Some of you may have pulled your shorts out this past weekend but some people do their best to hide their legs because of varicose veins. Those blue/green veins found on the back of the calf can also lead to health problems if not treated.
The varicose veins on Myrtle Plybon's leg will be gone soon which is perfect timing for her favorite hobby.
Myrtle Plybon: I do a lot of outdoor work I am a garden person and so that is the main reason I am trying to have something done to help me.
A radio-frequency closure procedure which closes the veins causing the bulge is expected to provide relief.
Dr. Robert Ripley, Salem Surgical: They found a way to do the closure part of it quicker that with the technology we were using 3 years ago.
A new catheter threaded through the vein, now cuts the procedure time by a half hour and Dr. Ripley says it is time well spent.
Karen: What health problems can varicose veins lead to if you don't treat them?
Dr. Ripley: Well in kind of a minor form... symptoms heaviness in the leg swelling around the ankles.
A patient like myrtle should notice in the heaviness and aching feeling in the legs within about a week of the procedure but it takes about four to six weeks to notice a change in appearance."
The closure procedure takes 45 minutes. Myrtle says she'll be back in this same room to close the veins in her other leg if the results are as good as she expects.
Doctor Ripley offers the procedure at Salem Surgical and says health insurance will often cover the procedure.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement