Leg Swelling Specialist

Laser & Varicose Vein Treatment Center

Vein Surgeons & Vascular Surgeons located in Midland Beach, Staten Island, NY & Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY

Swelling can cause your legs to feel heavy and ache. At Laser & Varicose Vein Treatment Center in Midland Beach of Staten Island and Borough Park of Brooklyn, New York, Inam Haq, MD, FACS, and Sushil Samant, MD, FACS, FICS, evaluate your leg swelling and can offer treatment when it’s due to faulty veins. Call the office or book an appointment online to schedule a consultation to have your leg swelling evaluated and treated.

Leg Swelling Q & A

What causes leg swelling?

Leg swelling may come from fluid buildup or inflammation. Edema, the medical term for a buildup of fluid, occurs when your blood vessels and tissues hold more fluid and blood than they should.

Inflammation is a response to tissue irritation, including irritation caused by faulty veins.

How do varicose veins and spider veins cause leg swelling?

Your veins return blood to the heart. When the valves falter, blood pools in the veins and fails to move up from your legs. The excess blood and irritation of the veins causes associated swelling as well as the purplish lines of spider veins and puffy coils of varicose veins.

What symptoms may accompany leg swelling?

In addition to swollen legs, varicose veins and the associated edema can cause:

Pain after sitting or standing for long periods
Ulcerated sores
Dry, cracked skin
Changes in skin color

If you experience any of these symptoms, including leg swelling, consult the team at Laser & Varicose Vein Treatment Center for treatment options.

What puts me at risk of leg swelling?

You’re at a greater risk of leg swelling and faulty veins if you are:

Older
Female
Obese
Pregnant
Genetically predisposed

If you were born with defective valves, have a history of blood clots in your legs, or stand/sit for long periods of time, you also have a greater chance of developing leg swelling.

How is leg swelling treated?

Conservative treatments for leg swelling include:

Wearing medical-grade compression stockings to improve blood flow
Changing position often
Elevating your legs while seated
Losing weight

These steps can reduce the severity of varicose and spider veins to reduce swelling.

If conservative treatments are ineffective, you may be a candidate for sclerotherapy or endovenous laser therapy. Sclerotherapy involves injecting a salt solution into offending veins. This solution causes the veins to collapse and fade away.

Larger veins respond well to endovenous laser therapy, which uses laser heat energy inserted into the veins to prompt their destruction. When the veins die off, blood is directed to healthier veins, your circulation improves, and swelling reduces or disappears altogether.

To learn how the team at Laser & Varicose Vein Treatment Center can help you alleviate leg swelling, call the office or book an appointment online.

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