I Have Bulging Leg Veins — Is There a Treatment for Me?

People often seek medical care for bulging leg veins because of their appearance. While they can certainly be unsightly, Dr. Laureen Forgione-Rubino knows the problem is more than skin-deep. 

If you have bulging leg veins, here’s why you should schedule a consultation at Laureen Forgione-Rubino M.D., F.A.C.S. in Manchester, Connecticut, and how Dr. Forgione-Rubino and our team can help.

The problem with leg veins

The appearance of bulging or unsightly veins on your legs may seem like a cosmetic issue, but they can also indicate other problems. 

Visible veins typically appear when blood starts pooling, causing your vein to stretch and bulge. This common problem occurs because the tiny one-way valves in your veins malfunction. 

In healthy veins, these valves open and close, helping the blood circulating throughout your body return to your heart. When your vein or valves become damaged, it impacts this process, and blood can start flowing backward and pool.

Signs of a vein problem include:

• Visible blood vessels, including spider veins
• Bulging or twisting veins
• Pain or cramps
• Swelling in your lower legs or ankles
• Skin discoloration, dryness, or itchiness
• Open sores, often near your ankles
• Heaviness or aching in your legs

These symptoms can indicate circulation issues — or chronic venous insufficiency. Without treatment, they can cause more serious problems, like nonhealing ulcers, bleeding, and blood clots.

Treating leg veins

Whether you have bulging varicose veins or web-like blue, red, or purple spider veins, Dr. Forgione-Rubino can help.

It starts with a comprehensive assessment to evaluate your veins and the circulation in your lower limbs. Based on this consultation, she outlines the best course of treatment to address your vein problems and restore proper circulation to your legs.

Dr. Forgione-Rubino offers several types of vein treatment including sclerotherapy, endovenous laser therapy, and phlebectomy.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is typically the simplest vein treatment option. During this therapy, Dr. Forgione-Rubino injects your problem vein with a chemical solution. This process causes your vein to scar and close, and it fades within a few weeks.

You can have sclerotherapy treatment more than once on the same vein, and it doesn’t require any anesthesia.

Endovenous laser therapy

Dr. Forgione-Rubino often recommends endovenous laser treatment for large veins in your legs. Instead of the chemical solution used in sclerotherapy, this therapy relies on heat to seal your diseased vein. After this treatment, the visible vein collapses and disappears over time. 

Phlebectomy

Another highly effective vein treatment is a phlebectomy. This minimally invasive procedure can treat large veins near your skin surface and involves tiny incisions or needle punctures to access and remove your problem vein. This procedure may cause minimal scarring.

After each of these vein treatments, your body can reroute the blood in your extremities through healthy veins, improving circulation in your lower body. To support your healing process, Dr. Forgione-Rubino may recommend using leg wraps or compression stockings while you recover.

Do you have visible or bulging leg veins? Learn more about your treatment options by scheduling a consultation at Laureen Forgione-Rubino, M.D., F.A.C.S. Contact our office by phone or online today.