Varicose Veins Specialist

Midwest Institute for Non-Surgical Therapy

Vascular and Endovascular Specialist located in St. Louis and Wentzville MO, Evergreen Park & Swansea, IL

You may think that varicose veins are only a cosmetic problem, but they can cause intense pain, and without treatment, you can end up with serious complications, such as a nonhealing ulcer. Fellowship-trained vascular specialist Goke Akinwande, MD, at Midwest Institute for Non-surgical Therapy (MINT) has extensive experience treating varicose veins, easing your symptoms while curing the underlying cause. To learn more about getting rid of your varicose veins, call one of the offices in St. Louis and Wentzville MO, & Swansea, IL, or book an appointment online today.

Varicose Veins Q&A

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are twisted, dark blue or purple blood vessels that most often develop in your legs. These gnarled veins usually form in the blood vessels close to your skin. You can easily see and feel superficial varicose veins, as they bulge above the skin’s surface.

Though not as common, a deeper vein can develop varicosities. When that happens, you may not be able to see the vein, but it can still cause symptoms.

What causes varicose veins?

Veins carry deoxygenated blood toward your heart. Valves located at regular intervals inside the veins ensure that the blood flows in only one direction. Healthy valves are essential in your legs where blood flows upward against gravity.

When a valve doesn’t work properly, some of the blood flows back down the leg vein. This is a condition called venous insufficiency.

The refluxing blood stops at the next healthy valve, and then the blood starts to pool in that segment of your vein. The buildup of blood increases pressure in the vein and pulls on the healthy valve.

Before long, that valve fails, blood refluxes further down the leg, and starts to accumulate. Over time, the engorged vein segments turn into twisted varicose veins.

What symptoms develop if I have varicose veins?

Not everyone has symptoms, but when they appear, you may experience:

Leg pain
Heavy-feeling legs
Swollen legs
Restless legs
Itchy legs
Itching around the veins
Muscle cramps
Burning or throbbing sensations
Spontaneous bleeding

Even if your varicose veins don’t cause symptoms, the underlying venous insufficiency can cause complications. Without treatment, venous insufficiency leads to eczema-like skin rashes, thick and discolored skin, and nonhealing stasis ulcers.

How are varicose veins treated?

The team at MINT treats varicose veins using today’s most advanced techniques and the highest-quality supplies. After your provider performs a vascular ultrasound to view your veins and verify your diagnosis, they recommend one of the following treatments:

Sclerotherapy, an injection of medication
Vein ablation, a minimally invasive procedure using a catheter to deliver laser energy or radiofrequency energy
VenaSeal™, an injectable medical-grade adhesive
Ambulatory phlebectomy, to remove varicose veins through tiny incisions

The first three procedures use different techniques to seal the vein walls. Your body naturally absorbs the closed veins, permanently eliminating varicose veins along with the faulty valves. Then normal circulation is restored as your body reroutes blood through healthy veins.

Whether you need relief from leg pain or want to get rid of unsightly veins, call Midwest Institute for Non-surgical Therapy or schedule an appointment online today.