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Many people experience discomfort from varicose veins and are embarrassed by them, and the likelihood of developing them increases for older people and pregnant women. Thanks to advances in medical technology, however, troublesome varicose veins are now quite treatable in the vast majority of cases.

Varicose veins mostly appear in the legs, due to the nature of the body's circulatory system. Muscles in the body contract and pump blood through the veins, back to the heart. Veins also help to move the blood, and those in the legs are far from the heart, working against the force of gravity, so they undergo greater strain and wear than those in other parts of the body. As time passes, veins become less elastic and may stretch. If this happens, valves that once opened and closed to keep the blood inside veins from flowing backward tend to weaken and remain open. The blood then fails to circulate toward the heart and pools in the veins, which subsequently become enlarged and visible through the skin.

A person who exercises and maintains a healthy weight decreases the likelihood of developing varicose veins. And pregnant women who acquire them generally find that symptoms almost entirely disappear within three months after giving birth. For people who choose to have varicose veins professionally removed, a range of minimally invasive procedures exist to treat those individuals as outpatients.

A variety of laser surgeries can be used to reduce the appearance of smaller varicose veins and their even smaller cousins, spider veins. For instance, intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment works by transmitting a very specific frequency of light into the veins. This stimulates the production of collagen, which gradually causes the veins to disappear from view. No incision is required, and the side effects are minor.

Another minimally invasive option for varicose vein treatment is sclerotherapy. This procedure involves injecting the veins with a solution that causes them to cave into themselves. The blood then reroutes through other veins, and the collapsed varicose veins fade from view. Sclerotherapy also reduces some of the painful symptoms, such as aching and swelling.

For larger veins, a doctor may employ a heated catheter or conduct vein stripping. For both procedures, a small incision is made in the skin. A catheter can be inserted and heated, which damages veins and causes them to seal shut. With vein stripping, all or part of a vein is removed through the incision.

Patients with advanced cases of varicose veins may develop complications such as leg ulcers that require a more extensive surgery. One common approach involves endoscopic vein removal, in which a tiny camera is inserted into the vein through an incision. The surgeon then excises the vein in small portions. Even in this case, the person undergoing the procedure can usually be an outpatient.

If you have varicose veins and are concerned, talk to your doctor regarding the treatment options most appropriate for your situation. enlarged heart