She's got legs
New treatment for veins means lovely legs without surgery
By James Jimenez, M.D. Special to the News

Do you suffer from varicose veins? Are you in pain or discomfort and ashamed of how your legs look? Then you are not alone. Up to 40 percent of women and 25 percent of men worldwide suffer from varicose veins. Annually, more than 1 million of these people undergo a surgical "vein stripping" operation - but there are more who suffer the pain, discomfort and unattractive appearance of varicose veins to avoid having the surgery to treat their condition.

Of the many who have this condition, there are several frequently asked questions regarding varicose veins.

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are swollen and twisted veins just below the surface of the skin. The normal function of veins is to carry blood back to the heart. Veins have numerous stop valves which are supposed to prevent the blood from flowing the wrong way. If the valves do not close properly, blood "refluxes" and pools in the vein, forcing the walls to enlarge and bulge out and varicose veins are formed. These veins are abnormal and do not transport blood back to the heart efficiently. Treatment can, in fact, improve the venous circulation.

Jimenez

What are varicose vein symptoms?

Aside from the familiar surface appearance of rope-like varicosities, there may be significant leg pain and feet and ankles may swell towards the end of the day, especially in hot weather. Symptoms are typically worse with prolonged standing and are relieved with rest and elevation of the legs. Varicose veins can get sore and inflamed, causing redness of the skin around them. In some severe cases, patients may develop venous ulcers or blood clots.

Are varicose veins related to spider veins?

The key to success when treating varicose or spider veins is the elimination of the primary source of reflux. In some instances a mild cosmetic problem (spider veins) may just be the "tip of the iceberg." Larger non visible refluxing veins may lead to and be causing the spider veins. If this underlying problem is not dealt with, treated spider veins may not respond, will recur, or may even look worse because the underlying problem was never eliminated. What are my treatment options for varicose veins?

Traditionally, painful surgery was the best treatment option. Now, however, there is a minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins known as EndoVenous Laser Treatment or EVLTTM. Patients considering EVLTTM are evaluated by a physician and given a screening ultrasound exam to determine if they are a candidate. EVLTTM is performed under ultrasound control and strictly using local anesthetic. How does EVLTTM work to remove or reduce varicose veins?

The procedure uses laser energy to treat the underlying cause of the varicose veins.

It works by applying laser energy from a Diomed Diode Laser via a thin laser fiber directly into the Greater Saphenous Vein (GSV) which is the underlying cause of many leg varicosities.

The laser energy shrinks the faulty vein and closes it so that the blood cannot flow through it. This eliminates the bulging vein at its source. After treatment, the blood is diverted to the many normal veins in the leg, thus loss of this vein is not a problem for the patient. What are the advantages of EVLTTM over surgical "vein stripping?"

This revolutionary treatment has many advantages over traditional surgery:

. Walk in/walk out treatment taking approximately an hour

. No hospital stay . Instant relief from symptoms . Quick recovery

. Minimal post procedural pain

. Resume normal activities immediately after treatment

In addition, EVLTTM helps varicose vein patients obtain:

. Relief from pain and leg heaviness . Improvement of unsightly varicose veins

. A sense of well-being

. Confidence to bear legs and to wear summer shorts / dresses

. Desire to renew sporting activities

. Renewed energy and vigour

For more information on this procedure, call James Jimenez, M.D. at The Vein Center of Florida (850)-837-4043.