This is an official recognition by authoritative medical societies that a doctor has proven himself or herself to be an expert in a particular field of medicine. It helps the public better understand which doctors who have demonstrated an expertize by education, practice and training. Not all doctors have a board certification and others may have it in one field and perform procedures for which they are not board certified. More…

Also known as compression or support hose, these are tight fitting hosiery worn to help relieve symptoms from varicose veins and venous insufficiency. They are tighter towards the ankle and looser towards the thigh to help the return of venous blood from the legs. More…

A DVT is a potentially life threatening condition in which a blood clot is present in certain deep veins of the leg. These clots can travel or embolize to the heart or lungs.

This is a swelling in the legs most commonly caused by venous insufficiency, varicose veins or blood clots. Fluid flows downward due to gravity so it occurs most often around the ankles. It is often partially relieved with leg elevation or support stockings.

This is the use of electric current to cauterize small veins most commonly seen in the face. It is painful for just the few seconds that it takes to do it. It is also know by a trademarked name of Veingogh.

This is a procedure for varicose veins in which a laser is placed inside the vein (thus the name endo venous) to scar it shut using the lasers energy. It is done using only local anesthesia along the treated vein and leaves no scars. It is also known as EVLA (Endo Venous Laser Ablation) or ELVeS ( Endo Laser Vein System).More…

These are the very small red veins seen most commonly near the nose and cheeks. They can be treated with either sclerotherapy injections or electrocautery (Veingogh like electric current). The results with conventional lasers have generally been poor.

Feeder veins are sometimes the nearby larger veins that are ‘feeding’ into spider veins. They are also known as reticular veins and may have venous insufficiency causing them to enlarge.

A mixture of liquid sclerotherapy medicines with either air or carbon dioxide to create a foam like substance allows for foam sclerotherapy. The foam is then injected into the veins to be treated and causes the varicose or spider veins to seal shut and disappear.

This is the classic ‘going to sleep’ anesthesia that was used in varicose vein stripping and ligation surgery of olden times. It should never be needed with todays modern methods of vein treatment as it would most likely be more dangerous then the vein procedures themselves.

The longest vein in the body is the great saphenous vein and it often accounts for a persons varicose veins. It is located along the inside of the legs and in years past was treated with a stripping and ligation operation. Today is is treated with lasers, micro surgery or injection sclerotherapy.

Also known as stasis changes, this it the rust like darkening seen on the inner ankles due to years of untreated varicose veins. It is not reversible but it can be stopped or slowed with varicose vein treatments. Having these stasis changes predisposes a person to getting a venous ulcer, bleeding or infections.

IPL is a laser like devise that is very controversial in the treatment of spider veins. Its controversial nature should raise an alarm in any person being told they need it. It does work for hair removal.

Lasers in the vein treatment field have been a great advance with endo venous procedures for varicose veins but a disappointment for smaller spider veins. The basic premise is the use of light and heat to cause a change to body tissues.

This involves applying anesthesia, most often by injections, only to the small area of the body to be treated. There is no ‘going to sleep’ and it is used for certain varicose vein laser and micro surgery procedures.

Also known as Microphlebectomy or ambulatory phlebectomy, this involves making many small incisions along the vein(s) to be removed. It is done with local anesthesia

These are the leg veins that connect the two main venous systems of the leg, the superficial and deep venous systems. Normally blood flows from the superficial veins into the deep veins via the perforator veins.

Also known as thrombophlebitis this is a blood clot in a vein. It occurs most commonly in the veins of the legs and the inflammation it causes can be painful and lead to edema (swelling)

This is the field of medicine devoted to venous conditions. Certification exams in the field of Phlebology (or venous and lymphatic medicine) have only been offered since 2008.

This is a physician who is a vein specialist and specializes in vein treatments. As with all medical conditions it is best to see a dedicated professional and hopefully a Diplomat in Phlebology.

Reflux is the flow of blood in the veins in an incorrect direction- away from the heart, not towards it. It is most commonly seen with varicose veins and the treatment of reflux is one of the cornerstones of vein therapy.

These are the veins in the leg that are larger then spider veins but smaller then varicose veins.

This the the liquid that is used in injection sclerotherapy to treat veins. There are only a few FDA approved sclerosant medicines but some have had FDA approval for many decades.

Also known as injection compression sclerotherapy, this is the most common way that veins today are treated. It involves injecting a medication or a foam into the veins to cause then to seal shut and disappear.

This is a part of the superficial venous system and is seen running from the outside part of the foot towards the knee crease. It can be treated with lasers, microsurgery or injection therapy

Also known by their medical terminology as telangiectasia, these are the smallest veins that are easily visible with the naked eye. They are most often red in color and respond very well to injection therapy.

This is a noninvasive test to observe tissues in the body. In phlebology it is used to check for blood clots and venous flow conditions. There is no radiation used and it is similar to what a pregnant woman has to check on her baby.

This occurs when the valves in the veins fail to work and allow blood to flow backwards into the legs rather then upwards towards the heart. It creates a situation where blood is traveling in two directions (up and down the veins) and often causes varicose veins to form.