Experts discuss innovative, non-surgical approaches to treat varicose veins

Are you embarrassed to show off your legs this summer? Well you're not alone. Varicose veins affect more than 30 million adults in the US between the ages of 18 to 70, with women twice as likely as men to develop the condition. They are often unattractive, uncomfortable and could cause further medical problems.

The good news is there is help. Experts from The Center for Vein Care at Stony Brook Medicine can discuss innovative, non-surgical approaches that they use to help rid patients of their problem veins and improve functional activity.

The experts at The Center for Vein Care at Stony Brook Medicine can discuss:

Why varicose veins happen
- "Varicose veins are abnormal blood vessels in the legs that become dilated (widened) resulting in pooling of blood in the lower legs," says Tony Gasparis, MD, Director of Center for Vein Care at Stony Brook Medicine. "Varicose veins are enlarged, disfiguring, snakelike, bluish veins that are visible under the skin upon standing. They appear most often in the inside lower part of the leg."

Symptoms of varicose veins
- Discomfort, heaviness and aching in the legs;
- Pain, itching and swelling;
- And skin discoloration and open sores in the late stages.

Minimally invasive, non-surgical procedures that require no anesthesia or sedation available at The Center for Vein Care:
- "Varithena and Venaseal therapies set a new standard for the treatment of both the symptoms and the appearance of varicose veins," says Dr. Gasparis. "They have the potential of becoming the new gold standard in the treatment of venous disease."
- Varithena -- A polidocanol injectable foam, which is the first and only FDA-approved foam for the treatment of the saphenous and varicose veins.
- Venaseal -- The use of a safe medical "super glue" to seal the main superficial vein. The glue is slowly placed in the vein through a small catheter (tube) under ultrasound guidance which closes the vein down. The body then absorbs the treated vein over time.