Common signs
- Bulging, twisted veins on the legs
- Legs that feel heavy, tired, or achy, especially by evening
- Swelling around the ankles
- Itching, burning, or night cramps
- Skin darkening at the ankle, or a sore near the ankle that won't heal
How I treat it
- Ultrasound evaluation — mapping exactly which veins are refluxing, done in our office lab
- Vein ablation — sealing the faulty vein from the inside through a tiny puncture; I use several techniques (thermal and non-thermal) and match the method to your anatomy. For patients who don't want to wear daily compression, this quick office procedure can provide long-term relief from leg swelling, heaviness, and achiness
- Phlebectomy — removing bulging surface veins through micro-incisions
- Venogram & iliac vein stenting — when the deeper pelvic veins are compressed (iliac vein compression), opening them with a stent restores drainage from the leg
Common questions
Do varicose veins always need to be treated?
No. When they're purely cosmetic, treatment is a personal choice. Treatment is worth discussing when the legs ache, swell, or feel heavy by evening, when the skin near the ankle is changing color or texture, or when an ulcer has formed.
Is vein treatment done in the hospital?
Almost always no. Vein ablation and phlebectomy are done in our office procedure lab under local anesthesia. You walk in and walk out the same visit, and most people return to normal activity quickly.
Will the veins come back after treatment?
A vein that has been ablated usually stays closed for good. Over the years, other veins can become varicose, which is why we recheck symptoms over time and treat new problem veins if they develop.