Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Federico M. Richter, MD
Various forms of venous issues affect 25 million Americans. Their legs are swollen, achy and they have a heavy sensation. When our veins are working properly, they pump blood back to the heart. Valves in the veins are made to open and close in one direction. If these valves or the wall of the veins are damaged, the blood is unable to work against gravity, and the result is a pooling of the blood in our legs. This pooling is called stasis and can present significant risks to our health.
Sometimes venous insufficiency is more of a cosmetic issue and poses little health concerns. This is usually noted in spider veins, which is when the tiny capillaries are damaged, but when the veins are damaged, this can cause varicose veins, which can lead to much more severe health issues. Neither of these should be taken lightly. A medical professional will be able to report whether or not your symptoms are superficial, or dangerous and in need treatment.
Symptoms of venous insufficiency:
• Swollen legs
• Varicose or spider veins
• Discoloration of the skin (brown or red)
• Tingling/burning/itching sensations
• Heaviness
• Aching
• Cramping
To help prevent or relieve your pain from varicose veins, it’s best to rest, elevate your feet and legs throughout the day, wear comfortable footwear and clothing, and to use compression stockings under the supervision of your doctor; HOWEVER, there is a better way!
VenaSeal is an FDA approved treatment for varicose veins utilizes a small catheter, which is inserted into the vein. An adhesive material is injected through the catheter into the vein to close it off.
VenaSeal treats the cause of the venous disorder, not just the symptoms. The VenaSeal allows total reversal of venous blood flow reflux in the great and small saphenous vein.
It is a noninvasive procedure that utilizes a small catheter, which is inserted through a pinhole technique and guided via a wire that is tracked by the physician through ultrasound imaging on a monitor.
During the procedure , there is only one needle stick with local anesthetic instead of multiple needle sticks that are required with other thermal methods like Laser or Radio Frequency . You might feel a slight sensation as the catheter is introduced and pulled out of the vein, the vein is closed by delivering endovenously a proprietary medical grade adhesive(Cyanoacrylate). The entire procedure is done in the office and takes about 30 minutes. After the procedure we apply a band aid and occasionally the doctor will recommend compression if there is edema for a few days instead of 2 weeks like other thermal methods. The best part is, your veins will not longer look bulging and and your symptoms improve in some cases the next day.
Dr. Richter focuses on the newest developments in minimally invasive Vein Treatments. As a venous and lymphatic specialist, he is dedicated to treating Varicose and Spider Veins and their underlying causes. Dr. Richter has over a decade of experience in the specialized field of diagnosing and treating vein disease He is certified by the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine and an active member of the American College of Phlebology and also has accumulated an impressive list of qualifications and educational accomplishments during the course of his career.
Minimally Invasive Solutions such as:
. Endovenous Laser Therapy
. Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy
. Cosmetic Sclerotherapy
. Venaseal
. Varithena
For more information, please visit their website at erasersinc.com, or call (941) 907-3400 to schedule your consultation.
Vein Center of Eraser
941-907-3400
6050 53rd Ave. East (SR70), Suite A, Bradenton, FL 34203
