Specialists Involved
If you have varicose veins, you’d have to see a vascular medicine specialist or vascular surgeon for a varicose vein surgery. These are doctors who specialize in blood vessel conditions. You also may see a dermatologist. This is a doctor who specializes in skin conditions.
Physical Exam
To check for varicose veins in your legs, your doctor will look at your legs while you’re standing or sitting with your legs dangling. He or she may ask you about your signs and symptoms, including any pain you’re having.
Varicose Vein Surgery Overview
Varicose veins surgery comes with lifestyle changes and medical procedures. The aim of the varicose vein surgery is to relieve symptoms, avoid complications, and advance appearance.
If your varicose veins cause any minor symptoms, your doctor may suggest simply making lifestyle changes. If your symptoms are more severe, your doctor may recommend one or more medical procedures. For example, you may need a medical procedure if you have significant pain, blood clots, or skin disorders because of your varicose veins.
Some people who have varicose veins choose to have procedures to recover the appearance of their varicose veins.
Although varicose vein surgery can help existing varicose veins, it can’t prevent new varicose veins from forming.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes are often the first surgery for varicose veins. These changes can avoid varicose veins from getting worse, reduce pain, and delay other varicose veins from forming. Lifestyle changes include the following:
- Avoid standing or sitting for long periods without taking a break. When sitting, avoid crossing your legs. Raise your legs when sitting, resting, or sleeping. When you can, raise your legs above the level of your heart.
- Do physical activities to get your legs moving and improve muscle tone. This helps blood move through your veins.
- If you’re overweight or obese, lose weight. This will improve blood flow and ease the pressure on your veins.
- Avoid wearing tight clothes, especially those that are tight around your waist, groin (upper thighs), and legs. Tight clothes can make varicose veins worse.
- Avoid wearing high heels for long periods. Lower heeled shoes can help tone your calf muscles. Toned muscles help blood move through the veins.
Your doctor may recommend compression stockings. These stockings create gentle pressure up the leg. This pressure keeps blood from pooling and decreases swelling in the legs.