Dr. Vincent Gardner at The Vein Institute at Southern Surgical Arts Can Eliminate Your Leg Pain

Many of us tend to ignore those spider veins on our legs and the varicose veins that start bulging out, especially when we've been standing a long time. We expect our legs to be tired if we have to walk a good distance, and we constantly have to "put our legs up" at the end of the day.

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms - especially if the symptoms worsen as the day goes on – there is a good chance you are experiencing problems due to venous insufficiency.

Symptoms include:

Swelling of the legs or ankles (edema).

Leg cramps, especially at night.

Aching, or a feeling of heaviness in your legs.

Itchy legs.

Weak or fatigued legs.

Thickening and discoloration of the skin on your lower legs or ankles.

Ulcerations on the lower legs and ankles.

Numbness in the lower legs or feet.

Restlessness or Restless Leg Syndrome.

Venous insufficiency is a very common condition resulting from decreased blood flow from the leg veins up to the heart, with pooling of blood in the veins. Normally, one-way valves in veins keep blood flowing toward the heart-against the force of gravity. When the valves fail and do not perform their function, blood can flow backwards or reflux. This reflux is what causes the blood to pool in leg veins.

Symptoms come on gradually as one ages, although they can show up as early as the teenage years, or earlier. Genetics is the biggest determining factor in whether you will have venous insufficiency. Other factors are gender (women are at a greater risk), aging, occupations where you are sitting for long periods of time and medical conditions, such as pregnancy and obesity. It is estimated that over 50% of the population will have problems with venous insufficiency at some time in their lives.

Southern Surgical Arts has a surgeon on their staff who has opened a new office to treat venous disease. Dr. Vincent Gardner has opened The Vein Institute at Southern Surgical Arts at 1405 Cowart St. in Chattanooga. Dr. Gardner has been serving as a faculty member of Southern Surgical Arts' American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship Program, whereby he trains surgeons from around the country every year to be eligible to become certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS). In addition, he has been focusing his practice on cosmetic surgery and modern treatments for vein disorders, and he frequently lectures on these topics.

"Most procedures to correct venous insufficiency are covered by insurance", said Dr. Gardner, "and the procedure I use most often is endovenous laser ablation." This procedure is done at The Vein Institute under local anesthesia with mild sedation. Dr. Gardner inserts a small laser fiber into the damaged vein, usually through a small needle stick in the skin just below the knee. Using ultrasound to map the veins, Dr. Gardner guides the fiber up into the upper thigh. Pulses of laser light are delivered as the fiber is pulled through the vein. These pulses heat up the vein, causing it to collapse and seal shut.

By closing the dilated, diseased vein, other healthy veins take over and carry blood from the leg back to the heart, re-establishing normal flow. In addition, varicose veins-which are close to the skin-shrink and improve in appearance, and spider veins and lower leg and ankle discolorations tend to fade with time and can possibly be eliminated.

Endovenous laser ablation takes less than an hour and provides immediate relief of the other symptoms associated with venous insufficiency – the tired, aching legs, itchiness and swelling. You can return to normal activity almost immediately, and most patients only need over-the-counter pain relievers for the first day or two. There are no scars or stitches, as there is only a nick in the skin where the needle is inserted for the laser fiber. There is a very high success rate for vein ablation and low recurrence rate compared with surgery.

Dr. Gardner offers other treatments for varicose veins and spider veins. Microphlebectomy is a minimally invasive technique to remove bulging varicose veins through a small nick in the skin. This procedure is an outpatient procedure done under local anesthesia. Injection sclerotherapy is used to treat varicose veins as well as spider veins. A fine needle is used to inject the abnormal vein with a solution that eventually shrinks the vein. Recovery is rapid after both microphlebectomy and injection sclerotherapy. These procedures may be done alone or in conjunction with endovenous laser ablation.

There are more conservative treatments for milder cases of vein disorders that Dr. Gardner can recommend. The use of compression stockings provide relief to many people by promoting proper blood flow and reducing pressure within the veins. He may recommend lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise throughout the day, losing weight, uncrossing your legs – even wearing looser-fitting clothing and lower-heeled shoes.

One of the best ways to relieve swelling and discomfort is to elevate your legs. Dr. Gardner recommends elevating your legs to the level of your heart several times a day because it allows pooled blood in the legs to drain back to the heart.

With so many insurance-covered options available to eliminate leg pain, swelling and unsightly bulges and discolorations, there's no reason why you should hesitate to explore treatment options. Healthy legs will improve your overall health and give you added energy just as the summer vacation season starts. Contact Dr. Vincent W. Gardner at The Vein Institute at Southern Surgical Arts at 423.551.VEIN (8346) for a screening. 1405 Cowart Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408 www.yourveininstitute.com

Noteworthy:

Genetics is the biggest determining factor in whether you will have venous insufficiency.

Dr. Vincent W. Gardner received a B.S. in Biology from Rhodes College in Memphis and an M.D. from the University of South Alabama, College of Medicine in Mobile, Alabama, where he was elected to the AOA honor medical society. During his final year as a resident in surgical training with Baptist Heath Systems in Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. Gardner was named the Outstanding Resident in Surgery, by the clinical faculty. After practicing general and vascular surgery in Birmingham for 7 years Dr. Gardner moved to Chattanooga to complete a cosmetic surgery fellowship with Southern Surgical Arts. He joined with Southern Surgical Arts in 2011 as a faculty member of Southern Surgical Arts' American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery's Fellowship Program, where he helps train surgeons from around the country. Dr. Gardner has been practicing in Chattanooga for the last 5 years. He recently re-joined Southern Surgical Arts. He is certified by the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine, the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. In addition, he is a Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation and is a board examiner for the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. Dr. Gardner is dedicated to providing the latest treatments for venous disease and to offering the most effective cosmetic procedures for his patients.

Southern Surgical Arts is dedicated to the art and science of cosmetic and facial plastic surgery. Combined, Dr. Deal, Dr. Gardner and Dr. Nease have more than 22 years of experience. Their practice at Southern Surgical Arts is 100% committed, focused and dedicated to cosmetic and facial plastic surgery. Since 2004, they have performed more than 14,500 major cosmetic procedures.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on endovenous laser ablation, or for a Free Screening, visit www.yourveininstitute.com. The practice is located at 1405 Cowart St. Suite 321, Chattanooga, TN 37408. Contact the office by calling 423.551.VEIN (8346).

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