Vein Treatments
Get a Leg Up on Hot Summer Legs
Consumer alert: choose vein treatments with caution to avoid disfiguring results
(San Diego) – Warmer weather means getting into gorgeous summer skirts and shorts… except if you’re one of thousands of women who have unsightly varicose or spider veins ruining your look.
There’s no reason to let leg veins force you to cover up. The proper treatment of leg veins is safe and effective. But too many women are lured by unrealistic promises of miracle treatments with lasers or “new” injectible formulas that not only won’t work, but could make your veins even worse – and cause lasting damage.
Dr. Mitchel P. Goldman, Medical Director of Goldman Butterwick Keel Cosmetic Laser Dermatology, says he spends far too much time working with patients to correct substandard treatments they’ve already received that either didn’t work, or caused disfiguring brown stains or even permanent scars.
“It breaks my heart to see patients who have already spent thousands of dollars on vein treatments get ripped off or worse yet hurt by unscrupulous people who claimed they could deliver some sort of miraculous results,” said Goldman. “It’s completely unnecessary. Now that it’s the season when people are seeking treatment for leg veins, my goal is to educate patients and help them make good decisions about safe treatments from highly trained professionals.”
Goldman literally wrote the book on vein treatments, known as “sclerotherapy.” His textbook Sclerotherapy: Treatment of Varicose and Telangiectatic Leg Veins now in its fourth edition is considered the gold standard for medical practitioners. Dr. Goldman is a volunteer clinical professor at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and lectures students on sclerotherapy. He offers this advice for patients who are thinking about vein treatments.
“Be sure you’re getting treatment from an expert, not someone who attended a weekend seminar and set up shop a few months ago,” said Goldman. “Don’t be shy about asking tough questions and requesting credentials and references. Ethical physicians are eager to share their qualifications.”
Next, be sure your physician uses only FDA approved solutions on your veins. “Some physicians use cheaper mixed formulas with non-approved compounds,” said Goldman. “You won’t save money in the long run because these solutions don’t work as well as the FDA-approved solutions. You’ll end up needing additional treatment that costs way more, and you risk damaging your legs.”
Finally, don’t buy into the hype about laser treatments for leg veins. “I have 32 lasers in my practice, and I hold patents on several types of lasers,” said Goldman. “I’ve tried them all and they simply do not work as well as nearly painless injections. In the wrong hands, using lasers on leg veins can be dangerous and are much more painful. I have dozens of photos of patients showing terrible scarring from inept laser treatments. It’s upsetting to me because it just didn’t need to happen.”
The good news is that proper treatment by an expert physician can produce excellent results for most patients. “When it’s done right, vein treatments are safe and effective. It shouldn’t take more than one to two 10-15 minute treatments when you trust your legs to the right person,” advised Goldman.
Goldman says it takes time for vein treatments to take full effect. “Don’t wait until a week before spring break, the company picnic, your honeymoon or dream vacation to schedule your vein treatment and expect your legs to be ready for shorts. It takes several weeks for your legs to heal and look their best.”
Contact Goldman Butterwick Keel Cosmetic Laser Dermatology to learn more about safe vein treatments at 858-657.1002 or visit www.gbkderm.com
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