Undergoing varicose vein treatment comes with numerous benefits. From alleviating pain to increasing mobility and improving confidence, varicose vein treatment is life-changing in many ways. You want those changes to be permanent, so you can’t help but wonder if varicose veins come back after treatment. Successfully treated varicose veins don’t return. However, it’s possible to form new varicose veins. Let’s take a closer look at what happens if the veins aren’t properly treated and how lifestyle and family history can cause new varicose veins to form.
Doctors who aren’t vein specialists often make mistakes when treating varicose veins. Many fail to treat the source of the varicose veins. Instead, they focus on the veins near the surface of the skin. They might improve the short term appearance of the legs but without diagnosing the underlying problem, likely the patient's symptoms won't improve and the superficial spider veins will eventually come back. Vein specialists use ultrasound technology to determine which veins are causing the issue. They then treat the underlying problem, which prevents those varicose veins from coming back. These treatment options include radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser ablation, venaseal and sclerotherapy.
Some doctors also choose the wrong treatment for varicose veins. Doctors often turn to vein stripping to rid the body of varicose veins. When the veins are removed, the body’s natural healing process kicks in and causes them to regrow. This process is called post operative neovascularization. However, the new veins don’t have valves, causing the varicose veins to come back with a vengeance. By performing easier, minimally invasive, outpatient procedures we are able to avoid this major cause of recurrent varicose veins. Patients are able to resume normal activities usually the same day with no downtime and treatments usually take less than 30 minutes.
If you have a family history of varicose veins, more might appear after treatment. These won’t be the same varicose veins. Instead, your body might form new ones. The best way to avoid future varicose veins is to keep close followup and monitor the legs for symptoms or recurrent varicose veins and treat them before things worsen. For some with significant family history and risk factors, surveillance and treatment of their varicose vein disease may be a life long commitment.
There are also lifestyle factors that can cause you to form new varicose veins after treatment. You increase your risk of developing new varicose veins if you are overweight, smoke, or sit or stand for prolonged periods. A vein specialist can discuss changes you can make to reduce the risk of new varicose veins forming.
Dr. Vinay Madan of the Center for Varicose Veins is a varicose veins specialist. He will find the cause of the varicose veins and then choose the proper treatment options to address the problem. The Center for Varicose Veins offers radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser ablation, VenaSeal, and sclerotherapy. Contact the Center for Varicose Veins to learn more about your treatment options and schedule a consultation.
