photography by Margaret Licarione
The weather has turned warmer, flower buds are blossoming and summer is fast approaching. With it comes the time of year that millions of women both welcome and dread at the same time: swimsuit season. It’s at this time of year that we find ourselves standing in a department store dressing room with a dozen discarded bathing suits at our feet, staring with a critical eye at the full-length mirror.
The few extra holiday pounds can be shed with a healthy diet, and a few uses of self-tanner or a trip to the mist tanning booth can give a bronze glow to winter skin. But for many women – and men, as well – it’s the sight of those spider and varicose veins that causes the most distress.
Many people develop these conditions in middle age, or even younger, due to genetics. Pregnancy, being overweight and jobs requiring long hours on the feet also contribute to the development of varicose veins.
About 30 percent of the American population suffers from spider or varicose veins. Some have relatively few symptoms, but others suffer major problems and pain, including the deterioration of deeper veins that results in decreased oxygen to the tissue.
“Varicose veins are twisted or enlarged veins that result from weakness in the valves that are supposed to prevent blood from pooling in the extremities due to gravity,” says Dr. Emery W. Dilling, a cardiothoracic surgeon with VeinSolutions. “When the valves or the walls of the veins lose their elasticity, they tend to deform and are usually most noticeable on the legs around the ankles and calves.”
Not very long ago, these ugly purple veins were something we either had to just live with or undergo invasive procedures to eliminate. Fortunately, today’s technology makes it easy and relatively discomfort-free to get rid of those unsightly veins that have been covered up for years.
“Treatment for spider veins and the larger varicose veins has undergone some really wonderful improvements in its technology over the last 10 to 15 years,” Dilling says. “Today, virtually everything can be done in the office under local anesthesia, or none at all. There are more solutions available today, and they’re more effective.”
The VeinGogh procedure treats small spider veins, while catheter-based laser and radiofrequency treatments are performed on varicose veins. VeinSolutions is the only practice in Austin that uses the VeinGogh device.
“It’s rare that any procedure takes more than one hour,” Dilling says. “You walk in and walk out. Normal daily activities can be resumed within one to three days depending on the treatment. For spider veins, the patient can return to work and usual activities as soon as they leave the office.”
VeinSolutions contracts with most insurance companies, and many of the treatments are covered by insurance, while others are considered cosmetic.
Patients definitely feel like they’re getting the star treatment when they walk into the VeinSolutions facility: It looks more like a spa than any medical office.
“Having treatment done at VeinSolutions was a pleasurable and successful experience for me,” says patient Margaret Raatz. Arthur Anguiano was impressed with the personnel: “The staff was very professional and courteous, making for a great experience overall.”
Dilling and Dr. Jeffrey Apple are the treating physicians who are also part of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons (CTVS), a team of 20 board-certified cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons. Four full-time employees are on staff to serve patients’ needs alongside the doctors.. Dilling is particularly gratified by the long-term, dedicated team that VeinSolutions has built.
For more information, visit http://veinsolutionsaustin.com or call 512-452-VEIN.
