformationLJVascular2022-09-19T18:09:07-07:00

La Jolla Vein & Vascular: Varicose Veins
Gallery

La Jolla Vein & Vascular: Varicose Veins

LJVascular2022-09-19T16:05:40-07:00

Varicose veins are swollen, blue, bulging, twisted, superficial (those closest to the skin) veins of the leg. High pressure inside the superficial veins of the leg causes varicose veins, but genetics are thought to play a large, contributing role. As many as 40 million Americans have varicose veins. Left untreated, varicose veins may become worse. Persons with varicose veins often experience leg aches and fatigue. They may also incur skin changes such as rashes, redness and ulcers.

What factors influence development of varicose veins?

Age: People between the ages of 30 and 70 often have veins.
During pregnancy, 50 to 55 percent of American women experience veins. In most cases, the veins return to normal within a year after childbirth.
Women who have multiple pregnancies may develop permanent veins.
The varicose vein risk factors for women and men include:

o family history of varicose veins

o being overweight

o standing or sitting for long periods of time

A vascular surgeon will review your medical history, do a physical exam and look at your prominent veins. You may be sent for a duplex ultrasound test, also known as a venous reflux study, to identify the causes of your veins. The painless test uses high-frequency waves to measure the venous blood flow. The test helps the physician visualize the vein structure and the blood flow in the veins.

Most doctors will suggest lifestyle changes for patients with varicose veins. This includes:

maintaining the proper weight
elevating legs when resting
not sitting or standing for long periods of time
wearing compression (elastic support) stockings

In some cases, a vascular surgeon will recommend additional treatments for ridding the legs of varicose veins:

Sclerotherapy is the sealing of the veins via an injection of a medication. This procedure is done mainly for smaller spider veins. It is performed in a doctor’s office. The physician injects a chemical into the varicose veins to prevent the veins from filling with blood.
Vein Stripping is performed for more involved varicose veins. The physician may make two small incisions, one in the groin area and another below the knee, through which the diseased veins are removed. This is an outpatient procedure, usually done under general anesthesia. Patients can resume their normal activities after four weeks.
Ablation and laser treatment are performed on patients with severe varicose veins. They are done under local or general anesthetic. The ablation procedure inserts a thin, flexible catheter into the leg vein. The tip of the catheter has tiny electrodes that heat and seal off the walls of the vein. Laser treatments use a tiny fiber placed in the vein through a catheter. The fiber sends out laser energy that closes the diseased portion of the vein. These two modes of treatment frequently replace stripping of the saphenous vein. They can be performed alone or in conjunction with removal of individual clusters of varicose veins known as small incision avulsion or ambulatory phlebectomy.

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

La Jolla Vein & Vascular: Varicose VeinsLJVascular2022-09-19T16:05:40-07:00

How can smoking affect your vascular health?
Gallery

How can smoking affect your vascular health?

LJVascular2022-09-19T15:46:28-07:00

Smoking and Vascular Disease
The reality of cigarettes is that it is not one product. Every time you smoke, you not only ingest nicotine, but hundreds of other deadly chemicals in the tobacco leaf, paper, contaminants and fertilizers used to grow tobacco. Over time the accumulation of these products causes serious harm to multiple organs. And unlike many things in life, moderation in smoking is not a cure.
Benzene, for example, is a substance on the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of national hazards. It is abundant in tobacco smoke and takes more than 32 hours to completely clear the human body. That means that even ONE cigarette a day continues to keep this poison in your system.
What does smoking do to your arteries?
Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States. Its effect on heart attacks, peripheral vascular disease and strokes is due to the damage that smoking does to the arteries.
The two chemicals in cigarettes that cause the most trouble are nicotine and carbon monoxide. Nicotine, besides being addictive, has very powerful effects on arteries throughout the body. Nicotine is a stimulant, speeding up the heart by about 20 beats per minute with every cigarette. It raises blood pressure and is a vasoconstrictor, which means it makes arteries all over the body become smaller. That makes it harder for the heart to pump blood through the constricted arteries and it causes the body to release its stores of fat and cholesterol into the blood.
Smoking accelerates the hardening and narrowing process in your arteries; it starts earlier and blood clots are two to four times more likely. Smoking lowers your levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and raises your levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. It decreases the movement of cholesterol through the body, and contributes to its accumulation in your arteries. This puts you at a higher risk for heart attack, stroke, and limb loss.
Your vascular health
Cigarette smoking increases risks of blood clots significantly. If the blood clots in an artery and blood can no longer get through, the tissue that is supposed to be supplied with blood has lost the source of its oxygen and nutrients and dies in minutes. This can result in heart attacks, strokes, and gangrene of the leg.

