Varicose and spider veins can be not only unsightly but also uncomfortable, and they usually are signs of a condition called venous insufficiency. People in northeast Georgia seeking treatment for these common conditions now have more access to expert care as the Vein Clinic, a service of Northeast Georgia Physicians Group’s Vascular Center, recently opened a standalone office at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville.
Patients can schedule appointments at the Vein Clinic with a couple of experienced physician assistants — Ashley King and Haley Queen. They both treat chronic venous insufficiency, a condition in which the veins in your legs don’t efficiently return blood to the heart, causing blood to pool in the lower extremities, as well as varicose and spider veins.
“More than 30 million Americans suffer from varicose veins or from chronic venous insufficiency, which is more serious,” King said. “Millions of people with these conditions don’t get diagnosed or treated. The Vein Clinic is here to bring these effective treatments to more people in the northeast Georgia region.”
Patients can undergo minimally invasive procedures in the office, such as:
- Radiofrequency ablation, which uses radiofrequency energy to heat up and damage the wall inside a vein. This process closes off the vein that is not working correctly.
- Venaseal, which uses an adhesive medication to collapse the weak vein.
- Sclerotherapy, which treats small superficial veins with a single injection into each vein. The vein will collapse, forcing the blood to reroute to healthier veins, improving the appearance of the leg.
- Phlebectomy, in which diseased veins are removed through several small cuts on the skin.
Patients are sent home soon after these procedures are completed. Some insurance companies will pay toward the treatments, and self-pay options are also available.
“These vein conditions are more common in women, but many men are affected, as well,” Queen said. “Some of the risk factors include pregnancy, menopause, smoking or spending a lot of time on your feet every day. We are here to help you overcome the discomfort and feel great about your legs.”
For more information or to schedule an appointment, go to ngpg.org/vein or call 770-219-4000. The Vein Clinic is located at 200 S. Enota Drive, Suite 320, in Gainesville.
About Northeast Georgia Physicians Group
Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) brings together over 700 talented physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, midwives and other clinical staff at more than 50 locations across North Georgia. As the state’s sixth-largest physician group, we always have a practice nearby to offer you expert care in more than 40 specialties. See the full list of specialties and locations – and meet our providers – at ngpg.org.
NGPG is affiliated with Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), a non-profit which serves more than 1 million people in 19 counties across the region. As part of NGHS, patients of NGPG have a direct connection to Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s five hospitals in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder, Dahlonega and Demorest. Learn more at nghs.com.