Varicose veins can be unsightly and may cause discomfort or pain. In some cases, they can even lead to serious health problems. Understanding varicose veins can help you decide how to deal better with them.

The good news is; you don’t have to live with varicose veins. The team at Windward Medispa in Oahu is dedicated to delivering the best in a broad range of services aimed at treating both varicose and spider veins. We will work with you to design the ideal program to achieve your goals. Continue reading to learn about varicose veins and the options available to make them go away for good.

What are Varicose Veins?

• Varicose veins are gnarled, enlarged veins visible under the skin.
• Any vein may become varicose, but the veins most commonly affected are those in your legs and feet.
• That’s because standing and walking upright increase the pressure in the veins of your lower body.

For many people, varicose veins and spider veins — a common, mild variation of varicose veins — are simply a cosmetic concern. For other people, varicose veins can cause aching pain and discomfort. Sometimes varicose veins lead to more serious problems.

Varicose veins may signal a higher risk of other circulatory problems, so it is important to visit a doctor to discuss your treatment options.
What are the Symptoms?
Varicose veins may not cause pain. Signs you may have varicose veins include:
• Veins that are dark purple or blue in color.
• Veins that appear twisted and bulging; often like cords on the legs.

When severe signs and symptoms occur, they may include:

• Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling of the legs.
• An achy or heavy feeling in the legs.
• An increase in pain after sitting or standing for a prolonged time.
• Itching around one or more of your veins.
• Bleeding from varicose veins.
• A painful cord in the vein with red discoloration of the skin.
• Color changes, hardening of the vein, inflammation of the skin or skin ulcers near the ankle may indicate a serious form of vascular disease that requires medical attention.

What Causes Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins may be caused by weak, damaged, deformed or missing valves in the veins. Normally, valves in the veins keep your blood flowing forward to return to the heart. Your leg muscles push blood back to the heart against gravity. But if the valves aren’t working properly, blood can leak back into the veins and pool there. When backed-up blood makes the veins bigger, they can become varicose.

Treatment Options for Varicose Veins
Our state of the art Vein Center was developed to offer a full collection of cutting edge treatments to aid in the betterment of venous disorders affecting the legs such as reticular, varicose, and spider veins.

All of our patients receive highly individualized yet, comprehensive care with two main objectives: the treatment method used should involve little to no pain, and it should be compatible with busy lifestyles.

The variety of treatments we offer includes Laser Ablation, ClariVein, Phlebectomy, Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy and sclerotherapy.

Varicose Laser Ablation – Uses Laser heat energy to cauterize and close varicose veins in the legs while radio frequency uses waves similar to a microwave oven.

• The action closes the vein in the affected area so that blood cannot flow backward and pool.
• Blood is diverted back to the heart through the deep venous system.
• May be used for cosmetic purposes but is most commonly used to help alleviate varicose symptoms.
• Patients experience virtually no pain because target area is numbed.

ClariVein Varicose Treatment – A ClariVein catheter is inserted into the vein under ultrasound guidance.

• The tip of the catheter then rotates causing the vein to go into spasm.
• A chemical is sprayed into the vein which effectively seals it, preventing the varicose vein from returning.
• Results are visible almost immediately.

Phlebectomy – Minimally invasive procedure that uses a needle to remove varicose veins on the surface of the leg.

• Recommended for patients seeking the best cosmetic results possible.
• A local anesthetic is used to numb the area before small incisions are made.
• Veins are very collapsible, and even large veins can be removed through the tiny incisions used in this technique.

Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy – Procedure involves injecting sclerosant solution into the varicose veins using ultrasound guidance, causing veins to collapse.

• The veins dissolve and disappear as the body gradually absorbs them.
• Some injections will be required along the length of the vein to achieve complete closure.

Vein Center at Windward Medispa
Our state of the art Vein Center was developed to offer a wide collection of cutting edge treatments to aid in the betterment of venous disorders affecting the legs such as reticular, varicose, and spider veins. You no longer have to live with unsightly and uncomfortable varicose veins.

You can take comfort knowing that our services are either performed by or directly supervised by board certified Dr. Sonny Wong.

Dr. Wong is a staff member at Castle Medical Center and also a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. He has well over two decades of experience and was once trained at the esteemed Midwest Vein and Laser Center under Dr. Ronald Bush, a world-renowned venous disease expert.

Schedule Your Consultation

You can call us to schedule your consultation at 808-797-1683!