Speaking as experienced Sun City vein doctors, we have to tell you that it’s not likely that your varicose veins will “get better on their own.” It’s much more likely they’ll get worse.

Varicose veins are the surface symptoms of a deeper, underlying vein disease. And that vein disease is progressive. That means if the disease is not treated, it has very predictable stages, as the disease progresses and the symptoms get worse. In this blog, we’ll discuss the progressive nature of vein disease. We’ll focus on the type that causes varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI.

What is chronic venous insufficiency?

CVI occurs when the tiny, one-way valves that control the flow of blood through your veins become damaged. In normal veins, these valves open to allow blood to flow through on its way to the heart, and then close again. When these valves become “leaky,” they allow blood to flow back into the veins and collect there. This is what causes these veins to become enlarged and take on the bluish-purple color of deoxygenated blood that you can see on the surface of the skin as spider veins and varicose veins. This is just the first stage of CVI, however.

The six most common stages of CVI (chronic venous insufficiency)

Although each case is slightly different, the following six sets of symptoms appear often enough and in enough patients that we can safely categorize them as reflecting predictable “stages” of the disease.

• Stage one – spider veins. These small, reddish-purple veins – visible on the legs, ankles, neck, face, and other areas – are not necessarily related to varicose veins, but they are caused by the same underlying CVI. They are more common in women than in men.
• Stage two – enlarged, ropy varicose veins. These swollen veins are in many cases “stage one” of the disease, because as noted they are not necessarily preceded by spider veins. This is the stage at which people often first become aware that they have a vein disease. The swollen veins may be accompanied by itching, burning, or numbness along the veins themselves, and by tired, weak, or achy legs. This is the best stage at which to treat them.
• Stage three – edema (swelling), but without skin changes. In this stage, swelling of the legs and ankles increases because CVI has impaired the circulatory system’s ability to reabsorb fluid. Elevation of the limbs may help, but will not cure the disease or reduce the swelling much.
• Stage four – skin changes and discoloration. As the disease progresses, venous congestion and poor circulation can lead to changes in skin color and texture. The skin on your legs can become reddish-brown or white in color, and take on a more leathery texture that leaves it brittle and prone to injury.
• Stage five – skin changes with healed ulceration. In this stage, scratches or injuries to the toughened skin may heal with treatment, often leaving scars.
• Stage six – skin changes with active ulceration. In this final stage of CVI, injuries to the skin and leg ulcers refuse to heal even with treatment, and can leave your legs literally covered with bleeding, open sores.

What can you do to prevent your varicose veins from getting worse?

Have them treated, and as early as possible. As noted above under stage two, this is the point at which varicose vein treatment in Sun City is easiest. In some cases, symptoms at this stage can be successfully managed with conservative treatments such as diet, exercise, and the use of compression stockings.

If you allow the disease to progress to higher stages, it can still be treated by varicose vein specialists in Sun City, but it may require more aggressive treatments such as sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, laser therapy orVenaSeal™. To find out what stage your vein disease is in and which treatment options are applicable, give our experts a call at 888-377-7122 or go online to schedule an appointment. Our talented team of vein experts is happy to assist you.

The post Sun City Vein Doctors Explain the Stages of Vein Disease, and Why You Want To Seek Early Treatment appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.

In this article, Dr. Jeff Braxton and Dr. David Lopresti, two of the best Sun City vein doctors on our staff at Comprehensive Integrated Care, help you understand the differences between these two conditions. This will help you to make the best decisions possible on how to seek the best vein disease treatment near you.

One of the first things to look for to tell the difference between varicose veins and spider veins is the size of the vein

Spider veins tend to be very small and fine, less than 1 millimeter in diameter. They may, in fact, be so small that they are difficult to see when they first appear. They stretch for only a few inches before branching off. They are typically red or purple in color, and typically do not protrude above the surface of the skin.

Varicose veins, on the other hand, are much larger, both in terms of length and width. They are typically 4 to 5 millimeters in diameter, blue in color, and they tend to protrude above the surface of the skin.

