Varicose veins aren’t a pretty sight. Usually occurring on the legs and feet, these are the veins that bulge upward on the skin, resembling on your legs what a mole tunnel looks like on your lawn.
For many people, varicose veins are mostly a cosmetic concern. But for others, varicose veins can cause aching pain and general discomfort in the legs and feet. For either scenario, we can get rid of those varicose veins at Profile MD.
What causes varicose veins to form?
Arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart out to all parts of the body. The veins return that blood back to the heart for recirculation. While the arteries are mostly working with gravity, the veins, particularly those in the legs and feet, have to work against gravity.
Muscle contractions in your lower legs act as pumps, and elastic vein walls help blood return to your heart. Veins have tiny valves that open as the blood flows toward your heart and then close to stop blood from flowing backward.
But certain factors can make veins weaken. Usually, they are related to age or pregnancy.
As we get older, our veins lose some of their elasticity, and they stretch out. Surrounding muscles also aren’t as strong, so they don’t provide the same support. Plus the valves also weaken, allowing backflow of blood. When blood pools in the veins the veins enlarge and become varicose. These show up as blue in color because they contain deoxygenated blood heading back to the heart and lungs.
Pregnancy also can create varicose veins. The volume of blood in the woman’s torso increases, but it decreases the flow from the legs to the pelvis. This is intended to help the fetus, but it can create varicose veins. These instances will often correct themselves without treatment within a few months after delivery.
How we treat varicose veins
Dr. Mallalieu uses the Sciton Pro-V laser to get rid of those ugly varicose veins. First, the area is numbed with a local anesthetic. Then Dr. Mallalieu inserts a thin laser fiber into the varicose vein. Laser pulses deliver energy directly into the vein. The energy is absorbed by the vein wall, causing the wall to collapse and the vein to close off. Blood that was running through the vein is re-routed to adjacent veins. The now unused vein gradually fades away and is absorbed by the body.
Want to do something about those bulging leg veins before the summer? Call the team at Profile MD (410) 544-4600, and let’s give them the laser treatment!
