{"id":1104,"date":"2010-02-16T18:43:57","date_gmt":"2010-02-16T18:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cooperhealth.net\/ehealth2\/?p=1104"},"modified":"2010-02-16T18:43:57","modified_gmt":"2010-02-16T18:43:57","slug":"varicose-veins-and-spider-veins-can-be-easily-removed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/2010\/02\/16\/varicose-veins-and-spider-veins-can-be-easily-removed\/","title":{"rendered":"Varicose Veins and Spider Veins Can Be Easily Removed"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"WalkingMichele had three strikes against her. There was no doubt about it. She was one of the 40 million Americans doomed to suffer from varicose veins and spider veins. The thirty-something mother of two was significantly overweight, had a family history of varicose veins, and stood on her feet all day.<\/p>\n

One day in 2007, Michele Sorbello of Mantua decided it was time to take control of her body. She switched to a healthy diet and began exercising five to six days a week. Michele lost 220 pounds in only two years, yet her transformation was far from complete.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t wait to wear shorts and dresses,\u201d says Michele, who spends her days styling hair and her nights tending to her four-year-old son and six-year-old daughter. \u201cI was so disappointed. I lost all that weight, toned my body, but my varicose veins looked worse and hurt more than before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michele turned to her primary care physician who immediately referred her to James B. Alexander, M.D.<\/a>, F.A.C.S., a vascular and endovascular surgeon<\/a> at Cooper University Hospital, who specializes in minimally invasive treatments for varicose veins and spider veins<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew when my legs became tender to the touch it was time to do something about it,\u201d she says. \u201cI was nervous, but Dr. Alexander was so kind and compassionate that I had total confidence he\u2019d take great care of me and make my legs look good again.\u201d<\/p>\n

More Than One Treatment Option to Remove Unsightly Varicose Veins<\/h3>\n

Dr. Alexander offers patients several treatment options for varicose vein and spider vein removal including endovenous laser therapy (EVLT), phlebectomy, and sclerotherapy. Dr. Alexander works closely with his patients to identify a treatment plan that meets their individual needs and expectations.<\/p>\n

The procedures are virtually painless and are performed in an outpatient office using local anesthesia and small incisions. Patients stay off their feet for a few days and return to normal activities within a week.<\/p>\n

Varicose Veins are a Medical Issue<\/h3>\n

\u201cVaricose and spider veins are a medical issue and should not be ignored,\u201d explains Dr. Alexander, Director of the Cooper Vein Center in Marlton<\/a>. \u201cSome people require a combination of procedures to achieve the best results.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leg veins are especially vulnerable to venous disorders because the blood in them flows upward, defying gravity. Too much pressure on the legs stretches the superficial veins, weakens their walls, and causes the internal valves to stop functioning properly. Blood then pools within the veins, causing them to bulge and twist.<\/p>\n

People with varicose veins can experience:<\/p>\n