Venous Disease In Portland, ME
Most patients wouldn’t think twice about seeking treatment for a disease—heart disease, kidney disease or diabetes. But despite the fact that chronic venous insufficiency in the lower limbs affects up to 40% of women and 20% of men, many don’t seek help for vein concerns because they don’t know treatment exists, or they believe the treatment will be highly invasive with a long recovery time.
What is Venous Disease?
Venous disease develops in stages and gets progressively worse without proper care. At the Advanced Vein Center, we offer the most advanced, non-invasive treatments available to help men and women enhance their vein health and eliminate unsightly or uncomfortable veins that appear at every stage of vein disease, all with little to no downtime.
If you are presenting with any of the below stages of venous insufficiency, contact us today to learn about the safe, effective, non-invasive treatments available to you today.
Stage 1 - Spider Veins
While spider veins are common in both men and women, it doesn’t mean you have to live with them for the rest of your life. The expert team at Advanced Vein Center is dedicated to helping patients address leg vein challenges with leading, professional care. We are proud to offer information on and treatments for spider veins to men and women in Greater Portland, Lewiston, Central and Southern Maine.
Stage 2 - Varicose Veins
For most men and women living with bulging varicose veins, these large, ropy veins can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing. They can also be a sign of poor vein health. At the Advanced Vein Center, we are committed to helping patients understand the cause of their varicose veins and finding a solution that helps them get back to living their healthiest, happiest lives as quickly and effectively as possible. We are proud to offer information on and treatments for varicose veins to men and women in Greater Portland, Lewiston, Central, and Southern Maine.
Stage 3 - Leg Swelling
Swelling is a symptom nearly every adult will have experienced at some point in their lives. So it’s not surprising that many people tend to ignore swelling in their legs when it first occurs. But leg swelling is one of the most obvious signs of venous insufficiency and left untreated, will only worsen with time.
Why Does Leg Swelling Occur?
Inside our veins are tiny one-way valves that moderate blood flow and keep blood circulating in the right direction toward the heart. Venous insufficiency or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) occurs when those small valves in your leg veins aren’t working properly and blood “leaks” backward. Due to gravity, that blood then pools in your legs rather than flowing freely and effectively back up to your heart.
Stage 4 - Skin Darkening & Thickening
That discoloration on your leg is not a new birthmark. In fact, it may be a sign of stage 4 venous disease.
Below the surface of our skin are veins that carry blood through the body. That flow happens because little valves within the veins help blood circulate in a single direction toward the heart. However, when those valves are damaged, blood can begin to escape back through the valve, collecting (or “pooling”) in the leg rather than making its way effectively toward the heart. This condition is known as venous insufficiency.
As blood pools in the leg, it can lead to leg swelling, and if this pooling continues, the blood can actually seep out from the damaged veins and cause discoloration in the skin.
Stage 5 - Skin Ulcer
Unfortunately, the early stages of venous disease can be easily missed if not evaluated by a professional. Spider and varicose veins, swelling in the leg, discoloration and skin thickening are all signals that you may be living with venous insufficiency. But over time, if left untreated, venous disease can result in moderate to severe venous ulcers.
What Are Venous Ulcers?
These ulcers are open wounds that form on the leg, typically around the inner ankle and lower calf. Often, they appear where skin darkening has already begun to occur.
These ulcers form as a result of particularly insufficient blood flow, leaving the area void of proper oxygen and nutrition.
The ulcers can appear as small “scrape-like” lesions and can become much deeper, larger wounds with time.
Stage 1 - Spider Veins
While spider veins are common in both men and women, it doesn’t mean you have to live with them for the rest of your life. The expert team at Advanced Vein Center is dedicated to helping patients address leg vein challenges with leading, professional care. We are proud to offer information on and treatments for spider veins to men and women in Greater Portland, Lewiston, Central and Southern Maine.
Stage 2 - Varicose Veins
For most men and women living with bulging varicose veins, these large, ropy veins can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing. They can also be a sign of poor vein health. At the Advanced Vein Center, we are committed to helping patients understand the cause of their varicose veins and finding a solution that helps them get back to living their healthiest, happiest lives as quickly and effectively as possible. We are proud to offer information on and treatments for varicose veins to men and women in Greater Portland, Lewiston, Central, and Southern Maine.
Stage 3 - Leg Swelling
Swelling is a symptom nearly every adult will have experienced at some point in their lives. So it’s not surprising that many people tend to ignore swelling in their legs when it first occurs. But leg swelling is one of the most obvious signs of venous insufficiency and left untreated, will only worsen with time.
Why Does Leg Swelling Occur?
Inside our veins are tiny one-way valves that moderate blood flow and keep blood circulating in the right direction toward the heart. Venous insufficiency or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) occurs when those small valves in your leg veins aren’t working properly and blood “leaks” backward. Due to gravity, that blood then pools in your legs rather than flowing freely and effectively back up to your heart.
Stage 4 - Skin Darkening & Thickening
That discoloration on your leg is not a new birthmark. In fact, it may be a sign of stage 4 venous disease.
Below the surface of our skin are veins that carry blood through the body. That flow happens because little valves within the veins help blood circulate in a single direction toward the heart. However, when those valves are damaged, blood can begin to escape back through the valve, collecting (or “pooling”) in the leg rather than making its way effectively toward the heart. This condition is known as venous insufficiency.
As blood pools in the leg, it can lead to leg swelling, and if this pooling continues, the blood can actually seep out from the damaged veins and cause discoloration in the skin.
Stage 5 - Skin Ulcer
Unfortunately, the early stages of venous disease can be easily missed if not evaluated by a professional. Spider and varicose veins, swelling in the leg, discoloration and skin thickening are all signals that you may be living with venous insufficiency. But over time, if left untreated, venous disease can result in moderate to severe venous ulcers.
What Are Venous Ulcers?
These ulcers are open wounds that form on the leg, typically around the inner ankle and lower calf. Often, they appear where skin darkening has already begun to occur.
These ulcers form as a result of particularly insufficient blood flow, leaving the area void of proper oxygen and nutrition.
The ulcers can appear as small “scrape-like” lesions and can become much deeper, larger wounds with time.
Contact Us Today
The expert team at the Advanced Vein Center is proud to offer advanced surgical and non-surgical treatments for your vein disorder. Conveniently located on Congress Street in Portland, we offer leading vein services to men and women in Westbrook, Scarborough, Lewiston, and the neighboring communities in Maine. Contact us to schedule your consultation today.
Related Treatments & Conditions
Endovenous Laser
Endovenous Laser
Endovenous laser ablation or endovenous laser treatment (ELVT) uses advanced laser technology to close off varicose veins, eliminating the discomfort and appearance of these challenging, bulging veins.
Compression Therapy
Compression Therapy
Improve blood flow and circulation while enhancing the results of your leg vein treatment with high-end compression therapy.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the injection of an FDA-approved sclerosing agent called Sotradecol directly into affected veins.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound
A diagnostic ultrasound may help you understand what’s happening under the skin to cause that uncomfortable feeling—and what you can do to get rid of your leg discomfort once and for all.