A: There are a multitude of Causes of Varicose Veins–genetic and lifestyle related
Varicose veins are almost never formed in isolation; there is most often, a deeper, larger, vein that is “incompetent” that connects to the superficial, visible varicose vein. This is the “Venous Reflux” disease that you have heard of.
This refluxing vein is usually the greater or lesser saphenous vein with valves that are not functioning normally. These root cause veins typically give rise to the varicose veins seen on the surface, and thus, to treat the varicose most effectively, the incompetent saphenous vein needs to be diagnosed first with a duplex ultrasound. Once identified, the vein can be treated with laser or radiofrequency (EVLT or VNUS), and the microphlebectomies performed at the same time to remove the varicose veins. This can most often be performed under local anesthesia under 1 hr. To simply treat the varicose veins with sclero/laser without treating the root cause will lead to multiple recurrences and failed treatments.
The most common causes of varicose veins is largely genetic with a higher female prevalance. Lifestyle issues with pregnancy, obesity, and work (people who stand on their feet all day), can tip the balance to forming varicose veins.