Your Body Can Function Well Without Its Varicose Veins

You've been told you need vascular surgery to remove varicose veins in your legs or to effectively destroy them inside the limbs. It may seem incomprehensible to imagine that this type of procedure won't cause problems in the future. Doesn't your body need all its veins? 

Understanding Varicose Veins

Veins transport blood back to the heart after arteries have brought it to other parts of the body. Valves in the veins open and close as blood flows. Gravity continually tries to pull blood downward, but the closing of vein valves prevents this. When the valves stop working properly, they no longer close. Then blood pools in the veins. 

The bulging, twisted vessels make legs look unattractive, but that's not the main problem. Varicose veins can eventually cause aching and even acute pain. The legs can feel heavy and restless. These symptoms lead the sufferer to become more sedentary. Sleep can be disrupted.

The veins become weak as blood continuously pooling in them creates pressure. More valves begin to fail and the problem worsens. Skin rashes and ulcers can occur. In severe cases, blood clots develop. 

Minimally Invasive Vein Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery causes the destruction of varicose veins without having to actually remove them.

An example is sclerotherapy, in which the doctor injects the veins with a solution that irritates them and causes them to close. Radio-frequency and laser ablation therapies are additional minimally invasive procedures. During ablation, heat causes the problem veins to collapse and become sealed. The body gradually reabsorbs the veins and they disappear. 

These therapies are performed on an outpatient basis.

Vein Stripping

If your varicose veins are severe, a surgeon may recommend removing them altogether in a process known as stripping. This also is usually done on an outpatient basis, but the recovery time is longer. 

Why the Body Doesn't Need These Veins

The legs have an abundance of veins. When the varicose veins are eliminated, blood automatically flows through other vessels instead. Also, consider that circulation has already been compromised because of blood pooling in the legs. By now, your body is rerouting blood to other veins to make up for any deficiency. After the operation, proper circulation is restored. 

Concluding Thoughts

Your doctor will thoroughly evaluate your varicose veins and recommend the operation that is most beneficial for you. You don't need to worry about harming your circulation by eliminating these blood vessels. They are not functioning correctly, and your body has other veins to use. You will feel much better afterward and can once again enjoy life without leg pain. 

For professional help with varicose veins, contact a company such as Cedar Surgical Associates PC.