Laser Vein Treatment

Improving Quality of Life Through Venous Disease Treatment

Andrew M. Douglass, M.D., opened the first full-time phlebology practice in Tennessee in 2001 and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. Dr. Douglass is a member of the original charter class of physicians board certified by the American Board of Phlebology in 2008 and is both a registered vascular technologist (RVT) and a registered physician in vascular interpretation (RPVI).

Varicose veins occur when a genetic trait causes valves in the venous system to fail, resulting in venous reflux and consequent vein dilation. Over time, the high pressure within the veins leads to white blood cell margination through the vein wall and swelling. This inflammatory response causes leg pain and can damage the skin and nearby lymphatics. If left untreated, varicose veins can result in irreversible leg swelling, skin discoloration and ulceration.

“Often times, physicians and patients mistake varicose veins for a purely cosmetic problem,” says Dr. Douglass. “However, the physical appearance of varicose veins is just one of many symptoms resulting from underlying venous disease. If patients are experiencing leg pain in the clinical context of visible varicose veins, a physician is wise to be wary of dismissing pain as simply a consequence of aging. The same is true for swelling, as swelling in the leg can indicate more advanced venous disease requiring treatment.”

Venous disease is by its nature progressive and can be categorized ranging from category one to six, with category one being the mildest form of venous disease. Patients with visible spider veins are classified in the first category, and patients with visible varicose veins are classified in the second category. If swelling is present, patients fall into the third category, and patients fall into the fourth category if skin discoloration is present. At this point in the disease, patients may also notice that the skin on their leg is more easily injured and heals more slowly. Patients with a history of ulceration fall into category five, and patients are diagnosed with category six venous disease if they have an open, active ulcer.

If symptoms of leg pain do not remit with use of compression stockings, definitive treatment of venous disease is recommended. Treatment is also indicated if patients have more advanced venous disease characterized by visible swelling, which indicates that the protein-rich fluid that refluxes into the leg due to faulty veins is overwhelming and potentially damaging the patient’s lymphatic system. Other indications for treatment are skin discoloration or erythema, bleeding, phlebitis or ulceration.

Spider Vein Removal Through Laser Treatment | etcetcetc.org

Laser treatments have been a popular choice for doctors to remove unsightly spider veins found on the legs of most women. You might want to wear your favorite bikini when summer strikes, but you’re having second thoughts because of your spider veins. So before summer hits, take time to visit your doctor and have your spider vein removal . Anyway, the procedure is quick and easy that you can go back to your usual activities right away.

Spider veins appear on the surface of the skin as short, clustered purple, blue or red lines. Although spider veins are not pleasing to look at usually on the face or legs in large or small patterns, it doesn’t cause any discomfort or pain. Varicose veins however are different from spider veins since it can be felt when touched, and are usually accompanied by throbbing, leg fatigue, pain and swelling.

Spider veins are usually caused by the abnormal blood flow or the weakening of the blood vessel. As we all know from Science, the veins act as the blood vessels that pushes the blood back to the heart. It also contains valves that help regulate the blood flow. However, if the blood vessel walls or the valves weaken for some reasons, it causes the blood to leak back into the vein, causing spider veins to form. Other common causes of spider veins are exposure from the sun, weight gain, genetic predispositions, high level of estrogen usually during pregnancy, and too much pressure from the veins by standing or walking for long period of time.

If you do not do something about it, spider veins wouldn’t just disappear. In fact, it will worsen over time. So if you want to get rid of your unsightly spider veins, you can opt for a spider vein removal through laser treatment or surgery. This process removes the spider veins by sending strong bursts of light directly to the blood vessel, onto the vein. It eventually damages the vein by cutting off the source of blood. The spider vein would eventually disappear from the surface of the skin when the blood flow ceases when the spider vein dies. Laser treatment is a quick in easy process. In fact, it usually takes 15-20 minutes to perform this procedure. To totally eliminate the spider veins, 2-5 visits to the doctor is usually recommended, although the time needed for spider veins to completely disappear varies depending on the severity and the size of the spider veins. Treatment may be faster for other people, may be after a few weeks of treatment, while it may take a year for others to have their spider veins totally disappear.

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