Vein Care Services

If enlarged, noticeable veins in your legs cause discomfort, call the specialists at Essentia Health. Trust our team to diagnose and treat spider veins and varicose veins so you can feel healthier and more confident. We offer vein care services in Duluth, Brainerd, as well as in Wahpeton, North Dakota. No referral is needed.

When To See a Vein Specialist

Call us to learn about treatment options for your varicose or spider veins if you experience:

  • Leg pain, aching, tiredness, itching, heaviness, or swelling
  • Skin color changes around the ankle or lower leg
  • Swelling of the veins
  • Discomfort with your appearance

Varicose and spider veins can affect more than just your appearance. They may mean you’re at risk for bleeding, blood clots, ulcers (open sores), or a circulatory disorder.

Conditions Treated

See the full list of conditions we treat, and select a condition to find providers and locations near you.

Conditions

Comprehensive Vein Care Services

Partner with a vein care team led by a specialist from vascular medicine, interventional radiology or general surgery. Expect Essentia’s specialists to diagnose your vein condition, listen, answer questions, and work with you to create a treatment plan. Count on Essentia’s staff to talk about your goals and preferences and recommend safe and effective treatments.

Lifestyle Changes

In some cases, you’ll find relief from lifestyle changes, such as:

  • Exercise
  • Losing weight if you’re overweight
  • Raising your legs
  • Wearing compression stockings, also called support stockings

What Are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are enlarged veins that are visible through the skin. They may look like blue or purple twisted, knot-like cords.

The veins become swollen because weak or damaged valves let blood leak backward and collect there.

Watch the video - Medical Insight: VenaSeal

View video transcript Listen to audio description (MP3)

Medical Insight: VenaSeal Video Transcript

(DESCRIPTION)
A blue gradient featuring several Essentia Health logos appears. Text, Medical Insight.

(SPEECH)
SPEAKER 1: Welcome to Medical Insight, a weekly health care feature brought to you by the experts at Essentia Health. Here's your host, Maureen Talarico.

(DESCRIPTION)
The host, Maureen Talarico, speaks to the camera. She stands in a patient lobby.

(SPEECH)
MAUREEN TALARICO: Today on Medical Insight, interventional radiologist Dr. Michael Sassman talks about venous reflux disease, also known as varicose veins. And a new procedure, known as the VenaSeal Closure system.

(DESCRIPTION)
Michael Sassman, interventional radiologist, speaks to the camera. He sits on a patient examination room bed, and wears a black stethoscope.

(SPEECH)
MICHAEL SASSMAN: Venous reflux disease is basically-- it's the backward flow of blood in a vein. Normally there are three venous systems in our legs-- superficial veins, deep veins, and perforating veins. Those veins contain valves in them and they are supposed to close and prevent the backward flow of blood in a vein. When those valves don't close, blood goes the opposite direction, and that results in varicose veins.

(DESCRIPTION)
An animation plays depicting a healthy vein, with passing red blood cells, next to an unhealthy, bloated vein that struggles to pass the cells.

(SPEECH)
MAUREEN TALARICO: While treatment options for venous reflux disease can be painful and require a long recovery time, a revolutionary procedure known as the VenaSeal Closure system is the newest FDA approved method for treating varicose veins, that is quick and painless. MICHAEL SASSMAN: VenaSeal is the newest, non-thermal, non-tumescent method that we have of treating patients with venous reflux disease. It's a very simple system. It's a small catheter that we put up into the vein using ultrasound guidance. And then through that catheter, we inject a proprietary glue-- basically it's super glue or cyanoacrylate-- into the vein. And we compress the vein down, we hold the vein compressed. And we do that the entire length of the vein, and that's what keeps the vein shut. MAUREEN TALARICO: What makes this procedure truly unique is that it requires little to no anesthesia. And only takes approximately 30 minutes to close down a vein. MICHAEL SASSMAN: The benefit of the VenaSeal system is that there is no tumescent anesthesia required for the procedure. You do not have to wear compression stockings for 14 days after the procedure, like the thermal techniques. And even better you can get up and go about your normal activities. You can run a marathon after we shut the vein down. MAUREEN TALARICO: To learn more about the VenaSeal Closure system, call or visit Essentia Health vein care services. For Medical Insight, I'm Maureen Talarico. SPEAKER 1: To learn more about this topic call experts at 786-3107.

(DESCRIPTION)
Text, Medical Insight. Phone number, 218-786-3107. Website, essentia health dot org. The Essentia Health logo appears, consisting of three leaves in a circle. Text, Essentia Health. Here with you.

What Are Spider Veins?

Spider veins, also called reticular veins, are a small group of small, thin blood vessels close to your skin’s surface. They look like a sunburst or spider web.

Spider veins can be caused by a backup of blood, hormone changes, sun exposure, or injury.

Risk Factors for Varicose & Spider Veins

You may be at higher risk of developing a vein condition if you:

  • Are older
  • Are a woman
  • Are pregnant
  • Carry excess weight
  • Have a family history of varicose veins
  • Stand or sit for long periods of time

Minimally Invasive Procedures

Depend on Essentia for effective and convenient outpatient vein procedures in a private and comfortable setting. You’ll experience quick relief from your symptoms with advanced, minimally invasive procedures, such as:

  • Thermal ablation – Uses a laser or radiofrequency energy to dissolve visible veins, leaving clear, healthy skin
  • Sclerotherapy – Injects a solution into your blood vessel, causing it to close and fade away over time
  • Microphlebectomy – Removes a varicose vein through tiny incisions
  • VenaSeal™ closure system – Uses a medical glue injected through a small catheter to close varicose veins with little to no discomfort or downtime

Most people have an improvement of symptoms within one to two weeks after their procedure, as well as little or no scarring, bruising, or swelling.

Paying for Treatment

Most insurance companies cover treatments for varicose veins when they’re medically necessary or when lifestyle changes don’t improve symptoms. The first consultation to see if your symptoms are related to a vein problem is usually covered. Treatments for cosmetic reasons aren’t usually covered, but Essentia offers competitive rates. 

Make an Appointment

Duluth Clinic 3rd Street Building
Call 218-786-2282

St. Joseph's-Brainerd Clinic
Call 218-828-2880

Wahpeton Clinic
Call 701-642-2000

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