Varicose Veins Specialist

What causes varicose veins?

The veins in your legs work against gravity to carry blood up your legs toward your heart. One-way valves inside the veins keep the blood flowing in one direction, but if a valve is weak or damaged, blood flows backward or refluxes. 

The backward flow is stopped at the next valve down the vein, and then blood begins to accumulate in that area. Before long, that vein segment becomes engorged, causing bulging, twisted, purplish-blue varicose veins.

What symptoms develop due to varicose veins?

Varicose veins have a big impact on your appearance and can cause symptoms such as:

• Leg pain
• Aching or tired legs
• Swelling
• Burning or itching
• Discolored skin

As blood accumulates, it inhibits blood flow and increases pressure in the blood vessels in your legs. This pressure leads to problems such as skin rashes, nonhealing ulcers, and deep vein thrombosis.

How do dermatologists treat varicose veins?

West Derm Center’s Philip Fried, MD, practiced general surgery before specializing in dermatology. With his combined skills, he has performed over 1,000 endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) and phlebectomy procedures. He also created the practice’s vein center in the Bronx. 

You have several options for treating varicose veins. Your provider at West Derm Center explains the different procedures and recommends the one that’s best for you. 

Sclerotherapy

Your provider performs sclerotherapy by injecting a liquid or foam medication into your varicose veins. The medication collapses the vein walls, and the area turns into scar tissue that’s gradually absorbed by your body. 

Microphlebectomy

If your varicose veins are too large for sclerotherapy, your provider may recommend a microphlebectomy. This procedure is done in the office using such a tiny incision that it doesn’t need stitches and seldom leaves a scar. Your doctor uses a specialized hook to reach through the incision and remove the affected vein. 

Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT)

Your doctor at West Derm Center uses imaging to map your veins and guide the laser during your EVLT procedure. After applying a local anesthetic, your doctor makes a small cut that’s just large enough for a thin laser catheter.

After threading the catheter to the targeted vein, your doctor turns on the laser and slowly pulls it back out of the vein. The laser’s gentle heat makes the vein walls collapse without harming any of the surrounding tissues. 

To have your varicose veins safely treated by the experts at West Derm Center, call one of the offices or schedule an appointment online today.