Varicose veins are something many people think of as a cosmetic issue. While it’s true the appearance of varicose veins could be considered undesirable, they should not be dismissed as simply cosmetic. If left untreated, varicose veins can lead to serious health complications.
What Are The Dangers of Untreated Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are caused by poor circulation, and if left untreated they can lead to complications including ruptured veins, skin issues, inflammation, wounds that won’t heal, and even blood clots. Severe varicose veins may cause swelling and tenderness, as well as cramps and burning sensations. They can also make your legs feel heavy, achy, and tired. Poor wound healing can lead to ulcers, which may become infected, presenting an additional health risk.
Blood clots from varicose veins may be superficial and simply lead to increased swelling and discomfort. However, it’s also possible for those blood clots to lead to more severe issues such as deep vein thrombosis, which can lead to life-threatening issues such as pulmonary embolism.
The risk of complications is one reason why it’s a good idea to look at treatment options for varicose veins. Our vein treatment clinic can help reduce varicose veins using non-surgical and long-lasting treatments.
Are You Looking For Varicose Vein Treatments in Atlanta?
We offer non-surgical vein treatments in Atlanta using the latest technologies such as radiofrequency ablation, sclerotherapy, or ClariVein OC medication. Radiofrequency ablation uses RF energy to close the varicose vein, encouraging blood to take a different route along healthy veins instead.
Sclerotherapy and ClariVein OC use a similar approach, however, instead of relying on RF energy, doctors deliver a dose of medication into the vein to close it. Both of these procedures are performed using a slim catheter to reach the target vein. Our doctors use local anaesthetic when performing the procedures and most people are able to return to their normal activities shortly after the procedure.
Closing varicose veins reduces the appearance of swelling and inflammation and can greatly reduce the risk of blood clots forming too. The success rate for our treatments is high, with between 50 and 80% of veins targeted by sclerotherapy being closed by a single treatment.
While these treatments work well for existing varicose veins, it’s a good idea to take a multi-pronged approach to tackling this issue. Wearing compression stockings can help support good circulation, and regular exercise, where possible, is also useful for helping to promote good blood flow. Maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system can help prevent the formation of new varicose veins in the future.
If you’re concerned about varicose veins, call the team at Atlanta Medical Clinic to book in a free consultation and discuss our varicose vein treatment options today.