Varicose biceps of peace - how much is too much..?

[Taffin]

Bay posed this question in a Nick Walker related thread:

When does it cross over from being vascular (a goal many aspire to and brag about) to varicose (which many criticize)?

Although I clipped the GIF, the source vid for this is from early May, so this guy might already have featured elsewhere on GetBig

But I wonder how many people would be happy with something like this..?



Surely to God that must be evidencing at the very least something sub-optimal, even if it's not physically threatening?  I'm recalling Don 'The Ripper' Ross and his early demise, for example... Also, that Ilich Golem 400lb guy has something similar going on...

[Dave D]

Skin should be translucent. Veins should all be on the surface of the muscle.

It’s the evolution of the sport.

[hench]

Varicose not healthy, also looks disgusting. The hosrpipe biceps vein looks awesome.

[epic is back]

fake

[vascsurgeon]

This is caused by the anatomy of his upper pec and clavicle. That's his Cephalic vein which communicates with his Subclavian vein under his clavicle. I suspect the space there is compromised secondary to his musculature and his skeletal anatomy. The blood cant flow as it should and the vein is dilated under the increased pressure.

[Humble Narcissist]

Looks like a white Paul Dillett.

[Megalodon]

This is caused by the anatomy of his upper pec and clavicle. That's his Cephalic vein which communicates with his Subclavian vein under his clavicle. I suspect the space there is compromised secondary to his musculature and his skeletal anatomy. The blood cant flow as it should and the vein is dilated under the increased pressure.

In order to not have his vascular problem get worse and possibly to have prevented it in the first place, is there some kind of imaging, or something else, that can be done, or could have been done, to determine whatever needs to be changed regarding the relationship of his upper pec and clavicle to his subclavian vein?

[beakdoctor]

Not a good look.

Dillets wasn't that bad. Somebody else had it pretty bad too. Gunther?

But the dude above has it to tge point where it actually detracts from an otherwise impressive build.

[vascsurgeon]

Yes, Ultrasound, MRV or maybe a CT. But this is a benign condition, ugly yes, dangerous, no.
He'll likely develop a phlebitis, a blood clot, also not dangerous, but painful.
He may have a Thoracic Outlet issue which can be serious.
Google that for a better explanation than I can provide here.

[Megalodon]

Yes, Ultrasound, MRV or maybe a CT. But this is a benign condition, ugly yes, dangerous, no.
He'll likely develop a phlebitis, a blood clot, also not dangerous, but painful.
He may have a Thoracic Outlet issue which can be serious.
Google that for a better explanation than I can provide here.

Thanks. Beyond the grossness and unhealthy aspects of varicose veins, I've always wondered what the issues are with "normal" veins that start branching off into crazy directions. Schwarzenegger, Ferrigno, Columbo, Nubret and even somebody current like Heath, have an 'aesthetic' vascularity. But there are people whose veins are, what seems to be, randomly branching off in every direction, which looks like their body is having some sort of circulation issues brought on by training that their veins are adapting to, regardless of it not being unhealthy.

Like these images of Labrada vs Munzer. Munzer was ripped to shreds but didn't have veins which covered up his striations or muddle his muscularity. There are genetic and non-genetic components, but even with the genetic aspect it would be interesting to know what that genetic component is that causes it. It's likely something that hasn't been looked into deeply because it doesn't negatively affect health.

[vascsurgeon]

Totally genetic, although some increase in vascularity is due to hypertension and elevated hematocrit secondary to anabolics .

[joswift]

Mike Watson back in the 80s90s used to have really vascular legs , but take the veins away they were lost that Wow factor

[Humble Narcissist]

Totally genetic, although some increase in vascularity is due to hypertension and elevated hematocrit secondary to anabolics .

Do people with varicose veins in their legs have more risk of heart attacks or strokes later in life?

[Taffin]

Totally genetic, although some increase in vascularity is due to hypertension and elevated hematocrit secondary to anabolics .

Distribution can also appear somewhat random

For example, Gunter wasn't a spaghetti monster, but he had a small patch - and seemingly just that one patch