Varicose veins are abnormally enlarged, swollen veins at the surface of the skin. They may appear dark purple or blue and look twisted, ropey, and bulging. They develop when veins that are supposed to carry blood towards the heart weaken and leak blood the wrong direction (i.e. towards the foot) and, as a result, blood pools in the veins causing them to enlarge. To see pictures of varicose veins and how our treatments can help, visit the Before & After page.

There are many veins in the lower extremities which interconnect including a deep and superficial system. Deep veins lie within the muscle compartments and carry most of the blood out of the leg while the superficial veins lie above the muscles and acts as a reservoir to hold any remaining blood.

Usually, abnormalities in the superficial system cause varicose veins. Normally, one-way valves in the veins of the lower extremities direct blood upwards toward the heart against gravity. When these valves become weak or damaged and don’t close properly, blood may flow backward, which is known as venous insufficiency or venous reflux. The most common vein in the superficial system to reflux is the Great Saphenous vein (although there are many other veins which may be affected). The Great Saphenous drains the veins that normally live just beneath the skin. When these veins cannot handle the excess blood and pressure transmitted from the refluxing saphenous, they engorge and become varicose veins.

Varicose veins are not just a cosmetic concern but are also a manifestation of the medical condition known as venous insufficiency. Varicose vein symptoms usually get worse as the day progresses; individuals may get some relief from elevating their legs.

While most people with varicose veins have symptoms, individuals without visible varicose veins can still be symptomatic because of pressure on nerves by dilated (non-visible) veins.

Varicose Vein Prevention:
There are no medically proven ways to completely prevent varicose veins. Common sense, however, tells us that relieving pressure on the veins as well as promoting muscle strength helps to keep the blood flowing in the correct direction. Exercising, losing weight, elevating your legs when resting, and not crossing them when sitting have potential benefits. Wearing loose clothing and avoiding long periods of sitting or standing also are thought to be helpful. Wearing high-heeled shoes has been implicated as a cause with the reasoning that they don’t allow the calf muscles to fully contract. This has not been proven however. Other than varicose vein treatment, medical compression hosiery is the most helpful method of decreasing the symptoms of varicose veins.

Novi Vein uses the latest technology and offers several vein treatments to effectively treat varicose veins.