Just about anyone. Heredity plays the biggest role. 10% of men and 50% of women totaling over 80 million Americans are affected. As might be expected, any condition that puts strain on flow of blood from the legs toward the heart can aggravate the condition. This includes, but is not limited to pregnancy, standing for long periods, obesity, and extended sitting. For each individual, it is important to accurately identify the cause of their particular situation.

In addition to their embarrassing, unsightly appearance, symptoms can include burning, itching, pain, leg fatigue and heaviness, throbbing, swelling, muscle cramps, even ankle sores and bleeding. Unfortunately, many physicians do not recognize vein problems as the cause of many of these symptoms.

People with chronic vein problems such as severe varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency should follow the rules also known as the "RIVLIN'S RULES" set forth by Mr. Stanley Rivlin, Consultant Surgeon of London, UK. It is my privilege to present the rules (accompanied by original illustrations that depict him in the Instructor 's role) to the readers of this site. Needless to say I have the personal permission of Mr.

For information regarding treatment, please see: Varicose Veins, Spider Veins, Prevention, Sclerotherapy, Laser/Light Therapy, Endovenous Techniques, Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy, Endovenous Laser Treatment, Radiofrequency Occlusion, Surgical Methods, Ambulatory Phlebectomy, Ligation, Stripping and Other Methods.

Generally no. If you have a family history of vein disease, there is nothing you can do to change your genes. Being overweight can accelerate the progression of vein disease, and long periods of standing can also add to the problem. Diet and footwear are generally believed to be irrelevant in the formation of vein disease.

Perhaps 15% of patients have no symptoms other than appearance. The great majority of patients ,however, have symptoms that may include aching, throbbing, restlessness, cramps, heaviness, swelling, itching, and burning though the extent of symptoms varies from patient to patient.

Symptoms of vein disease may worsen as the day progresses towards evening, the longer you are on your feet, and around the menstrual cycle. Symptoms may be helped by elevation, compression stockings (even Leggs and Hanes can soothe) or taking analgesics like Tylenol or Advil. Vein disease does not usually cause joint pain but rather tends to be more diffuse.

Phlebitis, thrombosis (blood clots), spontaneous bleeding and skin ulcers are complications of varicose vein disease. Also, if varicose veins are left untreated, smaller abnormal veins may increase in number and are associated with worsening symptoms.

Sometimes it's easy to determine what causes the veins to develop. The known factors include heredity, pregnancy, female hormones (especially progesterone), obesity, and standing all day at work (hairdresser, sales, etc.) Often we don't have a clue. Varicose veins develop more frequently on the left for reasons unknown.

Theoretically anyone can get a DVT after any surgical procedure. However, the risk of DVT after EVLT is very low (less than 1 in 400).

After the procedure, a compression stocking should be applied that cannot be removed except on your follow-up visits. Cast protectors can be purchased to cover the stocking and allow you to shower. No limitations are placed on normal activities with your stocking in place. On occasion, temporary skin pigmentation changes may occur following sclerotherapy. Limited sun exposure or use of 30 SPF sunscreen is advised until this staining resolves.

Laser vein removal is not painful. It has been described as "a gentle burning sensation along the vein followed by a sharp pinch at the end" as the vein is sealed.

Many physicians in different specialties practice Sclerotherapy. An experienced physician with a full time commitment to vein treatment is preferable. You are assured of better results. Ask to see Before and After photos of your doctors’ work on problems similar to yours.

Shut your eyes while you are standing, and feel your legs. If you cannot feel the veins, you have a spider vein problem. If you can feel the veins, and they push in easily but bounce right back out, you have varicose veins.

The laser I use is quite effective for spider veins, but lasers have a limited role when they are the sole treatment for leg veins. Lasers only destroy what they "see." To prevent new veins from forming, the deeper high-pressure veins that feed the surface veins have to be eliminated, and those veins are usually invisible to the laser. If they are not eliminated, new veins readily form around the old ones, and you're back to where you started.

VNUS closure got to market about two years before the first vein laser. Some insurance companies approve both technologies, some only VNUS (as of now). The VNUS device is more complicated and considerably more expensive to use. Both technologies are FDA approved. I have found that the laser is almost 100% successful in closing average-sized saphenous veins, and it is definitely more effective than the VNUS device for closing large saphenous veins.

No. The saphenous vein which is destroyed is not healthy in the first place and of no use. Because the vein is engorged and thrombosed, removal has no affect on the body. The deep veins, however, are not touched by the laser as they continue to carry blood away from the legs.

A:The laser targets the pigments in the red blood cells in the unwanted veins, in the same way that the laser targets pigments in the hair follicle during laser hair removal.

A:The time for each procedure varies with the number and size of the veins being treated. Some may be treated in as little as 10 minutes, while other, larger areas may take an hour or more. A:As with other laser-based procedures, most patients describe the sensation as similar to a rubber band being snapped against the skin. The SmartcoolTM Chiller helps to numb the area prior to treatment, greatly reducing any painful sensations.