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Varicose Veins: When Leg Veins Are More Than a Cosmetic Concern

Published July 2nd, 2026 by Great Lakes Medical Imaging

If you have noticed rope-like, bulging veins on your legs, you may have assumed they are simply a cosmetic issue. For many people in Western New York, those visible veins are also tied to symptoms they have learned to ignore: achy legs after a long day, swelling around the ankles, or a heavy feeling that makes the evening hours uncomfortable.

The truth is that varicose veins can be more than skin deep. They are often a sign of an underlying circulation problem called venous reflux, and the good news is that evaluation is straightforward and treatment is available close to home. At Great Lakes Medical Imaging (GLMI), our team helps patients across Williamsville, Cheektowaga, Orchard Park, Cambria, and the greater Buffalo region understand what their leg veins are telling them and what can be done about it.

What Are Varicose Veins, Really?

Healthy veins carry blood from your legs back up toward your heart. To do this against gravity, they rely on a series of one-way valves that open to let blood move upward and close to keep it from flowing backward. When those valves stop working well, blood can pool in the legs instead of returning efficiently. This condition is known as venous reflux, or venous insufficiency.

Over time, the extra pressure from pooled blood can cause veins near the surface of the skin to stretch, twist, and bulge. Those are the varicose veins you can see. While they are sometimes dismissed as purely cosmetic, they can come with real symptoms that affect how your legs feel and function every day.

Symptoms That May Warrant a Varicose Vein Screening

Varicose veins do not always cause discomfort, but when they do, the signs can show up in ways that are easy to write off as ordinary tiredness or aging. If you notice any of the following, it may be worth talking with a provider about a screening:

Leg pain, aching, or cramping
Burning or itching of the skin
Leg or ankle swelling, especially at the end of the day
A "heavy" feeling in the legs
Visible varicose veins
Skin discoloration or changes in skin texture
Open wounds or sores
Restless legs

Many people in our region spend long hours on their feet at work, or notice their legs feel worst after a busy day outdoors. Symptoms that tend to build as the day goes on, and ease when you put your feet up, are a classic pattern worth mentioning to your provider. You can learn more about these conditions on our veins and venous disease page.

How Evaluation Begins: A Simple Ultrasound

The first step in understanding your leg veins is not surgery and it is not guesswork. It is simply an ultrasound. Specifically, a venous insufficiency study, sometimes called a venous Doppler study, uses sound waves to look at how blood is moving through the veins in your legs.

This exam is comfortable and noninvasive. There are no needles and no radiation involved. A technologist applies a small amount of gel to your skin and moves a handheld device over your leg to capture images and measure blood flow. The study helps your provider see whether the valves in your veins are working properly or whether blood is flowing backward and pooling. You can read more about how this imaging works on our ultrasound page, which is one of the many tools in our broader imaging services.

If you are wondering whether your symptoms warrant a closer look, the easiest next step is to reach out. You can contact GLMI to ask questions or to find out how to get started with an evaluation.

How GLMI Treats Varicose Veins

When an ultrasound confirms that varicose veins are caused by venous reflux or insufficiency, GLMI offers a minimally invasive treatment called the ClosureFast radiofrequency ablation, or RFA, procedure.

Here is how it works in plain terms. The procedure uses radiofrequency energy, which is a form of controlled heat, to gently seal off the affected vein. Once that vein is closed, blood naturally reroutes itself to nearby healthy veins, which improves circulation in the leg. Because the problem vein is no longer carrying pooled blood, the body redirects flow to where it belongs.

In most cases, this treatment also eliminates the visible varicose veins on the legs. That means addressing the underlying circulation issue often improves both how your legs feel and how they look, without separate cosmetic procedures.

Because RFA is minimally invasive, it is designed to be far gentler than the vein-stripping surgeries of the past. Your provider will walk you through what to expect and confirm whether you are a good candidate based on your ultrasound results and your overall health.

Will Insurance Cover It?

Cost is a common and completely reasonable concern. Because varicose veins from venous reflux are a medical issue and not merely cosmetic, the ClosureFast RFA procedure is covered by most insurances. The venous ultrasound that comes first helps document the medical need, which is part of why evaluation matters.

If you have questions about coverage or what your plan requires, the GLMI team can help point you in the right direction. Reviewing your scheduling information options is a good way to understand the steps involved and prepare for your visit.

When Should You Talk to a Provider?

You do not need to wait until your symptoms become severe. If your legs ache, swell, itch, or feel heavy on a regular basis, or if you have visible varicose veins along with skin changes or sores that are slow to heal, those are good reasons to start a conversation. Restless legs and end-of-day swelling that keep returning are also worth mentioning.

Early evaluation is simple, and it gives you and your provider clear information to work with. Even if your veins turn out to be a minor concern, knowing the cause can bring peace of mind. Decisions about whether to pursue treatment are always made together with your healthcare provider, based on your symptoms and your ultrasound findings.

Convenient Care Across Western New York

GLMI makes it easy to be seen close to home, with locations throughout the Buffalo area and Niagara County:

Your legs work hard, especially through the long Western New York winters and active summers. If varicose veins are causing discomfort or you simply want answers, you do not have to live with the guesswork. Call GLMI at 716-836-4646 or schedule an evaluation to find out whether a simple venous ultrasound is the right next step for you.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or appropriate diagnostic testing. Individual health circumstances vary, and decisions about imaging or treatment should be made in consultation with your healthcare provider.

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