Smoking effects on the brain:
Smoking increases the risk of stroke by narrowing the arteries in the brain and the carotid arteries in the neck that lead to the brain. In addition, the vessels to the brain can become blocked by a clog or blood clot, which can lead to collapse, stroke and paralysis. If the blood vessels are completely blocked to part of the brain, that part will die. Patients may lose the ability to speak, walk or move normally, or, depending on the part of the brain affected, the stroke may be fatal.

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

How can smoking affect your vascular health?LJVascular2022-09-19T15:46:28-07:00

3 Vein Treatments
Gallery

3 Vein Treatments

LJVascular2022-09-19T15:20:52-07:00

Varicose Vein Treatments

Varicose veins, which are the bulging, twisted veins just beneath the surface of the skin, can be effectively treated after the underlying vein reflux is corrected. There are two main options for removing the varicose veins; either a foamed medication can be injected into the veins causing them to scar and eventually dissolve (foam sclerotherapy), or they can be removed using tiny incisions (phlebectomy). Sometimes, a combination of both treatment types may be recommended as well as other options listed below.

Venous Reflux Disease Treatments for underlying vein reflux:

The ClariVein® procedure

for treatment of backwards flow (or “reflux”) in your saphenous vein(s). The great and small saphenous veins are the two main superficial veins of the leg. They run along the inner leg and the back of the leg, respectively.

This minimally invasive procedure can be performed in the office in less than an hour and patients return to their usual level of activity the same day.

How does the treatment work?

The skin is numbed with lidocaine, then the ClariVein® catheter is placed into the unhealthy vein. The catheter closes the vein painlessly by delivering two treatments:

Mechanical treatment with a tiny rotating wire.
Chemical treatment with polidocanol. Polidocanol is a detergent-type sclerosant medication that is commonly used in varicose vein treatment.

This technique is highly effective in closing the vein and only requires one skin puncture, similar to placing an IV.

In the video linked here, Dr. Bunke discusses the ClariVein® procedure. The other video shows how the treatment is done. We offer many other videos on our YouTube channel. After care instructions can be found on our website under the patient resources tab.

ClosureFast an endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedure

The procedure is for the backward flow of blood (or “Venous reflux”) in your saphenous vein(s). The great saphenous veins and small saphenous veins are the two main superficial veins of the leg. They run along the inner leg and the back of the leg, respectively. This minimally invasive procedure can be performed in the office in less than an hour and patients usually return to their usual level of activity the same day.

How does the treatment work?

The skin is numbed with lidocaine, then a tiny wire and the Closurefast® catheter are inserted into the vein. The catheter delivers radio-frequency energy to the vein wall, causing it to seal shut. The remaining healthy veins continue to bring blood back to the heart.

WHAT IS VARITHENA®?

Varithena® is a “microfoam” formulation of polidocanol (sclerosing agent) and CO2. The result is a microfoam that has an appearance and consistency similar to white, foamy shave cream. Ultrasound guidance is used to inject Varithena® microfoam into the vein. The microfoam fills the lumen for circumferential contact where it’s designed to displace blood and destroy the endothelial lining efficiently.

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care.

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care.

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence.

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330.

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources.

3 Vein TreatmentsLJVascular2022-09-19T15:20:52-07:00

18, 8, 2022

Symptoms of vein disease to look out for
Gallery

Symptoms of vein disease to look out for

LJVascular2022-07-20T14:09:35-07:00

An estimated 80 million Americans suffer from a vein-related condition with symptoms. Since most veins lie deep under the skin’s surface, vein disorders are not always visible to the naked eye. As a result, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms that might reveal an underlying vein condition. If you’re experiencing pain, fatigue, heaviness, cramping, or restlessness in your legs, you should seek expert consultation. Today, a venous duplex scan is used to view internal images of your veins, even the veins beneath the muscles (deep veins). The ultrasound exam, which is painless with no additional symptoms takes fewer than 30 minutes, allows a trained specialist to examine your venous system to determine if your symptoms are connected to a vein-related condition. The good news is that many vein conditions can be easily treated. At La Jolla Vein & Vascular, we treat venous reflux disease with a tailored approach to the patient’s needs and symptoms.

Venous reflux disease is also known as venous stasis, venous insufficiency or venous incompetence. Venous reflux disease refers to ‘leaky valves’ in the veins of the legs. Reflux may occur in the deep and/or superficial leg veins. The deep veins are those within the muscle; they bring at least 80-90% of the blood from the legs back to the heart. The superficial veins are outside of the muscle and under the skin.

