Varicose veins # Causes of varicose veins # Occupational factors in varicose veins # Varicose veins and hormones # Varicose veins and pregnancy # Varicose veins in parents # Varicose vein inheritance # Venous valves # Saphenous vein

Deep veins # Causes of varicose veins # Blood vessels in the legs # Leg blood vessels # Problems caused by varicose veins # Problems caused by venous dilation # Lower-limb edema # Lower-limb fatigue # Lower-limb pain

Unsightly blood vessels # Thick leg veins # Attractive legs # Leaving varicose veins untreated # Varicose vein treatment # Varicose vein treatment methods # Varicose vein treatment hospitals # Early treatment for varicose veins

Timing of varicose vein treatment # Varicose vein surgery # Varicose vein surgery methods # Varicose vein surgery procedures # Advanced lower-limb varicose veins # Early treatment for lower-limb varicose veins # Diabetes and varicose veins

Varicose vein complications # Varicose vein symptoms # Asymptomatic varicose veins # Varicose vein pain # Leg pain # Dull pain in the legs # Leg fatigue # Heaviness in the legs # Leg swelling

Calf swelling # Causes of varicose vein pain # Varicose vein examination # Frequency of varicose veins # Varicose veins in women # Varicose veins in men # Male varicose veins # Female varicose veins

Thrombophlebitis # Severe varicose veins # Varicose vein hospital # Best hospital for lower-limb veins # Vein surgery # Telangiectasia treatment # Great saphenous vein # Leg veins

Venous lymphatic insufficiency # Varicose vein clinic # Arm varicose veins # Varicocele # Varicose vein injections # Lower-limb vein examination # Lower-limb venous disease # Calf lower-limb veins

Diagnosis of lower-limb varicose veins # Reticular varicose veins # Removal of veins on the back of the hand # Removal of calf veins # Recommended hospital for lower-limb vein disease # Hand tendons # Hand veins # Calf blood vessels # Spider veins

Veins on the back of the hand # Prevention of lower-limb varicose veins # Lower-limb veins in the legs # Best hospital for varicose vein surgery # Varicose vein treatment hospital # Duhan # Duhan Plastic Surgery # Director Shin Duhan

Gangnam varicose vein hospital # Apgujeong varicose vein hospital # Sinsa varicose vein hospital # Causes of lower-limb varicose veins # Problems with lower-limb varicose veins # Vascular disease # Lower-limb vein hospital

Problems Caused by Varicose Veins

Problems with Varicose Veins and Venous Dilation

What is the problem when lower-limb varicose veins develop?

The most common symptom of varicose veins is that unsightly blood vessels become visible or bulge under the skin, so the biggest issue is that they look unattractive aesthetically.

No matter how beautiful a woman’s legs may be, if veins stand out on the legs, it cannot be said that she has attractive legs; rather, it becomes a source of a complex.

In addition, symptoms such as localized pain, heaviness, lower-limb swelling, and fatigue may occur, which can interfere with daily life.

What happens if lower-limb varicose veins are left untreated?

If varicose veins are left untreated, they worsen further, and it should be considered that they do not heal on their own.

Early treatment is recommended because it is more cost-effective and can be cured with a simple procedure.

Late-stage symptoms and complications of untreated varicose veins

Symptoms of Varicose Veins

1. The most prominent symptom is no symptom at all, that is, being asymptomatic. 80% of patients have no symptoms.

2. There is a dull pain in the legs.

3. The legs feel tired and heavy.

4. There is swelling or dermatitis.

5. In rare cases, there is a skin pigmentation reaction.

Causes of Varicose Vein Pain

It occurs because the expanded vein directly compresses the dense network of nerve fibers inside the subcutaneous tissue.

It is also presumed to be caused by lactic acid released from venous blood.

Are Varicose Veins Hereditary?

If there is a varicose vein patient among your parents or relatives, the incidence increases among other family members as well.

However, only constitutional factors (collagen characteristics) are inherited; varicose veins themselves are not directly inherited.

If your parents have varicose veins, you should think that you also have a predisposition to varicose veins, and if symptoms appear, it is wise to get examined immediately and begin early treatment.

