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Epidemic of Varicose and Spider Veins Sweeping U.S.
Some 80 million Americans suffer from varicose veins or spider veins, according to leading U.S. medical organizations. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that half of women over age 21 in America have spider veins. And the National Women's Health Information Center says varicose veins affect half of those age 50 and older.
While spider veins – networks of fine reddish or bluish veins on the ankles, thighs or face – are mainly a cosmetic concern, varicose veins are often a serious medical issue. They are often the natural result of the aging of the blood vessels, but they can be caused just as often by the increased pressure in the veins from overweight and obesity, which themselves are at epidemic levels in the United States.
Varicose veins occur when the veins become weak, thin-walled and stretched-out, causing the vessels’ one-way valves to fail. When some blood improperly flows backward, it pools in the veins, swelling them. The result is veins that bulge out from the legs in a ropy, purplish pattern. The varicosity can make the legs painful, tired, swollen and heavy. Blood clots and skin ulcers can also form.
“The good news is, you have lots of veins, so it’s no problem to remove one or two or even several,” said Edward G. Mackay, a vein specialist who has offices in St. Petersburg and Palm Harbor, Fla. “You have a network of veins and lots of extra circulation.”
The treatments for both varicose and spider veins, which can take just 30 to 60 minutes in a doctor’s office, are comparatively simple – and have become even simpler in the past few years. The older method of vein stripping requires full anesthesia, the recovery time is longer, there is scarring, and there is far more recurrence of the condition than with the new methods.
The doctor first does an ultrasound scan of the affected leg or legs. This finds problems that there may be even in the deep veins, which might be causing the surface-vein difficulty.
For spider veins, Mackay said, “the gold standard for treatment” is sclerotherapy. Here, the physician injects a solution into the veins that collapses them. They generally fade from view after several treatments over a period of weeks or months. Sclerotherapy costs $200 to $300 a session, but most insurers view it as a cosmetic procedure and won’t cover it.
For varicose veins, a patient can choose endovenous laser therapy (EVLT). In this procedure, the doctor inserts into the vein a long filament tipped with a laser, guiding it with ultrasound to the affected spot. The laser then heats the inside of the vein, causing it to collapse. The destroyed vein shrivels, and is absorbed by the body.
Another option is radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Ablation is the removal of diseased tissue. RFA is just the same as EVLT, except that the filament is tipped with a radiofrequency device to heat the vein wall and collapse the vessel. Endovenous and radiofrequency treatments run about $1,500.
A third procedure is micro-incision phlebectomy. Here, the physician makes several tiny needle incisions and uses a small surgical hook to remove the vein. The incisions are so small that no stitches are needed – but patients must wear pressure stockings for two weeks afterward to ensure proper healing. Phlebectomies cost between $1,500 and $2,000. Ultrasound exams run about $300. Costs for all of these treatments can vary from one locale to another.
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Dr. Allan S. Stewart, M.D.
CUMC Aortic Surgery Program
Milstein Hospital Building, 7-435, 177 Fort Washington Avenue
New York City,
NY
10032
Call 718-509-9178
Are you unsure on how to handle an aortic aneurism? Has it caused your family excessive stress and anxiety? It can be a very difficult condition to live with, because at anytime it can turn into a rupture and cause a nightmare for you the ones you love. The conventional treatment methods don't make it any easier, many of them come with several life altering strings attached. For the past decade, Dr. Allan Stewart MD has learned and treated many chronic and acute aortic conditions. Today, at the Columbia University Medical Center he offers an innovative valve replacement surgery, which can allow you to maintain the same quality of life you had before this ordeal began. If you're considering aortic surgery in the Bronx, NY area, contact the Columbia University Medical Center today.
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Dr. Allan S. Stewart, M.D.
CUMC Aortic Surgery Program
Milstein Hospital Building, 7-435, 177 Fort Washington Avenue
New York City,
NY
10032
Call 718-509-9178
Has an aortic aneurism caused you and the ones you love excessive stress and anxiety? For many it can feel like a time bomb in your chest, because it's so tough to know when it will cause a nightmare for you and the ones you love. The difficulty doesn't end there, many of the treatment options come with several life changing complexities. At the Columbia University Medical Center Dr. Allan Stewart MD understands the distress that families dealing with aortic aneurism go through. He has spent his education and medical carrier learning and treating many complex problems of the aortic artery. Now, as the director of the Aortic Program he offers aortic arch surgery designed to allow you to maintain the same quality of life you've always enjoyed. Contact his office at the Columbia University Medical Center today for more information.
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Steven Bines, MD
Windy City Vein Center
1725 West Harrison St. Suite 810
Chicago,
Illinois
60612
Call 312-942-8346
Are you concerned with the appearance of your legs because you have varicose veins? There are minimally invasive ways to treat your varicose veins with fast and easy procedures. You don’t have to feel self-conscious about the appearance of your legs any longer. Dr. Steven Bines, MD offers a number of safe and effective in-office varicose vein surgical treatments at his Chicago, Illinois office.
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Dr. Allan S. Stewart, M.D.
