Ambulatory Phlebectomy in Queens, NY

Ambulatory Phlebectomy in Queens, NY – Safe, Minimally Invasive Varicose Vein Removal

An ambulatory phlebectomy involves removing a varicose vein by making small incisions in your skin and pulling it out. The procedure was first performed over 2,400 years ago by Hippocrates, the father of clinical medicine. An ambulatory phlebectomy is an excellent option for treating large varicose veins that bulge on the surface of your skin. It’s rarely used on smaller spider veins.

While varicose veins are impossible to prevent completely, experts advise exercise, diet and looser clothing choices to reduce their severity. If varicose veins have become a problem for you, the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Queens, NY has vein specialists on staff. They treat your varicose veins with this minimally invasive procedure, making surgery unnecessary.

What Causes Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins develop when blood pools in your veins. Within your body’s circulatory system, your arteries carry oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. Your veins transport blood back to your heart for re-oxygenation. It’s a process that takes just 45 seconds to complete, thanks in part to a series of valves that maintain this flow.

As you age, those valves may fail, allowing blood to seep backward and pool in your veins. This condition weakens the vein walls, causing them to bulge. When they bulge enough, they become visible on your skin’s surface. Although most common in the legs, varicose veins can appear in other parts of your body. Untreated, these problem veins can develop into serious health concerns, like blood clots and ulcers.

Who’s at Risk for Developing Varicose Veins?

Anyone can develop varicose veins, but some individuals are more susceptible than others. You’re more at risk if you:

• Suffer from muscle weakness due to trauma, disease or injury
• Are pregnant
• Have a history of blood clots
• Sit or stands for long periods
• Are very tall or obese
• Go through changes in progesterone levels
• Have a family history of venous insufficiency
• Are undergoing cancer treatment
• Smoke cigarettes regularly

Is an Ambulatory Phlebectomy Right for You?

Your primary care physician at Medex diagnoses your varicose vein condition by reviewing your medical history and conducting a thorough physical exam. During the exam, you may be asked to walk, so your doctor can observe your legs. If necessary, your Medex specialist may use an ultrasound to verify your bulging veins’ location and depth.

You’re a potential candidate for an ambulatory phlebectomy if your varicose veins bulge above your skin’s surface. Even if that’s the only symptoms you’re experiencing. Severe or nagging pain is another good reason to seek the procedure since it ends pain by extracting the problem vein.

Not everyone should undergo an ambulatory phlebectomy. If you’re unable to walk or wear compression stockings, you’re not a good candidate. If you have underlying medical conditions that may hamper the success of the procedure, another option, such as sclerotherapy, may be a better fit for you.

The Ambulatory Phlebectomy Procedure

First, your vein specialist at the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center marks the problem veins with a felt-tip marker. After you lie down comfortably with the vein exposed, your doctor disinfects and numbs the area to be treated with local anesthesia. Not only does anesthesia reduce discomfort, but it also minimizes postoperative bleeding.

Your Queens specialist then makes tiny incisions or needle pokes in specific places along your damaged vein. Using special vein hooks, your doctor then pulls it out, section by section. The blood redirects to flow through nearby healthy veins. Once all the targeted veins are removed, your doctor places absorbent bandages over the area and wraps a compression bandage around the entire area.

Recovering from an Ambulatory Phlebectomy

After a successful procedure, you can return to work and other regular activities within a day or two. Your doctor may require that you wear a compression stocking for the first 24 to 48 hours. The stocking:

• Prevents new varicose veins from forming
• Controls normal bruising and swelling
• Reduces any pain

During your recovery, other recommendations facilitate your recovery and prevent blood clots. These include:

• Frequent short walks
• Contracting your leg muscles regularly
• Wearing a compression stocking for a week or two
• No heavy lifting, aerobic activities or standing for long periods during the first month

Your doctor may prescribe other treatments to increase the success of your procedure. Long-term exercising, weight control, and elevating your legs prevent recurrences. If you’re suffering from varicose veins in Queens, contact the Medex Diagnostic and Treatment Center for medical remedies to this potentially serious problem.