National News Coverage
HealthFirst - Erasing Varicose Veins
It's not just a problem for women
(WJRT) - (03/29/07)--It's not just fat that makes people want to cover up during swimsuit season. Varicose veins are another big issue.
But a little laser treatment might just take care of that problem, and it's not just a woman thing -- men get them too.
The laser is a much easier way to get rid of varicose veins, and they aren't just an aesthetic issue. They can signal serious health problems.
Joe Ryan had severe varicose veins. "I took a shower one night, rubbed my leg, and all of a sudden one of the vessels close to the surface, the skin rubbed off," he explained. "It was spurting blood across the room."
"People think it's purely a cosmetic problem," said Dr. Andrew Kwak, an Interventional Radiologist. "It's absolutely not the case."
Varicose veins area a sign of poor blood flow and can lead to ulcers and blood clots.
"A lot of varicose veins are very painful," Dr. Kwak said. "They can become a significant health problem in general."
Now, in just one hour, Dr. Kwak treats varicose veins with a laser. It's a better, less invasive option than past procedures like surgery or vein stripping. And it works!
"You are actually looking inside the leg with an ultrasound machine, find out exactly where you need to actually seal the vein off, and correct the problem," said Dr. Kwak
Joe was like most men. He wasn't getting treatment until it was almost too late. But with the laser, he corrected years of damage and is now pain-free.
"I knew they felt good, and I knew they looked decent," Joe said. "I was happy with that. You know, they didn't have to win a contest or anything. I just looked normal."
And Joe says at age 65, normal is just fine.
In a lot of cases, your insurance will cover the laser procedure if you have pain problems too.
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