CUMC Aortic Surgery Program
Milstein Hospital Building, 7-435, 177 Fort Washington Avenue
New York City,
NY
10032
Call 718-509-9178
Nothing is more important than your heart. Therefore, you should take special care when selecting a surgeon for your heart. Dr. Allan Stewart, MD is the director of the Aortic Surgery Program at the Columbia University Medical Center, and as such he ensures that his patients receive quality treatment that meets their unique needs. Dr. Stewart%u2019s clinical specialty includes complex aortic arch surgery. Additionally, he is one of the few surgeons in the world who is able to perform valve sparing aortic root replacement, where he is able to repair the aortic root instead of having to transplant one. This particular procedure is designed to be both safer and more comfortable for patients in the long-term. If you live in the NYC, New York area and are looking for an experienced and visionary aortic surgeon, contact the Columbia University Medical Center today.
|
Dr. Allan S. Stewart, M.D.
CUMC Aortic Surgery Program
Milstein Hospital Building, 7-435, 177 Fort Washington Avenue
New York City,
NY
10032
Call 718-509-9178
The decision to undergo valve replacement surgery is not an easy one for you or your loved ones. Therefore, it is essential to find a highly qualified surgeon that you can trust. At the Columbia University Medical Center Aortic Surgery Program, Dr. Allan Stewart, MD offers his patients the chance to improve their health and quality of life through effective surgical procedures. His expertise allows for his practice to not only offer successful valve replacement surgery, but also a rare valve sparing aortic root replacement as an option for his patients. This valve sparing procedure is designed to be both safer and more comfortable for patients in the long-term. If you're searching the Queens, NY area for an experienced and visionary aortic surgeon, contact the Columbia University Medical Center today.
|
Dr. Allan S. Stewart, M.D.
CUMC Aortic Surgery Program
Milstein Hospital Building, 7-435, 177 Fort Washington Avenue
New York City,
NY
10032
Call 718-509-9178
Has an aortic aneurysm caused you and the ones you love excessive stress and anxiety? For many it can feel like a time bomb in your chest, because it's so tough to know when it will cause a nightmare for you and the ones you love. The difficulty doesn't end there, many of the treatment options come with several life changing complexities. At the Columbia University Medical Center Dr. Allan Stewart MD understands the distress that families dealing with aortic aneurysm go through. He has spent his education and medical carrier learning and treating many complex problems of the aortic artery. Now, as the director of the Aortic Program he offers aortic arch surgery designed to allow you to maintain the same quality of life you've always enjoyed. Contact his office at the Columbia University Medical Center today for more information.
|
Dr. Allan S. Stewart, M.D.
CUMC Aortic Surgery Program
Milstein Hospital Building, 7-435, 177 Fort Washington Avenue
New York City,
NY
10032
Call 718-509-9178
Has a sudden aortic aneurism afflicted the lives of you and the ones you love? There's nothing easy or simple about heart surgery. Much of the time finding the best treatment can be just as hard to deal with as the condition because many of the treatment options carry restrictions on life after surgery. For the past ten years, Dr. Allan Stewart MD researched and solved a wide range of aortic conditions using the latest minimally-invasive techniques. The Cardiac Division of the Columbia University Medical Center performs over 1600 open-heart procedures, and extends their world-class care to the Brooklyn, NY community.
|
Dr. Allan S. Stewart, M.D.
CUMC Aortic Surgery Program
Milstein Hospital Building, 7-435, 177 Fort Washington Avenue
New York City,
New York
10032
Call 718-509-9178
If you or a loved one is living with an aneurysm, you know what frightening it can be. Whether its not know when the conditioning will turn life threatening or finding the best treatment, an aneurysm can cause undue tremendous anxiety for your family. There are many treatments out there, but making the decision is delicate because each comes with life altering consequences. At the Columbia University Medical Center, Dr. Allan Stewart MD has spent the last decade learning and treating problems of aortic artery. As the director of the Aortic Program he strives to offer the families of Westchester, NY with the best possible treatment for aortic aneurysm. World-class treatment is only a phone call away. Contact the Columbia University Medical Center today.
|
Dr. Allan S. Stewart, M.D.
CUMC Aortic Surgery Program
Milstein Hospital Building, 7-435, 177 Fort Washington Avenue
New York City,
New York
10032
Call 718-509-9178
It is important to be careful about selecting a highly qualified surgeon who can provide effective treatment for an aortic aneurysm. Dr. Allan Stewart is one such expert in his field, who continues to study aortic arch surgery, as well as advanced circulatory management during complex aortic surgery, in order to always provide his patients with the best treatment available. As the director of the Aortic Surgery Program at Columbia University Medical Center, Dr. Stewart ensures that his patients receive quality treatment that meets their unique needs. His clinical specialties include complex aortic arch surgery, thoracoabdominal aneurysm surgery, and edovascular repair of aortic aneurysms, among other things. If you live in the NYC, New York area and are looking for an experienced and visionary aortic surgeon, contact the Columbia University Medical Center today.
|
Dr. Allan S. Stewart, M.D.
CUMC Aortic Surgery Program
Milstein Hospital Building, 7-435, 177 Fort Washington Avenue
New York City,
NY
10032
Call 718-509-9178
Highly invasive valve replacement surgery does not have to be your only option. Dr. Allan Stewart, MD at the Columbia University Medical Center Aortic Surgery Program offers an innovative procedure, known as valve sparing aortic root replacement. This procedure has already given many people a chance to lead a healthy life, without the hassles that are typical for other forms of valve replacement surgery. At the Columbia University Medical Center Aortic Surgery Program, Dr. Stewart's expertise shines through as this procedure is designed to be both safer and more comfortable than conventional valve replacement procedures for patients in the long-term. Dr. Stewart welcomes the Brooklyn, NY community to his state-of-the-art practice.
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