Vein Therapy Specialist
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Vikas Jindal, MD
Cardiologist located in Dallas, TX
Spider veins are appropriately named, as they spread in a purplish spider-web fashion that can negatively impact your appearance. Varicose veins are even more unsightly, but they can also cause swelling, pain, and health complications. Dr. Vikas Jindal at HeartPlace Baylor Heart & Vascular Hospital has extensive experience eliminating varicose and spider veins. Contact his office to schedule an appointment and learn how vein therapy can solve your vein problems. Dr. Jindal's office is conveniently located in the heart of Dallas, in the center between Oak Lawn, Uptown, the Design District, Kessler, Cedars, South Dallas/Fairpark, Old East Dallas, and Knox/Henderson. Call or request an appointment online today!
Vein Therapy Q & A
What are varicose veins and spider veins?
Varicose veins develop when the muscles in your vein walls weaken and lose elasticity, or the valves that keep blood flowing up your legs don’t work the way they should. In either case, your blood flows backward and pools in your veins. As a result, you develop large, twisted, dark purple or blue varicose veins.
Spider veins develop when small blood vessels close to your skin’s surface become enlarged. Then the classic spider-web or tree-branch appearing veins become visible. Spider veins seldom affect your health, but they can become so noticeable that they affect your appearance and self-esteem.
What increases your risk for varicose veins?
You may have a higher chance of developing varicose veins and spider veins if you meet any of the following conditions:
- Family history of varicose and spider veins
- Older age
- Prolonged standing or sitting
- Overweight
- Hormonal changes (pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy)
- History of blood clots
- Injury to veins
Can varicose veins lead to health complications?
Varicose veins don’t cause symptoms in many people. In others, they may ache, burn, throb, and become swollen. Varicose veins can also cause cramping or pain after sitting or standing for an extended period.
Complications from varicose veins are rare, but the following health concerns can develop:
- Ulcers: painful ulcers on the skin near varicose veins; often near ankles
- Blood clots: varicose veins commonly cause thrombophlebitis (blood clot) near the skin’s surface
- Bleeding: varicose veins may burst and bleed
What type of vein therapy is used to treat varicose and spider veins?
Dr. Jindal determines your treatment based on the severity of the condition and your concerns about your appearance. Compression stockings, walking more often, avoiding prolonged periods of sitting or standing, and elevating your legs are all conservative options that may relieve varicose vein symptoms.
Sclerotherapy eliminates veins and relieves symptoms. For this procedure, Dr. Jindal injects a sclerosing medication into the veins, causing them to collapse and disappear.
Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy mixes a foaming agent in with the sclerosing agent, then Dr. Jindal determines the injection site using ultrasound. The foaming agent moves blood out of the vein, giving the medication better contact with the vein wall, which improves the results.
Laser sclerotherapy shrinks the targeted blood vessels using heat from a laser. Pigments selectively absorb the laser energy in your blood vessels, so it doesn’t harm your skin or other surrounding tissues.
