Varicose veins are enlarged veins that have failed valves that allow blood to flow backwards and pool in the veins. Varicose veins are often twisted and bulging at the surface, but they may not be visible to the naked eye because they may occur below the skin surface.

Spider veins are dilated and enlarged veins at the skin surface that may appear red, blue or purple. They are usually not raised.

The difference between varicose veins and spider veins is the size and location of the vein. They are caused by the same problem - venous reflux caused by a failure of one way valves in the veins.

The underlying cause of varicose veins is a failure of one way valves in the veins. Normally, veins return blood back to the heart. When you are sitting or standing, the blood travels up against gravity through these one way valves. When the valves fail, the blood flows backwards down the leg and up to the surface. This condition is called venous reflux.

There are multiple risk factors for developing vein disease. Although a genetic predisposition is the strongest risk, age, female gender, multiple pregnancies, overweight, and jobs that require prolonged sitting or standing may contribute.

Spider veins may not cause symptoms, but they can cause itching, burning, or tingling. Often, spider veins occur with varicose veins and venous insufficiency that may cause more severe symptoms. Leg pain, fatigue, cramping at night, tiredness, heaviness, restless legs, itching, burning, swelling, or skin discoloration may occur with varicose veins.

Vein disease is real. It is a chronic and progressive condition that can cause severe symptoms and complications.

Vein disease is chronic and progressive. Chronic venous insufficiency is the term that typically applies to vein disease that has progressed beyond spider veins and varicose veins.

The first two stages of vein disease are often characterized by spider veins that progress to varicose veins. After that, it can progress to the third stage of chronic venous insufficiency characterized by leg swelling or ankle swelling.

In the fourth stage of chronic venous insufficiency, patients may have reversible ankle rashes called venous stasis dermatitis or permanent skin changes of ankle discoloration or hyperperpigmentation.

In the final stage of chronic venous insufficiency, some patients progress to venous leg ulcer or venous stasis ulcer. Venous ulcers are wounds in the lower legs that are often spontaneous.

Often, the condition starts as spider veins and progresses to larger varicose veins. The next stages are a more severe form of vein disease called “chronic venous insufficiency” that usually begins with swelling in the ankles followed by ankle rashes or discoloration. Some people with severe disease may progress to the last stage of vein disease which is venous ulcers.

Venous leg ulcers are wounds or sores on the leg that are a complication of venous insufficiency. When blood pools in the veins at the skin surface, it can trigger a severe inflammatory response that damages the skin. This inflammation can cause skin breakdown and spontaneous wound formation. Venous ulcers can also occur after minor trauma that causes a small break in the skin that then expands due to the underlying venous insufficiency.

Absolutely not! In fact, we consider it imperative to have your veins evaluated to see if you are a candidate for treatment. Multiple studies have proven that venous leg ulcers heal faster and are much less likely to recur if the underlying cause of the wound is treated - the venous reflux.

Typically, symptoms such as leg pain, heaviness, leg cramps at night, and swelling will gradually worsen.

Swelling may cause damage to the lymphatic system, which also clears fluid out of the legs, and may lead to a secondary lymphedema called “phlebolymphedema.”

Reversible rashes may occur and progress to permanent skin damage and discoloration. The skin damage may lead to a venous leg ulcer.

Varicose veins are also a risk factor for blood clots.

You may be able to reduce the risk of developing varicose veins by exercising regularly and avoiding obesity. Wearing medical compression stockings, especially during pregnancies, may help, however, you may still develop varicose or spider veins if you wear them. The strongest predictor is genetics, and you can’t pick your parents.

Absolutely not. At Aleman Vein Center, we specialize in minimally-invasive and state of the art vein treatments that do not require surgery, general anesthesia, sedation, or hospitalization. If surgery has been recommended for you, we encourage you to call us at (404) 777-1728 to schedule a consultation for a second opinion.

The best vein treatment depends on the situation. After an ultrasound mapping, we are able to determine the best treatment for your specific situation. Our treatment options are outlined here. We share the decision making with you and take into account multiple factors such as efficacy, side effects, cost effectiveness, and insurance coverage.

