Are Varicose Veins Permanent?

Whether you’re seeking varicose vein treatment for aesthetic or for medical reasons (both of which are entirely valid), you’ve probably wondered whether those big, twisty veins ever go away on their own. 

That’s a good question, and it’s kind of tricky to answer. Luckily, Hesham Fakhri, MD, and our team at Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute in the Tampa, Florida, area can break it down for you. 

What are varicose veins? 

First, here's a quick primer on what varicose veins are. Everyone knows what they look like — swollen, dark, twisted — but many people don’t understand the root cause behind varicose veins. 

Throughout your body, your veins have valves that prevent your blood from flowing backward. Veins are the blood vessels that carry deoxygenated, nutrient-poor blood back to your heart. Varicose veins develop as the result of weak or damaged vein valves.

If your vein valves don’t work properly, blood can pool and cause your veins to swell. Over time, this leads to enlarged, twisted veins.

Are varicose veins permanent? 

This is a tricky topic, because you can think about varicose veins in two ways: medically and aesthetically. Technically, varicose veins can’t be cured in the medical sense. 

Rather than fixing a varicose vein, we actually collapse the entire vein and reroute blood to a different vein. So the vein is still there; it’s just dormant. In other scenarios, we may remove the damaged vein.

Aesthetically, varicose veins are definitely not permanent. When we treat a varicose vein, its appearance should fade over time and eventually disappear. 

How to get rid of varicose veins

If you want to get rid of varicose veins, you have a few options. At Dr. Fakhri’s practice, we offer several varicose vein treatments, because everyone has unique needs. Here’s a rundown of the varicose vein treatments you can get at Vein, Heart and Vascular Institute. 

Compression therapy

This simple varicose vein treatment involves wearing tight stockings or socks to prevent blood from pooling in your leg’s veins.

Endovenous ablation

This is a type of laser treatment that uses energy to cauterize (burn) and seal your varicose veins, then your body reroutes blood to a different vein.

Microphlebectomy

Through small incisions in the skin, Dr. Fakhri removes varicose veins.

VenaSeal™

This is an advanced medical adhesive that seals your varicose veins, effectively rerouting blood to nearby healthy veins.

Iliac vein stenting

Your iliac vein runs from your lower abdomen (around the hips) to your lower legs. Stenting this vein prevents obstruction and can reduce blood pooling.

Ovarian vein embolization

This treatment is used for patients who have varicose veins in their pelvic region. It involves sealing of the faulty veins.

Are you ready to get rid of your varicose veins? Call us for an appointment in Tampa or Wesley Chapel, Florida. You can also request an appointment by using our online tool.