Additional things to consider are how the veins are shaped, and where they are located

Spider veins form branching patterns that look similar to a spider web or the roots of a tree. They tend to clump together in web-like clusters (thus the name), but sometimes form “nests” that resemble a bruise. Spider veins usually form on the legs, especially behind the knee. However, they also may appear on the neck, face, ankles, and other areas of the body.

Varicose veins do not form webs or clumps, but they do typically bulge out of the skin in twisted, ropy patterns. They primarily appear on the legs, ankles, and feet. When these bulging veins first appear, they feel soft to the touch. As the disease progresses they may become hard and tender.

Spider veins and varicose veins are both types of vein disease

Both of these conditions are caused by the reflux (backwards) flow of blood through the veins. Both are symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). CVI causes the tiny, one-way valves in the veins to malfunction, fail to close properly, and become “leaky.” When this happens, blood flows back into the veins and pools there, causing them to swell.

There are also differences in how spider veins and varicose veins affect your overall health

In most cases, spider veins are considered simply an aesthetic problem, and pose few health risks. While their unsightly appearance may cause self-consciousness, they do not have a major impact on your overall level of health.

Varicose veins, on the other hand, are often associated with more serious problems. Left untreated, they are more likely to cause symptoms such as pain, chronic weakness or tiredness, leg swelling, and changes to the texture of the skin covering them. Some people experience considerable pain as a result of their varicose veins. This pain is often dull and throbbing (as opposed to sharp). It becomes worse if you sit or stand in the same position for long periods. This can result in chronically swollen, achy legs, and can make it extremely difficult to walk or exercise.

If left untreated, varicose veins can progress to advanced stages with even more serious symptoms. Blood pooling in the veins can lead to thinning, color change, and texture change of the skin. This can lead to changes in skin color and texture. In extreme cases, it might result in bleeding leg ulcers. Sluggish blood flow can also raise your risk for blood clots, including the potentially dangerous type of clot known as deep vein thrombosis.

The differences in how varicose veins and spider veins are treated

Naturally, there are differences in varicose vein treatment and spider vein treatment as well. Our Sun City vein doctors treat both conditions in a minimally invasive manner. However, we use the procedures that are most effective at addressing each problem. For example, we often treat small, fine spider veins with sclerotherapy, the injection of a chemical agent that causes the vein walls to seal shut. On the other hand, we may treat larger varicose veins with endovenous laser treatment or radiofrequency ablation. These procedures use heat or high-frequency energy to seal shut larger veins, redirecting blood flow and eliminating pressure.

At Comprehensive Integrated Care, we focus on finding the most appropriate form of treatment for your individual vein problems. Whether you’re suffering from spider veins, varicose veins, or both, we can diagnose and treat the problem.

While these two forms of vein disease are different, they are similar in that both can be treated quickly, easily, and without discomfort. If you’re ready to take the next step in treating your vein disease, get in touch with our Sun City vein clinic at 888-377-7122. Or, go online on this website to schedule an appointment. The best vascular specialists in Arizona are waiting to assist you.

The post Spider Veins vs. Varicose Veins – the Best Sun City Vein Doctors Explain How to Recognize the Difference appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.

When we ask these patients why they didn’t seek varicose vein treatment in Sun City sooner, before their symptoms became so distressing, the response is often, “I waited because I didn’t want to have cosmetic surgery.”

As doctors considered by many to be the best vein doctors in Sun City, we’ve written this article to educate our readers about this all-too-common misunderstanding. We want people to know that varicose veins are NOT “just a cosmetic problem”. What’s more, treatment by a qualified vascular expert is NOT what they think of as “cosmetic surgery.”

OK, varicose veins ARE unattractive, but they’re also a real problem

The widespread belief that varicose veins are “purely a cosmetic concern” and thus aren’t to be taken seriously is dangerously false. So is the belief that you can easily “live with them” just by keeping your legs covered and pretending that the ugly, swollen veins aren’t there.

Doctors rarely consider varicose veins medically dangerous in themselves. But the condition that causes them (chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI) is very much a real disease. It can impair your circulatory and immune systems. The swollen, discolored veins that you see on the surface of your skin are signs that your veins are not working properly beneath the surface. This affects many aspects of your overall health.

