Are bulging veins an indication of varicose veins?

If you notice large, bulging veins forming under the skin on your legs, and they are blue or purplish in color, there’s a good chance that they are what’s known as varicose veins.

The Society for Vascular Surgery estimates that more than 35% of people in the United States suffer from some form of varicose veins.

Varicose veins develop underneath the skin as thick, ropey structures when blood pools due to a malfunction in the vein walls. They can be painful and cause chronic aches, swelling, and fatigue in the legs if not treated properly.

Other common symptoms of varicose veins include:

• Night cramps
• Leg and ankle swelling
• Burning or an irritated sensation around the veins

If these symptoms are painful for you, and if you aren’t loving how your legs look with these bulging veins, it might be time to see a vein specialist.

Our vein specialists at VeinSolutions often suggest simple lifestyle modifications first to see if they can help minimize varicose vein irritation. Some effective measures that may help with varicose veins include:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Engaging in regular exercise and staying physically active
• Avoiding prolonged standing or sitting
• Elevating your feet above your heart whenever possible
• Wearing compression stockings to boost circulation in the legs

If you are not seeing results after a few months with these measures, it may be time to consider varicose vein removal, which is something we perform frequently in our vein treatment centers in Austin, Georgetown, and Kyle.

Common forms of treatment for varicose vein removal are:

Endovenous Ablation: a minimally invasive procedure using radiofrequency, or heat waves, to melt varicose veins via a tiny catheter

Minimally Invasive Vein Surgery: reserved for the most stubborn varicose veins, this type of surgery permanently removes varicose veins that have not responded well to other treatment

These procedures can be done conveniently and efficiently in our offices with minimal pain and typically little or no downtime afterwards.

The winter months can be the most optimal time to address varicose veins so that your legs are healed and looking and feeling their best for the warmer spring and summer months ahead.

Contact VeinSolutions for Your Consultation Today

Our board certified vascular surgeons and vein specialists are skilled in both cosmetic and therapeutic treatments for varicose veins and we are dedicated to enhancing your overall circulatory health.

To schedule an appointment with a vein specialist in Austin, please contact us here or call 512.452.VEIN (8346), or 512.501.4287 for our clinic in Georgetown, and 512.651.8420 for Kyle.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.