Do I Need a Vein Clinic?

Summer is a time for shorts and bathing suits to help beat the heat. On the other hand, any time of year is good for a ,little black dress. If you have varicose veins or spider veins, however, you may feel uncomfortable wearing these wardrobe staples. Or you may actually be having uncomfortable symptoms. These are all good reasons to visit a vein clinic. Here's how a vein clinic might be helpful if you need varicose veins treated or spider vein removal, courtesy of Dr. Ken Stevens, at Premier Heart and Vein Care in San Luis Obispo, California.
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Is it Time to Visit a Vein Clinic?

If you think you may be dealing with the symptoms of abnormal veins, you may wonder if it is time for you visit a vein clinic. To determine whether the time is right, ask yourself the following questions.

1. Do my veins appear abnormal?

For most people, the first sign of abnormal veins is a change in the veins' appearance. Spider veins typically appear as thin, web-like veins that are visible from the surface of the skin but are not raised. These veins are most common on the chest, hands, face and legs. Varicose veins, on the other hand, are larger veins that may be deep within the tissues or raised above the skin's surface. These veins may be twisted or gnarled, and they are most common in the legs.

2. Do I have other symptoms?

Many people with abnormal veins experience physical symptoms in addition to veins' abnormal appearance. These symptoms may include cramping, throbbing, burning, numbness, tingling and weakness. Some people with severe varicose veins may also develop ulcerations in the skin near the affected vein. If you have any of these symptoms, it is time to see a vein doctor.

3. Have I tried at-home treatments?

In some cases, you may be able to improve some of the symptoms of abnormal veins with at-home treatments, such as elevation of the legs, wearing compression stockings or engaging in more physical exercise. Some people with abnormal veins may also benefit from weight loss. If you have tried these conservative treatment options without success, or if you don't want to try at-home treatments first, it may be time to make an appointment at a vein clinic.

4. Am I interested in vein clinic treatment options?

If you seek treatment at a vein clinic, you may have several different treatment options to choose from. For example, at Premier Heart and Vein Care, we offer the following vein treatment options:

• Sclerotherapy - Sclerotherapy is a procedure used to treat spider veins and some smaller varicose veins. During this procedure, a vein surgeon injects your abnormal veins with a special solution designed to irritate the walls of the veins and force them to swell. The walls stick together, and the vein collapses. Over time, it fades from view.
• Veinwave - Veinwave is a procedure designed to address spider veins. This procedure treats spider veins with high frequency thermal energy.
• Venefit - Venefit is designed to treat varicose veins, including those that are larger or located deep within the tissues. During this procedure, a vascular surgeon threads a thin catheter into the abnormal vein and administers radiofrequency energy. This energy causes the vein to collapse and shrink.

Ready to make an appointment at a vein clinic? Contact Premier Heart and Vein Care to learn more.

Getting Treatment at a Vein Center is Important

If you have problems with your legs due to vascular issues, it's important to find a vein center that's committed to helping you become as healthy as possible. Whether you're concerned about a few spider veins or you've having a more significant difficulty with your vascular system, you can find the right  vein doctors for your needs.

Before you choose a vein clinic, make sure you talk to the doctors there and ask plenty of questions. It's vital that you're informed about any conditions you may have and the treatments available for those conditions. Only then can you work with your doctors to make the right decisions about your health.

The peace of mind you can get from a good conversation with your doctors is highly valuable, but the next step will be to work on the actual treatment of your vascular issues. Vein treatment is often cosmetic, but there may be underlying health problems that have to be corrected, as well. Both cosmetic and other issues can all be handled by working with vascular surgeons.

If poor circulation or other problems are lending themselves to vascular trouble in your particular case, you'll want to see about having those issues corrected, managed, or otherwise handled before you embark on cosmetic correction of spider or varicose veins.

When other issues have been properly controlled, it's much easier to treat the cosmetic problems. Those problems will also be less likely to recur. That can be an important consideration when treating something such as varicose veins. They are generally considered to be cosmetic, but they can also cause problems like pain, aches, discomfort, restlessness, and heaviness in the legs. By treating them properly, vascular surgeons will be able to make your legs look a lot better, but you'll also feel better, as well. That's a winning combination, and can help you get back to your normal activities in virtually no time at all.

Because the procedure to treat spider or varicose veins is relatively simple and not highly invasive, there's not much downtime. It can be performed in a vein clinic, and it's considered outpatient. You won't have to worry about a hospital stay or a lot of restrictions on what you can do, and you won't have a long recovery period.

Some people put off the treatment of their vascular problems because they don't want to take the time out of their schedule for recovery, but that's not really an issue anymore. The treatment options available today are fast and virtually painless, and you can resume normal activities quickly. You'll love the way your legs look and feel, and you'll be making a great investment in your overall vascular health.