Varicose veins (enlarged, twisted veins) are stubborn anatomical problems that come with the unfortunate side effect of also creating highly noticeable aesthetic issues. For some people, large varicose veins come with aching pain and discomfort; for others, the problem develops on a smaller scale and severity in a condition known as spider veins. In both instances, treatments are limited — mostly since those home “remedies” you see never work as well as they claim.
But you can take comfort in a few facts. The first is that you aren’t alone in your struggle. It has been shown that three of every 10 people experience varicose veins to some degree, according to NHS Inform. If you are female, you are at least twice as likely to experience varicose veins than if you were male, according to WebMD.
The second is that, while the homemade remedy mixtures of honey and paprika don’t really do much, there are procedures that can be performed to help your condition. And some of those procedures are exceedingly successful.
One of the most favored and beneficial methods is ambulatory phlebectomy, also known as ambulatory microphlebectomy, a procedure that can finally correct the bothersome varicose veins that have caused you to feel self-conscious about your appearance. If you are interested in understanding more about ambulatory phlebectomy, give one of Dr. Jimenez‘s offices a call at 1-800-910-VEIN (8346).
An ambulatory phlebectomy is a minimally invasive procedure in which a tiny hook is inserted through micro incisions to interrupt and extract bulging varicosities. Once small portions of the vein have been removed, the targeted veins typically lose their unsightly appearance and stop causing the same level of pain that they did prior to the treatment. The procedure can be performed in our offices at The Vein Center of Florida and The Vein Center of South Baldwin.
I already have and will continue to recommend Dr. Jimenez. During the procedure, he consistently asked for feedback in regard to any pain and told me step-by-step what he was doing.
– Jeana
A microsurgical technique with very small incisions.
Ambulatory phlebectomy is a minimally invasive, microsurgical technique used to remove varicose veins near the surface of the skin and it:
If you are suffering from sizable varicose veins or even smaller spider veins in some cases causing you pain or damaging your appearance, you may be a candidate for this procedure. Candidates should be free from any preexisting conditions that can increase the minimal likelihood of complications during the procedure. The best candidates also do not smoke and have realistic expectations for what their procedure can achieve.
The best way to ensure that your expectations are tempered and realistic is to look at plenty of before and after photos of the procedure. While everybody is different, if you find videos or photos of comparable conditions, you can better prepare yourself for the results you may achieve. Results can be dramatic in a very short period of time.
Take a look at the amazing results in our gallery.
When you arrive for your consultation at one of our locations in Destin, Foley or Pensacola, FL, Dr. Jimenez will conduct a comprehensive examination of your condition and the extent of the correction that would be required. He will also carefully review your medical history and then discuss with you to decide the best treatment regarding your conditions, lifestyle, and obligations. You should remember to bring a list of questions and concerns to raise during your initial consultation so that you can have the information while you consider this minimally invasive procedure. You will be given ample opportunity to talk with the doctor as he will discuss the best course of action for your particular condition. Ensuring these steps are taken increases the likelihood that you will have a safe and effective procedure with the best possible outcome.
Before the procedure begins, your Dr. Jimenez will mark the veins on your body that will be targeted. Before your procedure, he will also discuss with you which anesthesia option is best for you. In most cases, a local anesthetic is enough to avoid any pain associated with an ambulatory phlebectomy. Occasionally minimal sedation with Valium may be performed to make the patient feel less anxious.
I love Dr. J and his staff. All of them were very courteous, friendly, and awesome!
– Jennifer
Once the anesthesia has been administered, your doctor will make a small incision, often less than the size of a freckle, on your skin and then insert a micro hook into to perform a focal vein extraction. This process will be repeated as many times as necessary to achieve the desired results.
The entire ambulatory phlebectomy process can take as little as 30 minutes to complete, but many patients land somewhere around 45 minutes. In some more severe cases that require more vein removal, the procedure can take up to an hour. Your physician’s experience and your unique needs play a large factor in how long the procedure takes.
Dr. Jimenez will likely recommend that you wear compression garments to minimize swelling and fluid accumulation in the treated areas. Some patients experience very mild pain or discomfort immediately after the procedure, but these symptoms generally fade within one or two days. You will be provided with over-the-counter or prescription medications to help cope with those symptoms as needed.
If you are concerned about how your body will properly distribute blood if veins are removed, there is no need to fret — your body tends to naturally reroute that blood flow to healthier veins in your body.
After having an ambulatory phlebectomy, you can expect to experience a drastic improvement in varicose veins’ appearance and all of the pain and discomfort that comes with them. The incisions made during the surgery are tiny, and the scarring becomes virtually invisible after a few weeks of healing in most patients.
The results are long lasting. Once the veins are removed, they are gone for good and cannot develop into varicose veins again. Remember that this procedure cannot prevent future varicose veins from developing, but in the overwhelming majority of patients, the condition will be better than if the procedure had never been performed.
Often, an ambulatory phlebectomy is performed independently, but if you would like to see about having two procedures performed at once, bring it up during one of your pre-operative appointments. Dr. Jimenez will do his best to accommodate your preferences depending upon the extent of venous disease .
An ambulatory phlebectomy is often covered by insurance since it can present a real anatomical issue. If the procedure is performed purely cosmetically, it is likely not covered by insurance. If you are not using a health plan for this procedure, you can expect to pay anywhere between $1,000 and $2,000 per leg.
However, you should remember that these costs are highly dependent on how many veins are being removed. An accurate estimate will be provided to you during your consultation.
No, vein stripping and ambulatory phlebectomy are two entirely different procedures. Simply put, an ambulatory phlebectomy removes a small part of the vein close to the skin surface, whereas vein stripping removes much larger portions of veins typically deeper in the leg.
Typically, an ambulatory phlebectomy is not painful since you will likely be given local anesthesia. With these treatments, patients often report minimal pain during the procedure.
Every surgical procedure, including ambulatory phlebectomy, comes with some risk of complications. When you choose to have your microphlebectomy done with an experienced and highly trained professional like Dr. Jimenez, you decrease the chances of developing a complication.
If you are ready to finally be done with unwanted varicose or spider veins, then you may be a candidate for an ambulatory phlebectomy procedure. Give us a call at 1-800-910-VEIN (8346) or fill out our online contact form to get in touch with one of our offices in Pensacola, Destin, or Foley!
You probably have many questions still, and we want to be the resource you can count on to help you get all the information you need. We look forward to helping you through this entire process.
Put your health in the hands of the best vein doctor, and get ready to show off your legs instead of hiding them. Call The Vein Center at 1-800-910-VEIN or click here to book your FREE consultation today with Dr. J!