Varicose veins affect as much as 35% of the United States population. If this includes you and you don’t like the way they look, or if you experience leg pain or discomfort with varicose veins, Dmitry Gorelik, MD, a board-certified vein specialist, can help. At his private practice in West Orange, New Jersey, Dr. Gorelik provides advanced diagnostics and treatment for unsightly or uncomfortable varicose veins. To learn more, call Dr. Dmitry Gorelik today or book online.
Varicose veins are the bumpy, elevated, often twisted blood vessels that appear on your skin’s surface, most typically on the legs. They’re the result of damaged or ineffective valves. Under normal circumstances, the valves within your veins open and close to bring blood back to your heart and prevent downward flow.
Often appearing purple, blue, or red, varicose veins are mostly a cosmetic issue and can cause you to avoid shorts, swimwear, and other attire that leaves them exposed.
If you have other symptoms with your varicose veins, they might be more than just a cosmetic issue. You should let Dr. Gorelik know if you also experience:
Sitting or standing for long periods can aggravate symptoms associated with varicose veins, like discomfort or burning. If you don’t receive effective treatment for severe varicose veins, you might eventually develop venous ulcers, which are open sores that don’t heal on their own.
There are many reasons why your blood may be more likely to pool within your veins and cause varicose veins to appear. Gravity is perhaps the most glaring factor behind varicose veins since your blood has to fight it in order to travel upward. When the valves are faulty, gravity keeps the blood in lower areas like your ankles or calves.
Certain conditions and lifestyle factors increase your likelihood of developing varicose veins. They include:
In order to diagnose your varicose veins and evaluate you for conditions that they might indicate, like venous insufficiency, Dr. Gorelik performs a physical exam. If you’re also experiencing leg discomfort or pain, he may recommend a duplex ultrasound to check for vein malfunction and blood clots.
In his office, Dr. Gorelik offers multiple options for varicose vein treatment. Depending on your personal needs and the details of your case, he might recommend:
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure involving an injection. The injection contains a sclerosant chemical, which irritates the walls of the varicose vein and causes it to collapse. The blood reroutes through other vessels, and your body eventually resorbs the vein.
Ambulatory phlebotomy is a minimally invasive procedure involving tiny incisions. Through the tiny incisions, Dr. Gorelik removes the varicose vein.
Laser vein removal uses the heat of a powerful laser to constrict the varicose vein from the inside. Eventually, it fades and disappears.
Using the ClosureFast™ system by Medtronic, Dr. Gorelik heats the varicose vein from the inside using radiofrequency energy through a catheter. This causes it to close and disappear.
Without using a sclerosant or heat, VenaSeal by Medtronic closes varicose veins using a biocompatible adhesive.
If less invasive approaches can’t minimize your varicose veins, Dr. Gorelik provides varicose vein surgery as a final option.
To learn more about varicose veins and consider your many treatment options, call Dr. Dmitry Gorelik today or schedule an appointment online at your convenience.
