What Kind of a Doctor is a Varicose Vein Doctor?
The kind of doctor that treats varicose veins, spider veins, and other vein-related issues is known as a phlebologist. Varicose vein doctors, i.e., phlebologists, can come from various different fields of medicine.
Historically speaking, vein treatment could only be handled by vascular surgeons because surgery was the only available option for vein disease. However, now that we have access to a wide range of minimally invasive and non-surgical treatment procedures, a phlebologist may also be a cardiologist, emergency medicine doctor, hospitalist, or anesthesiologist.
The only requirement for a phlebologist is that they should have the right training. This means that the vein doctor should have board-certification in the field of vein treatments, they should be educated from an Ivy League university, and they should have considerable experience treating vein disease. It’s also important to find a vein doctor that’s kind and compassionate — one that patiently discusses your medical and familial history to figure out which treatment is most suitable for you.
Now that you know what kind of a doctor is a varicose vein doctor, please continue reading for a detailed overview of what varicose veins are, the risk factors of varicose veins, and some treatment options.
Risk Factors for Varicose Veins
Varicose Veins are large trunk-like veins that bulge out of the surface of the skin. They are essentially dilated blood vessels full of excess blood caused by chronic venous insufficiency. This is a condition in which your vein valves malfunction, which causes blood to pool in the leg veins, which leads to varicose veins.
As such, varicose veins occur because of factors that either weaken your vein valves or factors that dilate the vein walls. The following are some of the primary risk factors for varicose veins.
- Genetics: This is the biggest risk factor for varicose veins. In fact, if your parents have varicose veins, there’s a 90% risk that you’ll also have varicose veins at some point in your life. This happens because of genetic factors related to your body composition such as the structural integrity of your vein walls, differences in collagen, etc.
- Biological Sex: Vein disease affects 50% of all women at some point in their lives while it affects only 30% of all men. This is because of several factors related to the bodily makeup of the female body. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone, for example, lead to vein wall relaxation. There’s also a difference in fat deposition that can lead to vein disease.
- Pregnancy: Several physiological changes in your body during pregnancy increase your risk of vein disease. These changes may include the increase in the level of estrogen and progesterone hormones, an increase in the total volume of blood in your body, and even the pressure that your uterus applies to the veins.
- Age: As you get older, your vein valves naturally get weaker, which increases your risk of vein disease.
- Medical History: If you’ve had blood clots in your veins in the past, they could have damaged the vein walls, which would increase your risk of vein disease.
- Obesity: If you’re extremely overweight, your body will place greater pressure on the veins and there will be a greater level of estrogen in your body, which can lead to vein disease.
- Sedentary Lifestyle: If you lead a sedentary lifestyle with an occupation that requires very little movement, such as desk jobs, teaching, driving, etc, then there’s a greater risk of vein disease.
Necessity of Varicose Vein Treatments
As previously mentioned, varicose veins occur because of a condition known as chronic venous insufficiency. If you don’t treat it in time, it can lead to several other complications as well.
- Severe Bleeding: Varicose veins are dilated blood vessels with excess blood. As such, even if you scratch or bump your varicose veins, they can start bleeding and you have to be taken to an emergency room immediately.
- Skin Diseases: Vein disease can lead to a number of skin diseases on your legs, including the formation of red or leathery patches.
- Skin Discoloration: Venous insufficiency can lead to discoloration of your skin due to insufficient blood circulation.
- Leg Ulcers: When there isn’t enough blood circulation in your legs, your wounds don’t heal properly, which can lead to the formation of leg ulcers, i.e., non-healing wounds.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis: Over time, the accumulated blood in your veins can clot, which can be extremely dangerous. If the blood clots in your veins break, they can get carried to your lungs, which can induce pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal.
Best Varicose Vein Treatments
Some of the best varicose vein treatments include radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser ablation, and VenaSeal. These are minimally invasive and non-surgical procedures that cause little to no pain, are completely safe, and conclude within an hour with zero recovery time. During these procedures, the vein doctors basically use different methods to shut down the diseased saphenous vein to restore blood circulation to the heart.
Schedule your Varicose Vein Treatment
At VIP Medical Group, we have some of the world’s leading varicose vein doctors who can treat your varicose veins with the latest minimally invasive treatment procedures. All of them are board-certified vein doctors with Ivy League education and a perfect track record. For more information, please schedule your varicose vein treatment today.