Varicose Veins

Two offices in Colorado! Colorado Springs and Lone Tree

Next day or same week appointments available

• Start now to be ready by summer

• Partnered with Colorado Health Neighborhoods

• IAC accredited vein center in Colorado, with double IAC accreditation

Patient Testimonial

About Dr. Albert

With more than three decades of experience, James D. Albert, M.D., RPVI, FAVLS, is Colorado’s leading expert in the treatment of superficial venous disease (varicose and spider veins). Board-Certified in both Cardiovascular Surgery and Phlebology, Dr. Albert is uniquely qualified to provide his patients with the most advanced vein care available anywhere.

Diagnosis, Treatment & Management in Lone Tree & Colorado Springs

Vein disease is chronic and progressive, and if left untreated can lead to pain, swelling, irreversible skin changes, and even non-healing sores.

A healthy venous system lets blood flow efficiently from your leg veins back to your heart. The superficial veins that return the blood to the heart are known as the Great and Small Saphenous veins. As the valves in these veins become dysfunctional, the blood doesn’t move up but flows back down toward your feet. This reverse flow is known as reflux. The increase in the pressure from the reverse flow in the saphenous veins leads to increased pressure in the skin veins.

This increased pressure then causes the walls of the skin veins to become weak and thin, causing the veins to bulge. The reflux in the saphenous vein(s) causes pain, swelling, aching, fatigue, burning, itching, skin changes, and skin ulcers.

There are three main causes of venous disease:

1. Heredity
2. Pregnancy
3. Prolonged sitting or standing

Symptoms of varicose veins include:

• Aching and Pain
• Leg Cramps
• Heaviness Itching and Burning
• Restless Legs
• Ankle Swelling
• Tiredness and Fatigue
• Throbbing Skin
• Changes in Skin Color
• Skin Ulcers

Diagnosis

At Albert Vein Institute, varicose veins and other venous diseases are diagnosed by combining a thorough physical examination with a non-invasive ultrasound test to determine the location of the abnormal valve or valves within your veins. Fast, efficient and painless, this important diagnostic tool will help us evaluate your unique anatomy and determine the true source of your vein issues with our varicose vein treatment options.

It will also help us answer questions that are critical to your ongoing care, including:

• What is the underlying cause of the symptoms that have brought you to us?
• Is this a purely vein-related issue, or a symptom of another issue?
• If the issue is venous insufficiency, does the problem involve the deeper veins?

Treatments

As Lone Tree’s and Colorado Springs’ leading expert in the treatment of venous diseases, the Albert Vein Institute is dedicated to using cutting-edge technology to correct both medical and cosmetic vein issues with shorter recovery times and improved long-term results.

Varicose vein treatment options include:

• Compression Stockings Therapy
• CoolTouch™ (Endovenous Laser Ablation)
• Venclose Radiofrequency Ablation
• Microphlebectomy (Ambulatory Phlebectomy)
• Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy

Click here to learn more about varicose vein treatments.

Varicose Veins and Pregnancy

Many women develop varicose veins during pregnancy or find that existing varicose veins worsen. Pregnancy has two factors that cause an increase in varicose veins. The first is an increase in blood volume and the second is an increase in the hormone progesterone. The increase in blood volume causes an increase in pressure on the valves of the veins and progesterone causes the vein walls to relax. Therefore these two factors will cause the valves to no longer come together to push the blood back toward the heart (reflux) and will lead to varicose vein formation. While you are pregnant, AVI can custom fit you for compression stockings to alleviate your symptoms until you deliver.

Once you have delivered your baby, Dr. Albert will perform an evaluation and determine your proper course of treatment. Schedule your consultation today: (303) 857-5111

Untreated Varicose Veins

Varicose veins, along with being unsightly, eventually lead to pain, aching, swelling, heaviness, itching, or cramping. Also, clots can form within the veins, leading to phlebitis (inflammation of a vein). Phlebitis causes the area of the clotted vein to become painful, hot and swollen. Untreated varicose veins can lead to leg swelling, venous eczema, skin thickening, and ulceration. Treating venous disease prior to the development of these conditions can help avoid unnecessary pain as well as the risk of additional complications.

Untreated varicose veins can lead to:

• Pain – If you suffer from varicose veins, you might experience pain and heaviness in your legs, especially after periods of prolonged standing. Varicose veins are often progressive, so pain, itchiness, and other symptoms may worsen over time.
• Edema – Edema occurs when liquid (water and protein) leaks from veins into nearby body tissue. Varicose veins are often the cause, as the added pressure in the veins forces liquid into the nearby surrounding tissue.
• Superficial Thrombophlebitis (STP) – Inflammation of the walls of a vein (phlebitis) is a common side effect of varicose veins. STP is an inflamed superficial vein that forms a clot directly under the skin. STP can cause a red-hot hard knot underneath the skin accompanied by swelling and irritation.
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) – DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein in the body, usually in the legs. This often leads to leg pain, swelling, redness, or tightness. DVT is a serious condition because blood clots can break loose, travel through your bloodstream, and lodge in your lungs, blocking the flow of blood. DVT is a medical emergency and should be evaluated immediately.
• Stasis Dermatitis – Stasis dermatitis is when skin changes occur due to prolonged saphenous vein reflux. The skin on the inside of the ankles is usually the area in which it first appears and can progress to turning the entire ankle and lower leg red and brown in color.
• Ulceration – Venous ulcers are non-healing wounds that most frequently occur around the ankles. Ulcers form from a build-up in pressure from long-standing superficial venous insufficiency (improper functioning valves in the vein) and cause brown and red skin color changes known as stasis dermatitis. Once these skin changes take place, a very minor injury can cause a venous stasis ulcer, or it can happen spontaneously.