​Varicose Veins

More than 25 million Americans suffer from varicose veins. Besides being unsightly, varicose veins can be unhealthy as well. UPMC Hamot is dedicated to treating varicose veins and getting our patients feeling back to normal as quickly as possible.

What are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins develop when the one-way valves inside the veins do not function correctly to help bring blood back up through the legs and to the heart. Because of this, the blood will begin to pool and pressure will build up. Without treatment, varicose veins can lead to:

• Twisted, enlarged, and painful veins
• Aching
• Ulcerations
• Discoloration of skin
• Blood clots

Treating Varicose Veins

UPMC Hamot offers a comprehensive approach to treatment of varicose veins. Endovenous thermal ablation, or EVTA, is a non-surgical outpatient procedure. Most patients notice long term results. Treated veins are unlikely to become varicose again.

What is EVTA?

The health care providers at UPMC Hamot will evaluate your condition, perform necessary tests to measure the severity of the disease, and determine whether or not you are a candidate for EVTA. The procedure:

• Takes approximately one hour
• Uses heat energy
• Closes the vein that is the source of the varicose vein
• Seals shut the blood flow of the faulty vein
• Automatically routes the blood to other veins in the leg
• Is virtually painless
• Requires little to no downtime

Varicose Vein Screening

If you suspect you have varicose veins, we will perform a screening to discover which vein is the cause of the problem. The screening can also tell if you are likely to get varicose veins by checking if the veins are properly working.

The screening takes about five minutes and involves pulling up your pant leg. As you are standing, we check your veins with an ultrasound.

The UPMC Hamot Heart and Vascular Institute performs regular free screenings at various health fairs, expos, and classes.