Ask a Doctor

James R. Bekeny, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Medical Director
Lakewood Hospital Vein & Vascular Center

Q: I have large, painful veins on my legs and I’m extremely self conscience about them. What causes these veins to appear and how can I get rid of them?

 

A: More than likely, you are suffering from varicose veins. Approximately 25 percent of all women and 15 percent of all men suffer from varicose veins. Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted and sometimes painful superficial veins resulting from poorly functioning valves. They occur when healthy vein walls become weak and swell, causing blood to back up and pool inside the vein. Symptoms include leg pain; visible, enlarged veins; and mild swelling, skin ulcers and discoloration at the ankles. Typically, varicose veins worsen over time, so medical attention and treatment is essential. Traditional surgical treatment involved stripping and binding the veins, a solution that many patients found very painful – and one that required up to six weeks of recovery.

Fortunately, there are new non-invasive outpatient procedures that are minimally invasive with little discomfort. The Lakewood Hospital Vein & Vascular Center offers the most advanced techniques for diagnosing and treating a full range of varicosities in an outpatient setting. When you visit the Vein & Vascular Center, you will receive an evaluation from a physician, who will examine your problem areas, discuss your symptoms and make recommendations that will meet your specific needs. An individualized plan for each patient’s origin of varicosity is developed with the intent to treat the source, not the symptom. As a result, the problem will be solved correctly the first time to avoid any recurrence.

There are three treatment options - laser vein ablation, sclerotherapy and phlebectomy – to help eliminate spider and varicose veins. All procedures are done in the office, without anesthesia, using only small micro-punctures into the skin with no stitching required. Following the procedure, the patient is able to walk out of the office and return to normal activity the same day. 

The Lakewood Hospital Vein & Vascular Center is conveniently located at the Westlake Medical Campus, 850 Columbia Road (near I-90). Dr. Bekeny is Chairman of the Department of Surgery. He is also Medical Director of the Lakewood Hospital Vein & Vascular Center.

To schedule an appointment at the Vein & Vascular Center, please call 1-877-SPA-LEGS (772-5347).