Left untreated, varicose veins DON’T go away, or “get better on their own.” They get worse. The first symptoms you’ll experience will likely be that your legs feel tired and weak all the time. Sometimes you feel like you can no longer stand or walk easily. Next, your legs and ankles can become painfully swollen, further reducing your mobility.

And all of these symptoms still aren’t the worst of the dangers posed by varicose veins. Left untreated, varicose veins impair your immune system, so that you are at a higher risk of developing more serious diseases.

Varicose vein damage is not just physical

Varicose veins not only erode your physical health. Trying to “live with them” also erodes your sense of self-confidence and well-being. People with varicose veins often tend to become isolated. They might avoid friends and family because they’re so concerned about their appearance. Some people might actually end up fighting depression.

So what should you do if you have varicose veins?

You should seek a consultation from the best vascular specialists in Sun City. The many advances made in medicine have made it possible for vein specialists to diagnose and determine the extent of vein disease in less than an hour.

They do this by performing a painless, non-invasive venous health screening that takes only about an hour. These exams can determine very quickly whether you have varicose veins and the condition that causes them – chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

If you do, the diseased veins can be eliminated in about the same length of time – less than an hour – using painless, minimally-invasive varicose vein treatment options. These procedures are so safe that they can be performed in the comfort of your local Sun City vein clinic. These procedures will improve your appearance, so in that sense they are “cosmetic.” Most varicose veins can be eliminated quickly and permanently, so you’ll feel better about how you look.

More important, however – and why we recommend these procedures – you will very quickly begin to feel better, because the underlying vein disease is no longer sapping your strength and causing you pain.

So how do I find out more about varicose vein removal (for health reasons or cosmetic reasons)?

It’s simple – just pick up your phone and call Comprehensive Integrated Care at 888-377-7122 and schedule an appointment with vascular specialists such as Dr. Jeff Braxton and Dr. David Lopresti. If you have vein disease, the doctor can explain the different treatment options to you, and help you to choose which ones are best for you.

But the most important “first step” is to make that phone call. Schedule that first appointment. After that you’ll be able to relax, because you’ll have the best vein doctors in Sun City working to improve your health and your appearance.

The post Best Vein Doctors in Sun City Explain Why Vein Disease Is Not ‘Just A Cosmetic Problem’ appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.

So our Sun City vein specialists often need to spend time clearing up the patients’ misconceptions before we can present actual facts to them. Then we can help them to choose the most effective treatment for their vein problems. In this article, we’ll try to clear up a few of these misconceptions for you, our readers, as well.

Misconception #1: “Vein disease isn’t a ‘real’ disease.”

Most people, when they hear the term “vein disease,” immediately think of varicose veins and spider veins. These are the most common visible symptoms of vein disease. However, it’s important to understand that they are just that – symptoms of a deeper and more serious disease.

Varicose veins and spider veins are the surface symptoms of a deeper problem with your circulation. Your blood is not flowing properly, and these swollen and discolored veins are a sign of that. Anything that impairs your circulation has a negative impact on your overall health. These symptoms are also signs that you should pay attention to them and get a vein health checkup.

Vein disease IS very much a real disease, and fortunately it’s one that we can easily diagnose and effectively treat.

Misconception #2: “My friends say varicose veins and spider veins are primarily cosmetic concerns, so I don’t need to seek treatment.”

Many patients with varicose veins and spider veins fail to seek treatment for them because they are afraid it might make them look vain. They’re afraid that their friends and family will consider the treatments “purely cosmetic.”

This misconception is dangerous because it convinces people with varicose veins that they don’t need treatment. Many don’t even bother to get a vein health checkup to see whether their swollen and discolored veins are signs that more serious vein diseases (such as deep vein thrombosis) are present.

Misconception #3: “I’ve heard that varicose vein treatments involve pain, long recovery times, and possible scarring.”

None of this is true. It might have been, decades ago, in the earlier days of vein disease treatment. But there have been remarkable advances in medical science since then. Modern vein disease diagnosis and treatment doesn’t even remotely resemble stories you might have heard about how it was in the past.

