Veins are blood vessels that transport deoxygenated blood (with the exception of the pulmonary vein) back to the heart. For this process, they are equipped with venous valves on the inside, which constantly open and close. This feature supports the blood flow towards the heart and at the same time prevents blood from flowing backwards and pooling in the legs.

The return transport of blood from the legs is ensured by 2 interconnected venous systems: The first is the deep venous system, which transports around 90% of the blood volume and generally consists of 6 veins in the lower leg.
On the other hand, there is the superficial venous system, which consists of 2 trunk veins per leg and only accounts for around 10% of the blood volume. Both venous systems are connected to each other by over 100 connecting veins ("perforating veins").

Phlebologists are medical specialists who have specialised in the field of veins and their diseases (phlebology). They specialise in diseases, examinations and treatment methods relating to the venous system.

If tired and heavy legs or a tendency to swell are frequently present, the phlebologist can assess whether the cause is venous insufficiency.
He also specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins ("varices"), spider veins and thromboses (blood clots in the veins).
As a rule, your GP will decide when a phlebological examination is necessary. They will then register you with us at the Vein Centre.
Alternatively, you can also contact us directly if you have a free choice of doctor as your insurance model.

A malfunction of the venous valves usually occurs due to genetic predisposition. The backflow of blood causes the vein wall to expand further and further, which leads to a tortuosity of the dilated veins ("varicose vein"). The increased venous pressure ultimately leads to swelling ("oedema") of the ankle, lower leg and occasionally also the foot. This explains the symptoms.
Very rarely, varicose veins can also develop secondarily as a bypass circulation after a severe deep vein thrombosis ("secondary varicosis").
Varicose veins only develop in the superficial system.

Symptoms typically occur when standing or sitting for long periods or at night in the form of a feeling of pressure and heaviness. Swelling of the ankles, restless legs, nocturnal calf cramps and itching on the lower legs can also indicate venous disease.
Elevating the legs and exercise usually improve the symptoms.

The risks of developing varicose veins are genetic predisposition, frequent pregnancies, age and obesity. Added to this are so-called realisation factors such as lack of exercise and long periods of sitting or standing. This impairs the return transport of blood to the heart, as the "calf muscle pump" is inactive.

In addition to a feeling of pressure and heaviness and a tendency for the ankles to swell, varicose veins that persist for a long time can lead to serious consequences. After years, "chronic venous insufficiency" develops with brown discolouration behind or under the ankles due to the increased venous pressure. Inflammation of the superficial veins ("varicophlebitis") can also develop. 
Deep vein thromboses with pulmonary embolisms are rather rare, but require immediate diagnosis and treatment. 
Finally, long-standing varicose veins can also lead to severe bleeding from varicose veins and are the most common cause of leg ulcers, which affects around 0.5% of the total population.

No. Varicose veins have defective venous valves and an expansion of the vein wall. This leads to a partial reversal of the direction of blood flow and increased venous pressure. As varicose veins can lead to secondary damage such as brown discolouration ("chronic venous insufficiency"), superficial vein thrombosis and bleeding, they are not a purely cosmetic problem and should therefore be treated.

In principle, there are two treatment methods: Transcutaneous laser treatment or microsclerotherapy. In the first case, the spider veins are damaged and closed point by point through the skin using a laser. In microsclerotherapy, the spider veins are punctured with a fine needle using magnifying glasses and the sclerosing agent is injected directly into many spider veins at the same time.
In our many years of experience, microsclerotherapy is less painful and more effective than laser treatment. This is also reflected in international guidelines for spider vein therapy. We therefore use microsclerotherapy successfully in our Vein Centre.

For optimum results, direct contact with the sun should be avoided for 2-3 weeks. Afterwards, the affected areas should be adequately protected from the sun. We recommend applying sun protection with factor 50 for the following weeks. 

Yes, this can certainly happen. During venous procedures, the varicose veins are closed using various individualised procedures. The treated truncal vein is first transformed into scar tissue and then into connective tissue. After 6 to 12 months, it is no longer visible on ultrasound. This physiological process is often perceived as a hardening, which usually disappears over the course of days (rarely weeks to months).

The procedure can damage small cutaneous nerves that run close to the treated veins. This leads to discomfort in the affected area, which usually disappears over the course of weeks to months.

No. There is no evidence in the scientific literature that the formation of varicose veins is caused by crossing the legs. However, if varicose veins already exist, this can subjectively worsen symptoms such as a feeling of pressure and heaviness.

On the contrary. Regular vascular training, be it through physical exercise such as running, jogging, cycling, swimming or visits to the sauna, promotes vein health. However, it is important to rinse your legs with a cold shower after a sauna session. You should not go to the sauna if you have a thrombosis, phlebitis or an ulcer.

These symptoms often occur in connection with superficial or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In order to prevent further complications, a phlebological examination should be carried out as soon as possible if these symptoms suddenly occur and appropriate treatment should be initiated.