Varicose veins are large tortuous veins of the legs often caused by broken valves within the veins that remove blood from the legs to the heart. These valves commonly break down due to a family history, previous trauma or pregnancy.
Once the valve is broken, blood then flows freely within the vein back to the lower leg and feet, and not up to the heart. This causes the typical varicose veins symptoms of pain, heavy legs, cramping, swelling, skin itch and skin pigmentation.
Left untreated, varicose veins due to venous reflux will slowly progress to cause more symptoms over time.
Modern treatment of varicose veins includes endovenous radio frequency ablation. During this procedure a small catheter/wire is inserted under local anaesthetic into the vein, and the vein sealed with heat. This is true walk-in walk-out surgery and the patient resumes their normal activities the next day
Spider veins are small thread veins on the surface of the skin. They are most often a cosmetic problem, and are best treated by sclerotherapy. During sclerotherapy a chemical is injected into the vein using a very fine needle. The vein is damaged and the body naturally removes the vein.
Vein Centres South Africa has state-of-the-art dedicated vein centres in Durban and Johannesburg, offering the latest in specialist endovenous surgery.
Dr Johan Blignaut is a registered and qualified specialist surgeon with a special interest in minimally invasive surgery in the management of venous disorders including varicose veins, spider veins, venous ulcers and chronic venous insufficiency.
Umhlanga Vein Centre: 031 – 566 3960, reception@veinsurgery.co.za.
Johannesburg Vein Centre: 011 – 511 0020, fourways@veinsurgery.co.za.
Visit www.veinsurgery.co.za.
