Varicose Veins

About 40 million American adults have varicose veins today. At Houston Vein Specialists in Houston, Texas, experienced board-certified vascular surgeon David D. Shin, MD, RVT, RPVI, FACS, offers the full array of effective varicose vein treatments. With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Shin has performed thousands of successful varicose vein treatments. To learn about your varicose vein treatment options, call the office to book your consultation today. 

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are dilated leg veins that resemble knotted, coiling ropes bulging from your skin. Symptoms of varicose veins can include leg problems such as:

• Tiredness
• Itching
• Burning
• Swelling
• Heaviness
• Skin discoloration

Without treatment, varicose veins can worsen, leading to skin damage and leg ulcers. 

What causes varicose veins?

Healthy veins have valves that help return blood to your heart, then tightly close to prevent blood from flowing the wrong way. 

Varicose veins occur when vein valves are diseased or damaged, so they can’t fully close. The blood flows backward and pools in the veins (venous reflux), leading to varicose veins. 

Most varicose veins are associated with saphenous vein reflux when the saphenous veins deep in the legs are diseased. That can cause the veins branching from the saphenous veins to become varicose veins. 

Factors that increase varicose vein risk include being female, aging, carrying extra weight, prolonged standing, heavy lifting, and a history of blood clots. Heredity can also contribute.

Because spider veins (small, nonprotruding veins) and varicose veins have similar causes, they sometimes appear together. 

How are varicose veins treated?

At Houston Vein Specialists, Dr. Shin performs a comprehensive examination and reviews your medical history. He also uses an ultrasound study to identify which veins are diseased and determine the optimal treatment plan. 

Treatment involves eliminating the vein causing your varicose veins — usually, the saphenous vein. This approach prevents recurrent varicose veins. 

Vein ablation

ClosureFast™ vein ablation is a revolutionary advancement in varicose vein treatment. With ClosureFast, Dr. Shin uses a catheter to deliver radiofrequency energy to the diseased vein wall. The radiofrequency energy transforms to heat, which causes the vein to seal closed.

VenaSeal™

VenaSeal is an FDA-approved innovation that treats varicose veins using medical adhesive. After a small needle stick, Dr. Shin places a catheter to deliver the adhesive directly into the vein. This adhesive forces the vein to close immediately. 

Phlebectomy

Phlebectomy removes varicose veins through tiny 3-millimeter incisions in your legs. No sutures are needed because the incisions are so small.

Sclerotherapy may be an option for small varicose veins, but it’s mainly a spider vein treatment. 

If you have varicose veins, Houston Vein Specialists can help. Call the office to book your appointment now.