Varicose Vein Treatment in Glen Mills, PA

The highly trained vein specialists at Vein Center of Brinton Lake are experts in diagnosing and treating patients throughout the West Chester and West Philadelphia area for varicose veins. Patients travel from Exton, Downingtown, Malvern, West Chester, Chester Springs, and Frazer to receive the best in care at our vein clinic in Glen Mills. If you have unsightly or painful veins, call our office in Glen Mills at (610) 579-3516 today!

Understanding Vein Disease: Superficial Venous Reflux

How normal vein flow and how varicose vein work.Venous insufficiency is a very common condition in which “one-way” valves within the veins of the legs do not function properly. Valves are flap-like structures whose sole purpose is to aid in the return of blood from the legs back to the heart. When these valves become diseased, they do not close effectively, which allows blood to travel in the wrong direction. This results in an abnormal accumulation of blood within the calf and ankle. Such backward flow is known as reflux and contributes to the formation of elongated, rope-like varicose veins which can be unsightly and uncomfortable.

In addition, pressure within the veins becomes elevated, affecting the overall health of the tissue and skin, which can result in color changes (pigmentation) or skin breakdown (ulceration). A common cause of varicose veins in the legs is reflux within a thigh vein called the great saphenous vein, which often causes varicose veins within the inner calf, as seen below.

How Common are Varicose Veins?

NHS inform states that venous disease of the legs is one of the most common conditions affecting people of all races, affecting 3 in 10 adults.

  • Approximately half of the population of the United States suffers from venous disease (50-55% of women and 40-45% of men). Of these, 20-50% of the women and 10-15% of the men will have visible varicose veins
  • Varicose veins affects 1 out of 2 individuals age 50 and older and 15-25% of all adults

Risk Factors of Varicose Veins

Some families may have a higher incidence of varicose veins. Varicose veins may develop as a result of increased venous pressure.
Mayo Clinic listed out some elements that might raise the pressure include:

  • Age
  • Family history of venous insufficiency
  • Female gender
  • Occupations requiring prolonged periods of standing
  • Pregnancy

Symptoms of Varicose Veins

Symptoms caused by venous insufficiency and varicose veins include aching vein pain and heaviness in the legs. Often, a person suffering from venous insufficiency will complain of tiredness of the legs, restless legs, and severe cramps (“Charley Horses”). These symptoms will typically worsen with prolonged periods of standing and improve with leg elevation.

Unfortunately, this condition usually worsens in an exponential fashion and can have a profound effect on one’s quality of life. If allowed to progress, the pooling of blood and increased pressure within the leg veins can lead to leg swelling, dryness of the skin, and discoloration that can be permanent. In severe cases, venous insufficiency can deprive the skin of oxygen, leading to skin breakdown and ulceration. In some cases, those suffering from venous insufficiency may not have any visible abnormalities, but instead simply have generalized leg discomfort, early fatigue, restlessness, and/or cramps.

People who have venous insufficiency can have symptoms even without visible varicose veins. The symptoms are caused by pressure on nerves by dilated veins.

Treatment Options in Glen Mills, PA

The Vein Center at Brinton Lake provides several state-of-the-art solutions to varicose veins. Depending upon your particular case, you may find that one of the following methods may work best for treating your vein disease:

VenaSeal™ Closure System

Rather than using heat to ablate diseased veins, the VenaSeal™ Closure System utilizes a specially designed adhesive to seal the vein and redirect blood flow in the proper direction.

Radiofrequency Ablation

Once the vein is numbed, the painless application of heat takes less than two minutes to seal the vein and prevent blood from pooling within it.

 Abulatory Phlebectomy

An ambulatory phlebectomy, also known as a microphlebectomy, is an in-office outpatient procedure that can take care of both the appearance and functionality of the patient’s venous system.

 Foam Sclerotherapy

For larger veins a foam agent needs to be injected into the vein to avoid being too diluted to treat the veins.

Request an Appointment in Glen Mills, PA

It is recommended that patients discuss these various options with a vein specialist, as they will be the most helpful resource in determining which type of treatment will provide the best results for you and your unique case. To schedule a consultation with one of our vein doctors, please call (610) 579-3516.

Schedule an Appointment Online

Content materials provided with permission from the Society for Interventional Radiology. For more information, please visit their web site at www.sirweb.org.