Results of non surgical vein treatment

At La Jolla Vein and Vascular, we treat venous reflux disease which includes varicose veins. 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.

Below you will see various before and after pictures of non-surgical removal of varicose veins at La Jolla Vein and Vascular. The before picture shows bulging varicose veins that arise from an incompetent great saphenous vein (this vein is not visible to the naked eye). In the past, these veins would have been stripped with vein stripping surgery. Fortunately, new technology allows for even large varicose veins to be removed without surgery. This patient underwent radiofrequency ablation (or endovenous ablation) of the great saphenous vein and foam sclerotherapy of the bulging varicose veins at La Jolla Vein and Vascular. 

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.