What Happens to Your Circulation When Leaky Superficial Veins Are Treated?
You've had an ultrasound, and now you're considering treatment for those pesky leaky veins in your legs. It's totally normal to wonder what happens to your overall circulation once those veins are shut down. Let's break it down.
Understanding Your Venous System
First, a quick anatomy lesson. Your body has two main venous systems:
Deep Vein System: This is the workhorse, handling about 99% of blood return to your heart. It's absolutely essential for your survival.
Superficial Vein System: While not strictly necessary for survival, this system can act as a backup if your deep veins are compromised.
For most healthy, active individuals without major risk factors for clotting (hypercoagulable states), the deep vein system is functioning perfectly. Rest assured, during your initial consultation, we thoroughly evaluate your deep vein system to ensure it's healthy.
When Superficial Veins Go Rogue
When your superficial vein system isn't working correctly, you might notice visible signs like spider veins, reticular veins, or varicose veins. If these come with symptoms like pain, swelling, or discomfort, that's when we start considering medical treatment to close them off.
Is It Safe to Shut Down Superficial Veins?
Absolutely! This is a common and safe procedure. Decades ago, superficial veins were surgically removed, which was more invasive. Today, we use minimally invasive procedures guided by ultrasound. This means no scars and virtually no downtime.
Here's the good news: Once those leaky superficial veins are closed, your blood flow gets rerouted to your healthy deep vein system. Over time, your overall circulation will actually improve.
When Can You Expect Swelling to Improve?
The timeline for reducing leg swelling can vary. It largely depends on how long you've been experiencing the symptoms. The more chronic the swelling, the longer it may take to see significant improvement. For instance, if you've had chronic swelling for over 10 years, you might start noticing gradual improvement around six months after treatment. In moderate to severe cases, the swelling may only improve by 50-60%, with some residual phlebolymphedema remaining.