Frequency of Varicose Veins

It is generally reported to occur in about 10–20% of the total population.

The ratio between men and women is reported to be 2 to 4 times higher in women.

This is because women tend to be more concerned with appearance than men, and because there are causes such as rapid hormonal changes like pregnancy and childbirth.

Varicose veins increase with age.

In women, the incidence rate is reported as 8% in their 20s, 41% in their 50s, and 72% in their 70s.

Complications of Varicose Veins

If varicose veins are left untreated, symptoms progressively worsen.

In particular, complications such as bleeding, thrombophlebitis on the skin surface, and skin degeneration can continue to occur.

Thrombophlebitis occurs in 20% of patients with severe varicose veins.

Thrombophlebitis is caused by trauma to the varicose vein area, stagnation of blood flow, or blockage of blood flow.

Causes of Varicose Veins

Why do lower-limb varicose veins develop?

Inside the veins there are valves that allow blood to flow toward the heart and prevent it from flowing backward downward. When the function of these valves is damaged, blood flows backward and the blood vessels in the legs become enlarged.

There are various causes, and varicose veins develop as multiple factors such as genetic factors, occupational factors, and constitutional factors act together.

Normal Movement of Muscles and Veins

○ Calf muscle contraction

The valves open and venous blood rises normally.

○ Calf muscle relaxation

The valves close and backward flow of venous blood is blocked.

Repeated Backflow of Blood Due to Failure of the Venous Valves

○ Calf muscle contraction

The valves open and venous blood rises normally.

○ Calf muscle relaxation

The valves cannot close properly, and venous blood flows backward, failing to rise upward properly and only moving back and forth in place.

This increases vascular pressure, and the vessels cannot withstand the pressure and become dilated.

Backflow from the Deep Veins to the Saphenous Vein Due to Valve Failure

○ In varicose veins, blood flows backward from the deep veins into the saphenous vein.

○ Because the pressure in the deep veins is high, if the valves are damaged, blood flows backward into the saphenous vein through the damaged valves.

Blood Reflux Through Damaged Valves Even When Muscles Squeeze the Veins

○ Calf muscle contraction

The valves open and venous blood rises normally.

○ Calf muscle relaxation

The valves cannot close properly, and venous blood flows backward, failing to rise upward properly and only moving back and forth in place.

The direct cause of these varicose veins is valve dysfunction in the veins.

There are various predispositions that contribute to these direct causes.

Genetic Causes

There are many theories about the hereditary pattern.

It is generally thought that there are congenital defects in the venous valves.

If a parent has varicose veins, the likelihood that their children will develop varicose veins is high because constitutional factors are inherited.

Endocrine Hormonal Causes

In women, varicose veins often appear in connection with pregnancy and childbirth, when hormonal changes are significant. There are two causes: mechanical causes and hormonal causes.

○ Mechanical causes

In the lying position, the pregnant uterus compresses the inferior vena cava, increasing venous pressure two to three times, which leads to varicose veins.

○ Hormonal causes

During pregnancy, progesterone dilates the veins, causing venous hypotension and relaxing the muscles.

Varicose veins also easily develop in women who have taken sex hormones, especially oral contraceptives, for a long time.

Occupational Factors

Occupational factors cannot be ignored either. If the nature of the job requires sitting at a desk continuously, the muscle pump action barely occurs, so venous blood cannot be pumped upward, leading to varicose veins.

Also, jobs with long-term repeated exposure to hot places, such as working in a foundry, or jobs that require standing for long periods, such as salespeople or those in the service industry, are prone to varicose veins due to relaxation of the vessels and the pooling of venous blood downward.

Principles of Lower-Limb Varicose Vein Treatment

1. Accurately identify the source of the varicose veins with Doppler ultrasound diagnosis before performing the procedure.

2. It should be cured easily and quickly.

3. If possible, cure it with a non-surgical sclerotherapy method.

4. If sclerotherapy is not suitable, perform scarless surgery.

5. Surgery should leave only minimal scars and must fundamentally block the sites of venous reflux.

6. Surgery should be done under local anesthesia to minimize cost and allow a quick return to daily life.

7. The recurrence rate should be minimized.

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