If you've ignored those tiny bluish veins on your legs because they are barely noticeable, now is the time to get them removed. Those tiny veins can become large unsightly bulges that start to affect the circulation in your legs. Besides the appearance, you then have health problems to deal with. Here is why varicose veins become a health issue and how they can be treated.

When Varicose Veins Affect Circulation

These blood vessels have become weak and unable to pass blood through them efficiently. This allows blood to pool in the veins, which stretches them out further. When the blood becomes trapped in these veins, it doesn't make it into your lower legs and back into your general circulation. When the circulation into your lower legs is restricted enough, you will develop a number of symptoms, such as:

• your legs and feet will feel cool
• muscles in your lower legs and feet will ache
• you'll have tingling and a loss of feeling in your legs
• your legs will become tired after minimal physical activity

The treatment of varicose veins restores the circulation to your lower legs and feet so you won't experience these symptoms.

Treatment of Varicose Veins

When you have your varicose veins treated early in their development, they can often be removed without a trace. The treatment is also less invasive and painful when the veins are small.

Sclerotherapy - This uses a medication injected into the varicose vein. The wall of the blood vessel becomes irritated and the vessel shrinks. Your body absorbs the remaining tissue leaving no signs of the vein. This treatment is used on small varicose veins and may need to be repeated to remove all parts of a longer varicose vein.

Laser Varicose Vein Treatment - A small laser is used to damage the wall of the varicose vein. This also causes it to shrink after which the body absorbs the damaged tissue, leaving no trace. This procedure can be used on varicose veins larger than what can be treated by chemical injection.

Radiofrequency Ablation - This is another way to treat small to medium varicose veins. Radio waves are sent into the vein to damage the vessel wall. The vein shrinks and the body absorbs the tissue. This technique can leave some scarring when used to treat the larger varicose veins.

Vein Stripping - This surgery is used to remove long varicose veins. An incision is made into the vein into which a small rod is inserted. Additional incisions are made along the length of the vein and the vein is then tied to the rod at these points. The rod is pulled out of the leg with the vein attached. This procedure leaves scars where the vein was removed.

Phlebectomy - Large varicose veins must be removed in pieces. The vein is surgically cut up into smaller pieces and removed from the leg. Removing these large veins leaves scars and bruising.

For laser varicose vein treatment, contact a company such as Premier Surgical Associates.