Varicose veins are a very common form of Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). They occur when valves found inside the vein begin to fail, and the flow of blood back to the heart becomes impaired.

This can cause pooling of blood, which puts the veins under increased pressure and leads to the sudden or gradual appearance of larger varicose veins or smaller thread or spider veins.
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Varicose veins are not initially dangerous. They are usually, at worst, unsightly and may cause minor discomfort. But chronic venous disease is a progressive disease and, if left untreated altogether, varicose veins can ultimately cause a range of far more serious and lasting problems.

Varicose veins may cause:

• Feeling of cold or numbness in the feet or toes
• Tingling
• Heaviness
• Cramping
• Burning or Throbbing
• Itchiness
• Edema or swelling
• Restless leg syndrome
• Bleeding
• Open wounds

What causes varicose veins?

Varicose veins are enlarged, swollen veins raised to the surface of the skin. Spider veins are similar but smaller and bluish in color. The direct cause is a condition called venous insufficiency, wherein valves designed to prevent blood from flowing backward become weak and allow blood to pool in the vein. The underlying risk factors can include heredity, age, female gender, prior pregnancy, prolonged standing, hormone changes, and obesity.

When blood gets pooled in your veins, it can lead to a range of symptoms and related complications. Varicose veins can make the skin dry and itchy and can make your legs feel heavy or tired. They can cause chronic pain and become swollen. If the problem persists, they can also have a profound effect on our mental well-being and affecting how we exercise or socialize.
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Chronic Venous Insufficiency is a progressive disease: if left untreated altogether, varicose veins can ultimately cause a range of far more serious and lasting problems.

If the skin gets broken, for instance, it can take a long time for the bleeding to stop or for these wounds to heal. And if ulcers like these persist, there is a risk of infection and other serious complications like further infection in the bloodstream or, in one of the worst case scenarios, limb loss.

In addition, if the blood in the veins starts to clot, this can lead not just to extremely painful swelling (called phlebitis), but to potentially fatal complications like Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
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DVT is associated with chronic pain, ulcers and swelling, but it also carries the risk that a blood clot ends up blocking part of your lungs. This blockage can cause permanent lung damage and can, in turn, trigger a heart attack and potentially death.

Though varicose veins don’t usually cause severe medical issues, they could potentially lead to sores, bleeding, superficial thrombophlebitis and deep vein thrombosis. To avoid medical complications from varicose veins, the Israel Vein Center offers several minimally invasive treatment options that will save you from unnecessary surgery to remove the veins. We use technologically advanced methods such as radiofrequency ablation to heat and seal the abnormal vein shut or specialized foam that is inserted into and shrinks the vein. We offer the full spectrum of the most advanced minimally invasive modalities for the treatment of varicose veins including radiofrequency ablation and sclerotherapy. The choice of treatment method depends on many factors and is personalized to every patient.

 Before recommending the treatment that’s best for your veins, our vein experts perform a Doppler venous ultrasound. Doppler imaging allows them to diagnose your vein condition and create an individualized treatment plan. After treatment, the varicose veins are permanently closed and then gradually disappear as they’re either reabsorbed or shrink. Venous insufficiency and any of the related symptoms are also eliminated. Your body is also able to restore healthy circulation by rerouting blood through other veins.

Our experts in venous care will carry out a full duplex ultrasound of the affected area. We’ll assess the cause of your varicose veins and, and detect any clotting or other abnormalities in your veins. After your consultation, you will have a better understanding of your varicose veins and the most suitable treatment for you.

Depending on the outcome of this consultation, we’ll book you in for a return visit where we’ll carry out treatment. Several weeks after your treatment, we'll arrange to see you again, to ensure the veins we have targeted have been properly closed.

If you’ve had varicose vein treatment on your leg(s), we will ask you to wear compression stockings for up to 2 weeks (during the second week, you can take these off at night).

While treatments can effectively reduce or eliminate varicose veins in legs, new ones might develop over time due to factors like genetics or lifestyle. Regular follow-ups and maintenance are advised to keep an eye on the development of new varicose veins.