The main superficial veins are the Great Saphenous Vein that courses up the middle of the thigh and calf and the small saphenous vein, which courses up the back of the calf. Normally, there are one-way valves within the leg veins, which help blood flow in one direction: toward the heart. This means blood is traveling against gravity.

The calf muscle also helps move blood toward the heart. When vein valves are leaky, blood flows backward (reflux) towards the feet. Blood pools in the lower legs, causing bulging veins at the surface. Symptoms include leg heaviness, leg fatigue, leg pain, ankle swelling, phlebitis (inflamed and painful veins) , restless legs at night, and night cramps.

Venous reflux disease is progressive and worsens over time. Skin changes may also develop, including darkening of the skin around the ankles. The darkening of the skin is sometimes referred to as venous stasis skin changes. The skin can become dry and itchy (venous eczema). Eventually, the skin can break down causing a wound, called a venous leg ulcer.

If you experience any vein disease symptoms, please call our office at (858)-434-5998 to schedule a consultation with one of our knowledgeable doctors at La Jolla Vein and Vascular.

For more information on vein health please check out our Youtube Channel or visit our helpful guide of resources.

Symptoms of vein disease to look out forLJVascular2022-07-20T14:09:35-07:00

Varicose Veins vs Spider Veins
Gallery

Varicose Veins vs Spider Veins

LJVascular2022-12-13T14:17:35-08:00

What is the difference between varicose veins and spider veins?

At La Jolla Vein and Vascular, we treat numerous patients with varicose veins and spider veins. Knowing the difference is important.

Varicose veins are the twisted, bulging veins just beneath the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that you can see just under the surface of the skin. These veins usually occur in the legs, but they also can form in other parts of the body. Varicose veins are a common condition.

What causes varicose veins?

In our study, led by Dr. Nisha Bunke and published in the Journal of Vascular Ultrasound in 2018, we studied over 1,000 legs with varicose veins. Over 90% of the time, the source of the varicose veins were the great and small saphenous veins. The Great Saphenous Vein (GSV) courses up the middle of the thigh and calf and the small saphenous vein (SSV), which courses along the back of the calf. Normally, there are one-way valves within the leg veins, which help blood flow in one direction: toward the heart. This means blood is traveling against gravity. The calf muscle also helps move blood toward the heart. When vein valves are leaky, blood flows backward (reflux) towards the feet. Blood pools in the lower legs, causing bulging veins at the surface.

Varicose (VAR-i-kos) veins are enlarged veins that can be blue, red, or flesh-colored. They often look like cords and appear twisted and bulging. They can be swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are often found on the thighs, backs of the calves, or the inside of the leg. During pregnancy, varicose veins can form around the vagina and buttocks.

What are spider veins?

What are the symptoms?

What causes spider veins?

Spider veins in the legs are caused by the same condition that causes varicose veins. Leaky vein valves allow blood to pool within the veins causing them to stretch and become enlarged. They are on other areas of the body, such as the face, and chest can be caused by sun damage, hormone changes or liver disease. Hormones, such as with pregnancy, birth control or hormone replacement therapy can weaken the vein wall.

They are like varicose veins but smaller. Often, they are red or blue. They can look like tree branches or spiderwebs with their short, jagged lines. This patient had large clusters of bluish colored spider veins around the knee.

If you experience any vein disease symptoms, please call our office at (858)-550-0330 to schedule a consultation with one of our knowledgeable doctors at La Jolla Vein and Vascular.

For more information on vein health please check out our Youtube Channel or visit our helpful guide of resources.

Varicose Veins vs Spider VeinsLJVascular2022-12-13T14:17:35-08:00

14, 11, 2022

28, 10, 2022

Varicose Veins: Patient Transformations

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are the twisted, bulging veins just beneath the surface of the skin. They are swollen, twisted veins that you can see just under the surface of the skin. These veins usually occur in the legs, but they also can form in other parts of the body, and are very common.

What causes varicose veins?

What are spider veins?

What are the symptoms?

What causes them?

What are spider veins?

What are the symptoms?

What causes them?

Varicose Vein Treatments

The ClariVein® procedure

How does the treatment work?

ClosureFast an endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedure

How does the treatment work?

WHAT IS VARITHENA®?

18, 8, 2022

La Jolla/UTC

Vista

Patient Privacy Practices

TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO

La Jolla/ UTC

North County San Diego/ Vista Now Open! Call/Text for Appointments

La Jolla/UTC

Vista

Patient Privacy Practices

TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO

La Jolla/ UTC

North County San Diego/ Vista — Endovascular Center Now Open! Call/Text for Appointments

informacion en español

North County San Diego/ Vista
Now Open! Call/Text for Appointments

North County San Diego/ Vista — Endovascular Center
Now Open! Call/Text for Appointments