Advances like ultrasound enable modern vein doctors to look beneath the surface of the skin and see the veins themselves. They can actually watch your blood as it flows through the veins, and thus pinpoint any blockages or failures.

When it comes to actually treating vein diseases, we’ve seen even greater advances. Nowadays, to treat varicose veins and spider veins, there is no need for hospitalization and invasive surgery. Instead, you recline comfortably in your doctor’s office while he or she inserts a tiny catheter (smaller than the needle used to give you a flu shot) into one of your veins. The doctor then guides the catheter precisely into place and injects a sealant or uses heat or a tiny laser to close the vein permanently. Your body automatically reroutes blood flow to healthier veins and – voilà – in a very short time the varicose vein is gone.

None of these modern diagnostic or treatment procedures are painful. There is no scarring because there are no large incisions, just a pinprick. None of the treatments require hospitalization or long recovery times, because there is nothing to recover from. Most procedures take less than an hour to complete, after which most patients walk out of the office and return to work or home.

This is the real story of what modern vein disease treatment is like.

Misconception #4: “Are these procedures necessary? Can’t I just ‘live with’ my varicose veins instead of removing them?”

This is one of the most widespread misconceptions about vein disease. Over the years we have seen many patients who say, “Sure, my varicose veins are unattractive, but hey! — that’s just part of growing older. I’ll just cover them up with dark stockings and long pants.”

And, in fact, many cases of varicose veins can be effectively handled with conservative treatment. This treatment includes making changes to one’s diet and exercise patterns, quitting smoking, and wearing support stockings. This treatment option doesn’t eliminate the varicose veins, but it can help to minimize negative symptoms.

Unfortunately, this approach doesn’t work for some patients, or only works for a while. Vein disease is often a progressive disorder, meaning that it gets worse if you ignore it. Left untreated, varicose veins can cause chronic leg pain so bad that it makes standing or walking difficult. In some cases, the skin covering the swollen veins becomes brittle and prone to injury. Then, because your circulation is impaired, the wounds don’t heal properly, and can develop into leg ulcers.

So, although it is true that you can try to ignore your varicose veins, there are many reasons why you shouldn’t. Especially when the modern treatment methods used to eliminate them are so fast, painless, and effective.

Misconception #5: “If these procedures improve my appearance, won’t my insurance company consider them ‘cosmetic’ and refuse to pay for them?”

This misconception is based on a lack of information, because the condition that causes varicose veins is very much a real disease. It’s also a disease that can have serious consequences if it is not treated. While it is true that varicose vein removal will improve your appearance, the primary reason that varicose vein experts in Sun City perform it is to improve your overall health.

Untreated varicose veins can become so painful that they can impair your ability to walk and stand, and thus fulfill your work duties. In such cases, there is an excellent chance that your insurance provider will cover your treatment. Insurance companies do this because the treatments are preventative, a way to avoid future health complications that would cost them even more money. The vascular experts at CiC are also experts at helping you communicate and negotiate with your insurance company to make sure you get the treatment you need.

We hope that this article has helped to improve your understanding of vein disease. If you have additional questions, give our vein experts a call at 888-377-7122 or schedule an appointment online. Our talented team of varicose vein specialists is happy to help in any way we can!

The post The Best Vein Specialists in Sun City Clear Up 5 of the Most Common Vein Disease Misconceptions appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.

In this article, the vein specialists at CiC explain what varioceles are, what causes them, and who is most at risk of developing them.

What are varicoceles?

Varicoceles occur in approximately 10-15% of all men, although they do not always cause pain. When they do, the symptoms can range from dull discomfort to strong pain in the scrotum. For some men, this pain worsens after standing or sitting for long periods of time, after exercise, or over the course of the day.

Pain is not the only negative effect of varicoceles, however. Left untreated, they can cause testicular atrophy (shrinkage of the testicles).

There is also a strong association between varicoceles and male infertility. The 10-15% incidence of varicoceles in the general population grows to 30-40% in infertile couples. Varicoceles have been linked with decreases in sperm count and motility, and with increases in the number of deformed and ineffective sperm. Many experts believe that the infertility appears because the blocked and swollen varicoceles raise the temperature in the scrotum, reducing sperm production.

