What to Do With Unsightly Varicose Veins - by Wilson Lewis

Varicose veins affect 1 out of every 2 people over 50 years of age. It is believed that varicose veins, sometimes called spider veins, are inherited. There are lots of reasons that these types of veins form in the body and this article will examine those reasons as well as what your options are for varicose vein treatment.

Some people continue to live every day with varicose veins and choose to just keep them hidden by covering their bodies with clothes to hide them. Many people miss out on life experiences like going to the beach or to the park with their families because they don't want to be seen in a bathing suit or in shorts. It can be embarrassing to a person who suffers from varicose veins. There are viable treatment options available to anyone, but one major hurdle for most people is that the corrective varicose vein surgeries are not generally covered by health insurance and are seen as an elective surgery. Considering the high prices of cosmetic surgeons, or other treatment options, just covering them up with clothes will be the only option that some people have.

Before diving into surgery, there are non-invasive options available that do not require surgery at all. Spider veins occur when certain valves that are supposed to only let blood flow one direction in the vein weaken and some blood is allowed to flow in reverse. This causes the veins to swell and become discolored. A type of device called a compression stockings. Compression stockings apply pressure to the leg and increase and assist with circulation. They only cost between $40 and $50 and only need to be replaced once a year. This is much more inexpensive than the thousands of dollars required for surgery.

The last and most expensive procedures are called vein stripping and laser vein removal. Both of these procedures are performed by a specialist called a Phlebologist, or a plastic surgeon. Removal of the veins through either method can run from $1500 to $2000 per leg for example. Vein stripping involves the complete removal of the vein from the affected area. It also can have a recurrence rate sometimes up to 80%. Laser removal has a more successful rate than vein stripping, but requires several treatments over a longer period of time. Typically over several months.