South Georgia Vein Center

Dr. Greg Martin

Getting rid of problem veins

In addition to treating the major diseased vein in each leg by ablating (closing) it, Dr. Martin provides the following procedures to give patients the most comprehensive and satisfactory treatments possible:

• Ambulatory microphlebectomy to remove large-size, bulging varicose veins.
• Foam sclerotherapy to remove small to mid-size veins. It is less invasive than microphlebectomy and poses an even lower risk of side effects.
• Perforator vein ablation to close defective perforator veins, which are the short connecting bridge veins that carry blood from your superficial vein system to your deep vein system. The two most popular techniques for treating perforator veins are
  - Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS)
  - Endovenous thermal ablation using either a laser or a radio-frequency instrument.

Endovenous thermal ablation destroys the veins that create chronic venous insufficiency, thus eliminating problems at their source. Working with ultrasound guidance, a tiny heating element or laser filament is inserted into the insufficient leg vein through a very small catheter. When the instrument is positioned in the target area, heat is applied to the interior aspect of the insufficient vein, damaging and sealing (ablating) it.

After the procedure, your treated veins will convert to scar tissue and your body will automatically reroute the flow of blood through healthy veins. In succeeding weeks, your body will absorb the scar tissue and you will enjoy improved circulation and better overall health.

Once gone, those varicose veins stay gone. Modern treatment methods are remarkably durable. Prior to your varicose vein procedure, Dr. Martin is likely to tell you, "Say goodbye to your abnormal veins. You won't see them again."

But wait! Don't you need all your veins?

That’s a reasonable question. It’s even asked by a number of primary care physicians. However, nothing could be further from the truth. There is a lot of redundancy in your vein system; you have many more veins in your legs than necessary for good health.

Blood flows through abnormal, incompetent veins sluggishly and under abnormally high pressure. This is an unhealthy, abnormal state. Not only can this condition produce pain, swelling, and the various other symptoms we have discussed, it also increases the risk of phlebitis and blood clots.

When we destroy abnormal veins, the flow of blood is redirected through tributary veins to nearby healthy veins that have properly functioning valves. Unlike the sluggish, high-pressure flow of blood through abnormal veins, the blood through healthy veins flows briskly and efficiently upward through your legs back toward your heart, as God intended when He designed your body. You will often experience relief of discomfort and other symptoms after treatment, and your legs feel fresher and lighter.