What causes varioceles?

When speaking with their patients, physicians and especially vein doctors discuss reflux of blood (venous insufficiency), in the gonadal veins.  In healthy veins there are one way valves that allow blood to flow back to the heart.  Patients with a varicocele may have malfunctioning valves which then allow blood to flow backwards and pool in the veins in the scrotum.

What are the risk factors for varicoceles?

There are no specific risk factors for developing varicoceles, except being male. They sometimes develop during puberty, but can also appear at other ages.

What symptoms might indicate that you have a varicocele?

Many varicoceles display no overt symptoms. But if they do, you may experience:

• A lumpy mass in one of your testicles
• Visibly enlarged or twisted veins in the scrotum (often described as looking like a “bag of worms”)
• Swelling of the scrotal area
• Dull, recurring pain in the testicles, which may decrease when you lie on your back

When you should see a doctor

If the varicoceles are producing no noticeable symptoms, they may require no treatment. But you should see a doctor if you:

• Experience pain or swelling in the scrotal area
• Notice that your testicles are different sizes
• Discover a mass in your testicles

The procedures used to diagnose varicoceles are simple and painless, so don’t hesitate to seek medical advice. The advances made in recent years to vein disease treatment procedures mean that varicoceles can be easily treated and eliminated using minimally-invasive, non-surgical procedures. 

Click for more information on vein disease or call the experts at Comprehensive Integrated Care at 888-377-7122 today, and be on your way to a healthier you!

The post Leading Phoenix Vein Specialists on Varicoceles: What They Are, What Causes Them, and When to See a Doctor appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.

In this article, our varicocele doctors explain what happens when you see us. We’ll tell you how varicoceles are diagnosed, and how they are treated at CICC using minimally-invasive interventional radiology procedures.

What to expect in a varicocele examination at CICC

You may be referred by your GP to one the varicocele doctors at our CIC Centers. Your doctor will start by asking about your symptoms, and then will examine you to search for varicocele masses. You may need to be standing during this procedure.

If needed, your varicocele doctor may perform a deeper analysis using ultrasound. This technology is safe and painless. It uses high-frequency sound waves to look beneath the surface of the skin to check for large veins.

If you have varicoceles, what are your varicocele treatment options?

The answer to this question depends on your symptoms. If you have little to no pain and show no signs of testicular atrophy, no treatment may be necessary.  Some patients may benefit from scrotal support, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, or decreasing strenuous activity like heavy lifting.

If the pain from the varicoceles is more severe, further treatment may be needed.

What is modern varicocele treatment like?

If you have heard stories of how varicoceles were treated in the past, your first question might be, “Does varicocele treatment hurt?”

No, it doesn’t. In the past, varicocele treatment often required open or laproscopic surgery. This involved going to a hospital and having general anesthesia. And yes, there was some pain and recovery time involved. Thanks to advances in interventional radiology, however, we treat the condition using varicocele embolization.

This is a non-surgical, outpatient procedure. Your CIC physician uses local anesthesia and then makes a tiny cut in the skin of the upper leg. A thin catheter is inserted, and a dye is injected to help reveal the abnormal veins. Finally, the varicocele doctor uses tiny coils or a chemical to block blood flow to any abnormal veins.

This technique reduces pressure on the varicocele. It also allows it to shrink to its normal size. 

There are no large incisions, so recovery time after embolization is minimal. Just 1-2 days, as opposed to 1-2 weeks after surgery.

Benefits of varicocele embolization compared to surgery

• No need for general anesthesia or overnight stays in a hospital
• No need for sutures or surgical incisions in the scrotal area
• A patient with varicoceles on both sides can have them fixed through one vein puncture site. Surgery requires two incisions
• Less recovery time – you can resume normal daily activities immediately
• In most cases, this procedure eliminates pain in the testicles

So if you have pain or any of the other symptoms associated with varicoceles, don’t try to “live with them.” Instead, schedule an appointment with the varicocele doctors at Comprehensive Interventional Care Centers. We have CICC locations in Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah, so pick up your phone and call 1-888-377-7122 today.