Our minimally-invasive vein treatments can be performed here in our office. You will not need to go to the hospital or an ambulatory surgical center. This allows us to treat your vein disease in a very convenient and much more cost-effective manner.

Our procedures are usually done in 15-30 minutes. Depending on the procedure, we ask that you allow 1-1.5 hours to allow for any pre-procedure ultrasound, set-up, changing your clothes, and possible walking after a procedure.

Our miniimally-invasive varicose vein treatments have minimal discomfort. We use numbing medicine and are very experienced with keeping you relaxed during our procedures.

One of the most common things that we hear after our vein procedures: “Is that all? That’s so much better than I was expecting!”

The vast majority of our vein treatments here at Aleman Vein Center are covered by insurance. The answer depends on the particular patient and their insurance. For significant vein disease that causes significant symptoms or complications, most insurances cover varicose vein procedures. Our insurance specialists know how to communicate with your insurance company to navigate their process and any pre-authorization requirements.

No, there is no downtime after varicose vein treatments. We actually want you to stay active and walk frequently and immediately after treatments.

Yes. Since you won’t require sedation, you can drive yourself to your appointment and back home or to work afterwards.

Insurance companies frequently require that you attempt a conservative treatment trial to see if you can control your vein disease symptoms without vein treatments. This trial typically includes the use of medical compression for 6-12 weeks.

After treatments, we usually ask that you use compression stockings for 3-7 days to minimize inflammation after treatments.

In addition to medical compression stockings, you can sometimes manage the symptoms of mild disease with exercise, leg elevation, weight loss, and over the counter pain medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

The data on herbal supplements indicates limited efficacy in varicose veins. Their role seems limited to mild improvement of severe pain and swelling. If you want to try one, Dr. Aleman recommends looking for one that contains micronized diosmin. Unfortunately, herbal supplements are regulated in the U.S. as food and it can be difficult to ascertain the real ingredients in supplements. As such, we do not endorse a specific brand.

Unfortunately, there is no herbal supplement or topical treatment that will make your veins disappear. If you hear of such a product for sale or see an advertisement for one, don’t waste your money. It doesn’t work.

Despite many years of experience and many thousands of patients treated, we have yet to meet one patient that likes needles, and they all tolerated treatments. With all of that experience, we have mastered the art of keeping the pain to a minimum. We use numbing medicine and will work to keep you comfortable throughout all treatments.

Although it is rarely necessary, we can prescribe you a mild oral sedative to take for your procedures. This would require that you have someone drive you to your appointment.

Absolutely. We have successfully treated many patients with prior vein strippings or other surgeries. Unfortunately, many of these patients delayed treatment because they were told that there was nothing left to do. This advice is based on old school surgical thinking that is no longer applicable. In fact, the treatment of choice in this situation is often ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy, which is a modern and minimally-invasive treatment that most surgeons don’t know how to perform. Dr. Aleman has performed ultrasound guided sclerotherapy in the office tens of thousands of times over the past 16 years.

We run into this all the time. Many patients have had surgery or a vein ablation and still have problems. Vein treatment is rarely a “one and done” process and that approach is based on old school surgical approach of surgically removing or ablation of a single vein, the great saphenous vein. This approach does not recognize the true nature of vein disease, that it is chronic and progressive and often involves multiple veins.

Our detailed ultrasound mapping and multiple treatment options, such as ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy, allow us to treat veins when others simply don’t have the training, experience, or tools to treat the problem.

You will meet Dr. Aleman and have your vein condition evaluated. As a courtesy, our staff will contact your insurance company to verify benefits and coverage for varicose veins. You may an ultrasound mapping performed or ordered to be done on-site. Since all of our work-up and treatment is done here in our office, you do not have a schedule an ultrasound at another facility and then return. We work hard to make things efficient and easy for you.

