National Vascular Disease Awareness Month

There is something to honor every month, and for the month of September, it’s bringing awareness to something that Fox Vein & Laser Experts is profoundly efficient in diagnosing and treating: vascular disease. Join us as we observe National Vascular Disease Awareness Month.

About Vascular Disease

A vascular disease refers to a health condition that affects the circulatory system. This includes diseases of the veins, arteries, blood vessels, and lymph vessels. Venous diseases are the kind of vascular disease that affects the veins, and that is what Dr. Susan B. Fox D. O., RPVI, FSVM, specializes in.

How Venous Disease Occurs

Venous diseases occur when the valves inside of your veins are damaged and do not function correctly. Valves are found inside of every vein; these flaps are responsible for allowing blood to move through the veins and reach the heart. If the valves do not close all the way, they can’t hold the blood and keep it moving in the right direction: up. Instead, the blood falls backward down the valves, and begins to pool. As more and more blood pools in the veins, the veins start to swell and appear like bulging ropes in the skin. People with damaged veins may feel uncomfortable side effects such as throbbing pain, aches, excess itching or heaviness in the legs and feet. Visible symptoms develop as well. Aside from seeing the bulging veins through the top layer of the skin, there may also be additional discoloration of the skin surrounding the affected veins.

Blood clots are also a side effect of having a venous disease, and have the potential to lead to more dangerous health conditions such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.

Venous diseases affect over half of Americans, the most common being varicose veins and spider veins. Medical and technological advancements over the years have made it so invasive surgery is not always necessary to treat and remove damaged veins. We offer a variety of minimally invasive and non-invasive treatment options for venous diseases. When a patient comes to see us for vein treatment, our expert team performs a detailed consultation to determine which treatment will provide the best and most lasting results.

Thanks to the latest scientific innovations and our team’s extensive experience, no one has more advanced techniques and is more ready to treat your damaged veins to get you back to optimal health.

Venous Disease Treatments at Fox Vein & Laser Experts

Here are some of the venous disease treatments available at Fox Vein & Laser Experts:

Visual Sclerotherapy: This treatment is typically reserved for cosmetic concerns and smaller spider veins, but can be used for bigger varicose veins as well if they are close to the surface of the skin. The procedure involves an injection of a medicated solution directly into the affected vein by way of a very small, fine needle. The solution causes the walls of the veins to permanently seal together so that blood can be rerouted to healthy veins. The treated veins eventually become scar tissue that is naturally removed by the body and new tissue grows in its place.

Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy: This procedure is the same concept as visual sclerotherapy, except that it is used for varicose veins that are much deeper in the body that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Using an ultrasound allows for much more precise and efficient treatment because it allows Dr. Fox and her team to have the ability to see these damaged veins that are so far beneath the surface.

Foam Sclerotherapy: This is another form of sclerotherapy that mixes the medicated solution with air to form a foam-like consistency. The benefit of foam sclerotherapy is that more solution can be used to spread out over a larger area of affected veins. Depending on where the damaged veins are located, ultrasound imaging may also be used during this procedure to ensure accuracy.

Endovenous Laser Ablation: With a 98-100% success rate, this is one of the most effective procedures available. It involves a thin laser riber into the affected vein through a very small incision that does not require stitches post-treatment. Laser energy is delivered, pushing the fiber through the vein which heats it and causes it to seal shut. Blood reroutes to healthy veins and the treated veins become scar tissue that fades overtime.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy: This is an in-office procedure performed under local anesthesia, and is used to remove medium and large varicose veins by removing them through very small incisions in the skin. This is a much more minimally invasive procedure than vein stripping, and does not cause any scars or require a major surgical procedure.

ClariVein®: This specially designed catheter is inserted inside the damaged vein to dispense prescription medication. It can rotate 360 degrees so every single part of the vein receives the medication used for treating and removing the affected vein.

VeinGogh: This treatment uses high-frequency electrical energy to heat up the affected vein and cause it to collapse and seal shut. It does not cause any damage or scarring to the surface of the skin and is a very comfortable procedure.

We also suggest wearing compression hose or stockings to help with blood flow and circulation. This is a common post-treatment recommendation but also can work as a preventative measure if you are at risk for developing a venous disease.

 

Contact Us at Fox Vein & Laser Experts 

Whether you are concerned with the cosmetic appearance of your skin, or the uncomfortable symptoms are affecting your day-to-day life, visiting an experienced and successful Miami vein doctor like Dr. Fox is key to preserving your health. Don’t ignore the symptoms! Our team is here to help you find relief from the various kinds of vascular diseases. Call our office today at 954-627-1045 to schedule a consultation.