Laser Liposuction, Varicose Vein Removal, Spider Vein Treatment Center, St. Louis Vein Removal Clinic

Vein disease affects everyone differently. One person may have only mild symptoms and a few spider veins. However, someone else may have more significant symptoms such as aching, burning in their legs and ropey veins with swelling in their legs. The only thing for certain is that without treatment vein disease worse over time.

	Clinical Class 1 Vein Disease: “Spider Veins” This describes disease that occurs in tiny veins in the skin. The dilated veins and capillary vessels are called telangectasias and are more commonly called “spider veins”. They occur in 40% of woman and 18% of men. Over half of the population even with this mildest form of vein disease has symptoms associated with this class of vein disease.
	Clinical Class 2 Vein Disease: Varicose Veins This is the classification for varicose large dilated superficial vein. This is the class in which people often think of when they think about vein disease. Over 75% of people with this stage of disease have symptoms. That interferes with their life.
	Clinical Class 3 Vein Disease: Leg Edema Slightly more advance vein disease causes swelling of in the legs. The backflow in the venous system interferes with the body’s ability to reabsorb fluid leading to swelling of the leg. This swelling resolves at the end of the day when legs are elevated. Vein disease is the most common cause of leg swelling.
	Clinical Class 4 Vein Disease: Skin Changes Over time the venous congestion leads to changes in the skin. The skin becomes thinner and discolored to reddish brown or whitish in color. At this stage of vein disease the skin is easily injured and heals slowly.
	Clinical Class 5 and 6 Vein Disease: Leg Ulcers These are the most advanced forms of superficial vein disease. Venous ulcers are caused by venous congestion that has progressed to point that it interferes with ability for blood flow to provide nutrition to skin. This makes any skin injury heal very slowly, if at all. With out treatment of the underlying vein disease 20% of these ulcers remain unhealed at 2 years. Class 5 vein is used to describe legs with healed venous ulcers. Clinical Class 6 Vein Disease is used to describe legs with active ulcers. Venous disease is the most common of ulcers on the leg. However many people with leg ulcer do not know there are effective treatment for them.

How do you diagnose varicose veins?

An examination of the legs by an experienced surgeon is usually all that is required to diagnose varicose veins. This examination may include the use of a small machine that detects the blood flowing the wrong way in the varicose veins. There is usually no need for X-rays or blood tests. If varicose veins are diagnosed it may be necessary to arrange a more detailed assessment with an ultrasound machine that can take pictures of the veins. This is done to ensure that the appropriate treatment can be planned.

How Do Vein Valves Play A Role in varicose veins ?

Varicose veins occur when the valves in these superficial veins malfunction. The vein walls can lose elasticity (due to age or hormones) causing them to stretch. When this occurs, the valve may be unable to close, allowing blood that should be moving towards the heart to flow backward (called venous reflux). Blood collects in your lower veins causing them to enlarge and become varicose. In this manner, faulty valves high on the leg may cause varicose veins lower down (e.g., mid or lower leg).

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