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Dr. Navarro describes the procedures available to treat varicose veins.
Dr. Navarro:
Varicose veins are the result of the failure of the, usually of the failure of the main vein of the leg, from the groin to the ankle, and the valves on these vein fail. They fail distend, the vein distends and varicose veins develop and become visible.
There are different methods of treatment for varicose veins, depending of the underlying disease. For small varicose veins and branches of the main vein, we can use sclerotherapy. That’s the injection of a chemical substance that irritates the vein and closes the vein. Now, when the main vein and its valve at the groin are involved, then we need to do a procedure to eliminate this vein.
In the past, we used to do surgery, ligation and stripping. The patient goes to the hospital, is put to sleep, a cut is made at the groin, another cut at the knee or at the ankle, a wire is placed inside the vein, and the vein is stripped. This procedure requires general anesthesia, a stay in the hospital from a few hours to a few days, and multiple cuts around the leg.
In ’99, we developed a procedure here at The Vein Treatment Center with the use of the laser that’s minimally invasive. Stand at the office with a little bit of local anesthesia, pass a laser inside the main vein, and with laser energy we close it. We weld it shut. It is called endovenous laser ablation or Endolaser™. It takes about 45 minutes with the patient. Once the procedure is finished, the leg is wrapped, and the patient may return to the normal daily routine, or can go back to work the same day.
About Dr. Navarro, M.D., F.A.C.S.:
Luis Navarro, M.D., F.A.C.S., is the Founder and Medical Director of The Vein Treatment Center, established in 1982. Dr. Navarro is a General Surgeon, originally board certified in 1976. He is also a senior Clinical Instructor of Surgery at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, where he was Chief Surgical Resident. Dr. Navarro graduated cum laude from the University of Barcelona Medical School in his native Spain. He is affiliated with Beth Israel Medical Center and Lenox Hill Hospital. Dr. Navarro is a Diplomate of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American College of Phlebology, International Union of Phlebology, Canadian Society of Phlebology, American Society of Laser Medicine, and numerous other venous-related societies.
Visit Dr. Navarro at The Vein Treatment Center