How Interventional Radiologists Can Repair Damaged Veins

The veins that carry deoxygenated blood back to your heart are vital, but they’re not indestructible. They can sustain damaged veins in legs, and if left untreated, the symptoms can be serious. Fortunately, interventional radiologists at Texas Vascular Institute, with locations in Dallas and Hurst, can repair damaged veins.

Venous disease is a condition that develops when the walls of your veins become stretched, twisted and bulging, creating areas where blood collects. This can cause symptoms that range from achy legs and feet to chronic leg ulcers and bluish skin discoloration, depending on the severity of the problem and the extent of the damage to your vein walls.

A series of one-way valves inside your veins prevents blood from flowing backward and facilitates the flow of blood toward your heart. However, these valves can get weakened and malfunction, leading to increased pressure in the vein, which causes the walls to stretch and twist, enlarge and become noticeable under the surface of your skin. This is called varicose veins, and it’s a common issue that affects millions of Americans.

While there are a number of things that can contribute to the development of varicose and spider veins, most people develop them because of age and gender. The aging process causes wear and tear on your veins, which leads to the weakening of the valves that control blood flow. This, combined with other factors such as sex and hormone changes during pregnancy or menopause, can cause the veins to enlarge, swell and twist.

The good news is that treatment can help relieve the symptoms of damaged veins and improve your quality of life. There are several procedures and surgeries that can target the damaged veins so they’re no longer able to transport blood to your heart.

Some of these treatments can be done in your doctor’s office and are minimally invasive. For example, sclerotherapy involves injecting your vein with a liquid or foam solution that irritates the affected vein and swells it shut. The body then reabsorbs the vein, and blood is rerouted to healthy veins.

Other techniques can include laser surgery, which uses pulses of light to either fade or completely close a damaged vein. Your doctor can also use a technique known as phlebectomy to remove or tie off large varicose veins in the leg.

If you have damaged veins, it’s important to see a vein specialist right away. The sooner you seek treatment, the more likely you are to minimize your symptoms and avoid complications like venous ulcers. Contact us for more information on vein treatment options or to schedule an appointment with our team in Kansas City, Missouri. We look forward to helping you achieve a healthier lifestyle!