Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are a common health problem for many adults, especially as they age. If you’re having leg pain, aching, and swelling due to varicose veins, experienced board-certified vascular specialist Shawn Ahmed, MD, PhD, at Apex Endovascular can help. All varicose vein treatments are minimally invasive and done in the office, so getting a lasting solution for your troublesome veins is convenient. Call the Fort Collins, Colorado, office now or click on the online scheduler for help.

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are large, twisted blood vessels. They usually appear in the legs and are often painful.

What causes varicose veins?

Varicose veins indicate chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which involves defective vein valves.

Your veins push blood up to your heart, where it’s oxygenated and recirculated. Normally, vein valves close to prevent blood backflow, but blood collects in the veins when these valves become defective. The extra blood stretches the vein walls, leading to varicose veins.

Other signs of chronic venous insufficiency include edema (swelling), skin discoloration, ulcers (open sores), and leg heaviness.

Some of the main risk factors for chronic venous insufficiency include carrying extra weight, being over 50, living a sedentary lifestyle, experiencing hormone fluctuations, and having a history of vascular problems.

How are varicose veins treated?

Apex Endovascular offers cutting-edge varicose vein treatments in their outpatient treatment facility. Most treatments involve closing the varicose vein and redirecting blood to nearby healthy veins. The most common treatments for varicose veins are:

Venaseal™

Venaseal closes veins using a medical adhesive.

Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT)

EVLT uses laser energy to close abnormal leg veins. Dr. Ahmed accesses the vein through a tiny nick in the skin and administers the laser energy through a thin fiber directly in the vein.

Radiofrequency vein ablation

Radiofrequency vein ablation heats the vein walls, causing scar tissue formation that closes the vein.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy treats small and medium varicose veins. Varithena® sclerotherapy involves injecting a foam solution that irritates the walls of the veins and causes their closure. Dr. Ahmed often performs sclerotherapy to treat leftover varicose veins after ablation procedures.

Phlebectomy

Dr. Ahmed makes tiny punctures in the skin and removes varicose veins in sections. It’s performed using minimal (twilight) sedation.

Dr. Ahmed uses advanced vascular evaluation methods to examine your varicose veins and find the optimal treatment plan for you. With several advanced methods available, you don’t have to resort to surgeries like vein stripping to eliminate your varicose veins and resolve your symptoms.

If you have leg pain, swelling, and bulging varicose veins, it’s time to learn about the new innovations in minimally invasive outpatient varicose vein removal. Call Apex Endovascular now or click on the provided online scheduling feature.