Studies estimate that 40 million Americans—both men and women—have varicose veins. What causes an ordinary vein to become a swollen, painful varicose vein? We asked local Vascular Surgeon, Ulises Baltazar, for the answer. He says, “While elements of your lifestyle—sitting or standing for long periods, weight gain or pregnancy, trauma to the leg, and normal aging may all increase your risk of developing varicose veins, the most common cause is heredity. If you have one family member with a history of varicose veins, your risk of developing them can be 25 to 30 percent…and if two family members had them, your risk rises!”

One local woman, Gina Torres says, “Many years ago I brought my mother to Dr. Baltazar for her varicose veins…and he really helped her. When I noticed varicose veins also becoming a problem for me, I went straight to Dr. Baltazar myself. After my initial treatment, I got busy with life and several years went by. In addition to genetics, I also love high heels…and that takes a toll. Over time my varicose veins became more and more painful and embarrassing, especially over the ankle of my left foot. The vein there was dark purple like a spreading bruise.”

Your veins have one-way valves inside that keep the blood flowing in one direction. If those one-way valves don’t work, blood could flow backwards and pool, causing enlarged, raised, purple veins in the superficial system. “These varicose veins are more than a cosmetic issue, they’re also a health risk and a red flag,” says Dr. Baltazar. “Varicose veins indicate an increased chance for blood clots in the superficial system (thrombophlebitis) and clots in the deep system or deep venous thrombosis “DVT”, which are potentially lethal. I specialize in treating varicose veins to improve not only the appearance of your legs, but also your overall health!”
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Gina took her varicose veins seriously and sought expert, professional care. She says, “I see such an improvement when I visit Dr. Baltazar! Now I come to his office every three weeks for him to treat my veins. Everyone in his office is so nice and friendly and I’m very pleased with the results of his work. My legs look and feel better…and I know that Dr. Baltazar is looking out for my health. You can tell he really loves the work he does!”
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Ulises Baltazar MD, RVT, FACS
now affiliated with the renowned Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates
281-240-8400
16605 Southwest Freeway Ste 505
(in the Methodist Professional Building 3)