The post Varicocele Treatment: How Varicoceles Are Diagnosed, and How Modern Vein Disease Treatment Can Eliminate Them appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.

Few areas of specialization are as rife with myths as vein disease and its treatment. This is a tragedy, because vein disease affects over 25% of Americans. Yet only a fraction of them seek treatment.

Why? Because people believe the myths they’ve heard from friends or on the Internet to be true. They’re not. In this article, the vein disease treatment experts at CICC provide a few facts to counter this misinformation and clear up the myths.

What are the most common myths about vein disease and its treatment?

• Varicose veins and other vein problems only affect the elderly.. This is not true. Varicose veins and spider veins are very common in women in their 20s and 30s, especially if they have given birth.
• Vein disease is “only a woman’s problem.” This is another complete untruth. Sadly, this myth keeps many men (45% of men over 60 have varicose veins) from seeking treatment.
• Vein disease isn’t a “real disease.” This is one of the myths we hear most often. New patients tell us they’ve delayed seeking vein treatment for so long because they believe their varicose veins are merely a “cosmetic problem”. They believe that there is no need to seek treatment for them. This myth is dangerously untrue. Vein disease can cause pain and disability.
• Vein disease is limited to varicose veins and spider veins, and isn’t serious. This is another dangerous myth. One form of vein disease – deep vein thrombosis or DVT – causes over 300,000 deaths per year.
• Vein disease treatment isn’t necessary. Sadly, the myths have convinced many people to believe they can ignore their varicose veins and other vein disease symptoms. This is false, because untreated veins don’t “get better on their own,” they get worse.
• Varicose vein removal is painful and time-consuming. Both of these myths may have been true in the past, but they’re not now. Modern vein disease treatment is minimally invasive, which means that it’s no more painful than getting a flu shot. And it isn’t time-consuming. You can literally walk into a vein specialist’s offices, have your veins treated, and walk out about an hour later. Also, there is no “recovery time” needed these days because there is nothing to recover from.

The truth about vein disease is that it is very much a real disease. There are valid medical reasons why you should seek vein disease treatment. The screenings we use to detect vein disease are non-invasive and painless and take only about an hour. And if problems are found, they can often be eliminated in about the same amount of time, painlessly, and with no need to go to a hospital.

So don’t risk your health by believing the myths you hear about vein disease treatment. Instead, schedule an appointment and get the real facts from the vein specialists at Comprehensive Interventional Care Centers. We have CICC locations in Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah, so pick up your phone and call today.

The post Leading Vein Doctors Clear Up the Top Myths about Vein Disease Treatment appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.

They explain to us what it’s been like for them “living with vein disease”. They tell us why they finally decided to seek vein disease treatment so they could STOP “living with it.”

We think that some of their answers are worth sharing. They might be helpful if you or someone you love is fed up with trying to “live with” your varicose veins. It is time to get rid of varicose veins forever.

What our CiC patients say is the worst thing about living with vein disease

• “I can’t wear the clothes I want to wear.” Almost all of our patients with varicose veins – both male and female – have commented that they can’t wear clothes that they find comfortable or attractive. Bulging, unsightly veins make it hard to wear skirts, shorts, or bathing suits without embarrassment. Instead, most people hide their varicose veins under long pants or dark stockings. This makes it impossible for them to express themselves the way they’d like through their clothing.
• “My varicose veins make me feel unattractive.”Even if they are hidden, many of our patients say their varicose veins make them feel unattractive. Over time, this can grow into a negative self-image that has an impact on the person’s confidence. Some say that these negative feelings have made it difficult to get ahead in their careers. Others tell us that they have impacted their relationships.
• “My legs hurt all the time.” Varicose veins are caused by pressure from poorly circulating blood. Instead of moving upwards to the heart as it should, blood settles into the feet and ankles, causing discomfort and swelling. This pain is often worse at the end of the day. Others experience it all the time, making it difficult to fully engage in the activities they want to participate in.
• “I’m so tired at the end of the day.” The underlying vein issues that cause varicose veins leave many people exhausted at the end of the day. Many patients also suffer from painfully swollen legs and ankles. This combination makes it impossible to enjoy activities that were once their favorite pastimes. When combined with embarrassment over varicose veins’ unattractiveness, these physical symptoms of vein disease leave many feeling isolated and depressed.
• “I’m afraid I’m risking serious complications” Some patients come to us because they’ve learned that their varicose veins put them at risk of more serious conditions. The fact that their vein disease could lead to skin ulcers or deep vein thrombosis has made it impossible for them “live with” their varicose veins. So, wisely, they decide to reach out to vein disease treatment specialists for help. We’re always happy to tell them that our vein treatments can protect them from these complications