Ultrasound mapping is a detailed and non-invasive ultrasound scan that is performed right in our office. The scan evaluates the veins to see which veins are refluxing, or failed. The map is an anatomical drawing of your venous system which allows us to formulate a treatment plan tailored to your specific problem areas. Vein treatment should never be a “one size fits all” approach.

The quality of the diagnostic ultrasound is critical to the success or your treatment plan, so it is important to have a detailed study performed the right way.

Many patients have had a previous ultrasound of the deep veins to make sure that they don’t have a blood clot, however, these ultrasounds do not evaluate the superificial veins which is the location of varicose veins and venous insufficiency.

Unfortunately, many seasoned vascular ultrasound tech and vascular practices have not been properly trained and do not focus on venous insufficiency, so the studies are often performed incorrectly. At Aleman Vein Center, our ultrasound techs have years of training and experience focused on the evaluation and treatment of vein disease.

You can make an appointment by calling us at (404) 777-1728.

You can also schedule online 24/7 by clicking this link.

Yes, you may schedule at anytime using our online scheduling by clicking this link.

Aleman Vein Center is conveniently and centrally located in Atlanta near Perimeter Mall, just off of I-285 at the intersection of Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and Brookhaven. You can see our location on Google Maps by clicking here.

We suggest using Google Maps to navigate to our office.

Yes, parking at our clinic is both free and easy. We have both dedicated visitor parking and disabled parking just in front of the main building entrance. Additionally, we have covered parking in our underground garage and free EV chargers available.

Our office is located at 1455 Lincoln Pkwy E #315 in Dunwoody, Georgia. We are just off of Ashford Dunwoody Rd. near the Perimter Mall. Access is quick and easy from anywhere within Dunwoody.

Yes, we have a vein center near Sandy Springs. Our location is only a few blocks from Sandy Springs. We are just off of Ashford Dunwoody Rd. and you can access our location quickly from anywhere in Sandy Springs without needing to use I-285 or GA-400, if you desire. Unlike the other vein clinics in Sandy Springs near Northside Hospital and Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital and Sandy Springs, our location does not charge for parking!

Yes, we do have a vein center near Brookhaven. In fact, we’re so near Brookhaven that we can see it outside of our windows! Simply drive up Ashford Dunwoody Rd. from Brookhaven and turn right on Perimeter Center E across from Perimeter Mall. We are only a few minutes drive from anywhere in Brookhaven.

Yes, we do have a vein center near Atlanta. Our clinic is located just off if I-285 and Ashford Dunwoody Rd. We are also very close to GA-400. This location is very convenient with highway access from anywhere in the Atlanta area.

Our location up GA-400 makes our vein clinic near Buckhead, Midtown, North Druid Hills, and other In-town Atlanta neighborhoods.

Yes, Aleman Vein Center is located near Marietta and Cobb County.

If you are near East Cobb, you can access our vein center in Dunwoody by driving straight down Johnson Ferry Rd. as it will turn into Abernathy Rd. and then Perimeter Center E. Our location at 1455 Lincoln Pkwy E #325 is essentially on Perimeter Center E.

If you are near West Cobb or the center of Marietta, you will find it quicker to come via I-75 South to I-285 East.

Although we do not currently have a vein clinic in Roswell, Aleman Vein Center a short drive down GA-400 from Roswell. We are currently located very near Roswell.

Yes, Aleman Vein Center is near Chamblee. You can drive to our location via Ashford Dunwoody Rd. or Chamblee Dunwoody Rd. and I-285.

Yes, our vein clinic is near Gwiinnett County. You can easily access our vein center near Gwinnett by driving down I-75 or Peachtree Industrial Blvd./Hwy. 141 to I-285 West. Exit Ashford Dunwoody Rd. and turn right.

Yes, Aleman Vein Center is located in DeKalb County, Georgia. We are technically located in the City of Dunwoody, but we are just across the interstate from Brookhaven and just down the street from Sandy Springs. In fact, we’re so close to Brookhaven and Sandy Springs, that many people don’t even realize we’re located in Dunwoody or DeKalb County.