This is a condition in which the valves in the leg veins, which prevent blood from flowing backward, become damaged, causing blood to swell and flow back into the legs instead of returning to the heart. Aging, genetic factors, occupations requiring prolonged standing or sitting, pregnancy, and obesity are the main causes that loosen these valves.

Yes, genetic factors play a very strong role. If even one parent has varicose veins, the incidence rate for their children increases to about 40–50%, and if both parents suffer from it, the probability of developing the condition skyrockets to nearly 90%, so special attention and preventive management are required.

Yes, when it comes to diagnosing varicose veins, Doppler ultrasound is the more accurate 'standard test' than MRI or CT. Since veins are located just beneath the skin, ultrasound alone is sufficient to verify vascular information; in particular, it allows for real-time monitoring of the direction and speed of reverse blood flow, as well as the location of valve failures, using both color and sound.

While differences in ultrasound resolution play a role, the key lies in the 'proficiency and diagnostic standards of the physician conducting the examination.' The results vary depending on whether strict international medical standards are adhered to, such as verifying clear reflux lasting more than 0.5 seconds in a standing position, or if even minute reflux is exaggerated to recommend treatment.

Even if blood vessels are slightly visible, if there is no discomfort such as pain or swelling and the ultrasound does not meet clear criteria for reflux, there is no need to force a procedure. In such cases, the correct medical approach is to prioritize conservative management—such as wearing medical compression stockings, taking venous circulation medication, and undergoing regular follow-up—instead of surgery.

Yes, once damaged, venous valves are a 'progressive disease' that cannot be regenerated by medication or natural healing. If malfunctioning blood vessels exceeding reflux thresholds are left untreated for a long period, it can lead to serious complications such as skin discoloration, eczema, ulcers, and thrombosis, beyond just bulging vessels, so timely treatment is necessary.

It must be clearly established that the purpose is disease treatment rather than cosmetic, and the key criterion is that 'blood reflux of 0.5 seconds or more on ultrasound' in major veins must be objectively confirmed. Indiscriminate procedures performed when the criteria are not met may be excluded from actual expense reimbursement, so accurate diagnostic records free from overtreatment are essential.

Past stripping surgeries, which required spinal anesthesia and skin incisions, necessitated a 2-3 night hospital stay, but recent minimally invasive treatments do not require such a long hospital stay. You can be discharged after 6 hours to 1 night following the procedure and return to your daily life immediately.

Thermal therapy (radiofrequency and laser) is a second-generation treatment that closes blood vessels by burning them with high-temperature heat; while it is safer and faster than surgery, it is accompanied by pain and bruising. On the other hand, the latest non-thermal treatments (Venaseal, Clarivein, and Flevogrip) close blood vessels using bioadhesives or sclerosants, resulting in significantly less pain and faster recovery.

"Structural stripping," which involves making incisions in the groin and knee and inserting wires to completely remove damaged blood vessels, is gradually declining worldwide due to the high risk of bleeding, scarring, and nerve damage. Endovascular treatment, which involves inserting a thin tube into the blood vessel without making external incisions, is the much safer and currently dominant treatment method.

Non-thermal treatments such as Venaseal or Clarivein offer the fastest recovery, allowing for light walks or returning to work as early as the next day. Radiofrequency and laser thermal treatments also allow for same-day discharge, enabling a return to daily activities within 1 to 2 days; you simply need to avoid strenuous lower body exercises or saunas for about 2 to 3 weeks.

After receiving laser or radiofrequency treatment, wearing medical compression stockings for usually two weeks is essential to ensure proper adhesion of blood vessels. However, with Venaseal, which immediately blocks blood vessels with an adhesive, there is no need to wear compression stockings at all, and wearing them for one week is recommended for Clarivein.

Modern treatment of varicose veins is not surgery involving a scalpel, but rather falls entirely within the realm of 'intervention' (endovascular treatment), where a thin catheter is inserted to visualize the blood vessel pathways using ultrasound. Therefore, intervention specialists who are most specialized in interpreting microvascular structures and performing non-surgical catheter procedures are inevitably the ones who demonstrate exceptional competence.

When standing or sitting for long periods, you should frequently move your calf muscles—the "second heart"—by wiggling your ankles up and down to pump blood upwards. It is recommended to avoid tight-fitting shapewear, elevate your legs above your heart when resting, and make light walking or swimming a part of your daily routine.

You should find an ethical hospital that adheres to varicose vein diagnostic guidelines and does not recommend unnecessary preventive procedures. Furthermore, rather than insisting on a single expensive procedure, it is best to choose a hospital that designs a customized 1:1 treatment plan for the patient based on ultrasound results, selecting the most advantageous method from various options such as radiofrequency, Venaseal, and Clarivein.