Understanding Varicose Veins.
About 55 percent of American women suffer from some sort of venous disorder, with varicose veins topping the list. Varicose veins occur when damaged or weakened valves fail to do their job: keep blood flowing back to the heart. Healthy valves accomplish this task, even against gravity, by opening and closing tightly. But when valves aren’t working correctly, some blood leaks backward and pools in the legs, straining the walls of the veins. Results range from the merely unsightly to the uncomfortable, including feelings of pain, cramping, leg heaviness and fatigue.
In some cases, changes in the skin, and even leg ulcers, may develop. Family history, multiple pregnancies, occupations requiring long periods of standing, obesity and age can all contribute to the condition. While rarely a threat to your health, varicose veins will not go away by themselves and if left untreated, generally worsen over time. Fortunately, a variety of approaches and therapies are available to get you back on your feet quickly. Chief among them, two outpatient procedures, called sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can relieve the pain safely and effectively and restore a healthier appearance, more quickly and easily than ever before.
Physician Profile
As a vascular surgeon at MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute, Misaki Kiguchi, MD, MSc, MBA, specializes in the treatment of both arterial and venous diseases. Her training spans the spectrum of both diseases, including clinical expertise in aortic aneurysm repair, carotid artery disease management, peripheral arterial and venous disease management, which includes varicose veins. Dr. Kiguchi enjoys the long-term relationships she builds with her patients, but it is the technical aspects of vascular procedures that drew her to this specialty.
“Vascular disease is chronic, and patients rely on an ongoing relationship with me, their cardiologist, and primary care provider to keep their disease at bay,” says Dr. Kiguchi.
Caring for patients with life-threatening vascular conditions, and performing cosmetic surgical procedures are both equally satisfying for Dr. Kiguchi.
"If I am able to improve a patient's quality of life because I'm able to help their cosmetic veins, then I am happy to provide the services, " she adds.
Read more about how the new, less invasive treatments helped one of Dr. Kiguchi's patients in this Center Scope article.
Dr. Kiguchi has office hours in Washington, D.C., and Chevy Chase, MD.
Have any questions?We are here to help! Contact us for more information about varicose veins or to schedule an appointment. Call us at 844-471-5859.