Careful diagnosis and gentle treatment of varicose veins through innovative laser therapy

Dr. Manuela Jakob from Bad Homburg is a specialist in internal medicine and phlebology and specialises in the examination and treatment of vascular diseases. This also includes the diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins.

Almost every fifth adult in Germany suffers from varicose veins. This is not only a cosmetic problem, but also a medical problem that should not be ignored in the long term under any circumstances. Varicose veins are dilated veins of the superficial venous system. They lead to the fact that the venous valves no longer close properly and the blood accumulates in the legs. Symptoms such as swelling or a feeling of tension and heaviness in the legs are often the result. At an advanced stage, skin discoloration, scarring of the skin, inflammation of the superficial veins and even the so-called "open leg" can occur.

Question: Dr. Jakob, what do potential patients experience during their consultation?

Answer: Prevention and early detection of vascular diseases are very important to me. We inform and advise our patients according to the motto "long-term healthy veins through preventive vein check-ups or modern vein therapy". We take sufficient time to find the optimal treatment together with the patient. Here, for example, gentle and gentle minimally invasive therapies such as laser therapy are particularly suitable for high-risk patients.

Question: How do you proceed first?
Answer: A first glance at your legs says a lot, but by no means everything. Varicose veins are veins of the superficial venous system, but not every superficial vein is visible to the naked eye. Nowadays, varicose veins are diagnosed by means of a colour-coded ultrasound examination.

Question: What exactly can be seen in the color-coded ultrasound examination?
Answer: Veins can be displayed in their entire course. This provides an insight into the width of the vessel and the wall thickness. In addition to the colour representation of the blood flow, the blood flow direction can also be assessed and thus a statement can be made about the function of the venous valves. We can therefore quickly see whether or to what extent there is a disturbance in the function of the veins or valves, which is ultimately responsible for the formation of varicose veins.

Question: Which therapy is best from your point of view?
Answer: There are now a large number of possible therapies. During the diagnostic clarification, the patients naturally receive a clear and understandable statement as to which therapy makes sense and whether surgical intervention is necessary at all at the present time. A great advantage of gentle therapies, such as minimally invasive laser therapy, is the outpatient procedure, i.e. without admission to a hospital. In principle, laser therapy can also be carried out using blood thinners. Many of my patients, young or old, therefore prefer laser therapy. However, the appropriate procedure can vary depending on the patient and the findings.

Question: The laser as a scalpel?
Answer: Much better. The varicose veins are closed by heat energy from the inside almost painlessly and scar-free. The diseased vein is not removed, but closed and gradually broken down by the body. A general anaesthetic is not necessary. The minimally invasive laser therapy ELVeS^® Radial^® by biolitec^® usually leads to a quick recovery. My patients can return home on the day of the operation. A sick report is usually not necessary.

Question: Do you take over the procedures personally?
Answer: Yes, that is important to me. After my diagnosis, I know possible problem areas very well. I perform the procedures in my practice in Bad Homburg. Since 1 June 2016, we have been in new, significantly extended practice rooms and have a specially equipped surgery room.

Further information can be found under: www.venendiagnostik-badhomburg.de