Varicose veins 

Varicose veins are bulging, or cord-like typically in the lower legs. Spider veins are a variant of varicose veins. A person has a deep vein system and superficial venous system. The superficial venous system is where varicose veins occur. Bulging of the veins are caused by excessive standing, walking, and pregnancy due to the pressure of these events on the veins in the lower legs. Varicose veins may be asymptomatic, and treatment is essentially cosmetic. However, varicose veins may cause pain and discomfort that may lead to more serious issues.  

Varicose veins are treated with or without surgery. Compression therapy with compression socks may help relieve discomfort from varicose veins. Along with regular exercise and sitting with your legs elevated may help relieve symptoms or prevent symptoms from getting worse. 

There are many different variations of surgical procedures to treat varicose veins. Radiofrequency ablations and phlebectomy are the treatment methods used by Dr. Lehman and his team. With radiofrequency ablation a small tube called a catheter is placed in a large vein in the leg called the greater saphenous vein. The catheter has a tip on the end that gets heated by radiofrequency. The heat from the catheter will essentially destroys the vein until it collapses, and seals shut. This relieves the pressure of the veins in the lower legs which in return should help relieve symptoms. A phlebectomy is performed at the same time as the radiofrequency ablation procedure. A phlebectomy is when the surgeon will make a small puncture over the varicosed vein and remove it. These procedures combined are minimally invasive and the patient will go home the same day.