More than 80 million people in the United States have problems with their veins, the vessels that return blood to the heart once it has circulated through the body (as opposed to arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body). Many people suffering from venous disorders come to
Dr. Maria Atkins looking for treatment to either relieve pain or improve the visible appearance of diseased veins.

Veins have one-way valves that help keep blood flowing in the proper direction. If these valves stop functioning the way they are supposed to, blood can flow backwards and pool in the vein, causing it to stretch. These enlarged blood vessels are classified into two groups: spider veins and varicose veins. Spider veins are visible on the surface of the skin as red, blue or purple lines; varicose veins are larger and deeper and often manifest as bluish bumps beneath the skin.