The REAL Worst Thing about Living with Vein Disease

From our point of view as vein specialists with years of experience, the REAL “worst thing about living with vein disease” is people’s belief that they have to just resign themselves to having varicose veins or spider veins and “live with” those symptoms. They don’t. It’s a lie.

Vein disease – whether it manifests as varicose veins or spider veins or a more serious condition like deep vein thrombosis – is treatable. You don’t have to live with it. Believing that you do is the worst thing about living with vein disease.

So stop “living with” a condition that’s making you miserable. Give us a call at 888-377-7122 and allow our CiC vein experts to explain how quickly and painlessly modern varicose vein treatment can enable you to get rid of varicose veins forever.

The post What Varicose Vein Center Patients Tell Their Doctors about Living with Vein Disease appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.

Invasive procedures

In medical terms, an invasive procedure is one in which the physician has to either break the skin or enter it through a body cavity. Thus all open surgery is considered invasive, because it requires that surgeons make incisions in the skin with a scalpel, which in turn requires that either local or general anesthesia be used during the procedure. Invasive procedures can be both necessary and life-saving (consider the occasional need for heart surgery, for example). But at the same time invasive procedures incur certain risks, leave scars, and often require lengthy periods of time to recover from. Only a few years ago, back in the “bad old days” of vein disease treatment, an invasive procedure called “vein stripping” was the only way to permanently remove varicose veins.

Non-invasive procedures

In contrast, non-invasive procedures do not require physicians to break the skin or intrude into a body cavity. If your cardiologist recommends that you have an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), that is a non-invasive procedure, because the data is obtained through electrodes pasted to the surface of your skin. Other non-invasive procedures related to vein care would be the use of ultrasound to look beneath the surface of the skin to detect vein disease. Most of the diagnostic methods we use in our Phoenix vein treatment center are non-invasive.

Minimally-invasive procedures

Technically, even getting a flu shot is minimally invasive, because the needle breaks the skin. But what doctors mean by a minimally-invasive procedure (MIP) is one that accomplishes the same purpose as open surgery, but in a way that is much less invasive. In the treatment of vein disease, such procedures include sclerotherapy, in which a tiny needle is inserted into a vein to inject a sealing agent and close it, and endovenous laser treatment, in which a tiny laser is inserted into a vein and used to remove diseased tissue or blood clots.

MIPs offer many benefits over open surgery and other forms of treatment. Because there are no large incisions, there is less pain and so in many cases even local anesthesia is not needed. The MIPs that our Phoenix vein specialists use to treat vein disease also leave no scars and require no recovery period; it is common for patients to walk in to our offices with varicose veins and walk out without them, all in about an hour, and without ever going to a hospital. Finally, MIPs work better to eliminate vein disease than the old invasive procedures did.

How do I find out more about modern minimally-invasive treatments?

If you have varicose veins or spider veins and are interested in finding out how fast, painless, and easy vein treatment in Phoenix is these days, we recommend that you spend some time looking over the informative articles we’ve provided on our website. Or, if you’d prefer to speak to us in person, just give us a call at 888-377-7122 and allow the experts at Comprehensive Interventional Care Centers to explain all of their minimally-invasive treatment options to you.

The post Phoenix Vein Specialists Explain the Differences between Invasive, Non-Invasive, and Minimally-Invasive Medical Procedures appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.