Vein damage is a common problem that often accompanies aging. The most visible symptoms of venous disorders are varicose veins, damaged blood vessels that take on a twisted, gnarled appearance through your skin.
Though varicose veins may look like a painful, dangerous condition, often, the only symptoms are cosmetic. Dr. Clement Banda and the team at MD Vein & Skin Specialists frequently recommend endovenous ablation to remove varicose vein tissue and restore the smooth appearance of your skin. Here’s everything you need to know about endovenous ablation for damaged veins.
The responsibility of veins in your body is to return blood to the heart and lungs to recharge it with oxygen. Since these organs are high up in your body, much of the vein network moves blood against the force of gravity.
Your feet and legs bear the heaviest loads. The pumping action of the heart does not have a direct effect on vein blood returning to the heart. The heart pumps blood away from itself to supply the body through arteries. Hence vein blood is sent back to the heart by other than the pumping of the heart. So vein blood circulation from the legs depends on the pumping action provided by the movement of leg muscles along with valves within veins that encourage one-way movement of blood toward the heart.
When muscle contractions aren’t sufficient, the downward pressure of blood can cause the failure of venous valves, as can age-related changes to vein tissue and several other factors. As valves fail, blood starts to pool in your legs, causing the symptoms of varicose veins.
In medical terms, ablation refers to the destruction or removal of tissue using heat, cold, or chemical irritation. “Endovenous” means “inside the veins,” so endovenous ablation removes varicose vein tissue from within. Usually, endovenous ablation uses heat as its medium.
A medical laser or radiofrequency energy generates heat, similar to microwave heating. Dr. Banda cauterizes a varicose vein from within by inserting a minimally invasive probe through a small incision, guided by ultrasound imaging.
The vein is left in place since your body will break down the damaged tissue before naturally eliminating the waste tissue. The remaining undamaged vein continues to work and in fact there is now improved flow having removed the damaged vein.
Over the coming weeks, varicose veins start to disappear until they’re gone. You’re kept comfortable through the procedure with local anesthetics, and your recovery is shorter and with fewer complications than surgical vein removal. Surgery without general anesthesia has been shown to have minimal, if any, down time and much fewer complications. No downtime in this case.
In some cases, varicose veins are symptoms of more serious venous conditions. Choosing our office for varicose vein treatment also allows Dr. Banda to check for signs of deeper health issues, such as venous thrombosis.
Contact MD Vein & Skin Specialists in Columbia, Maryland, by phone or online to book a vein consultation today.
