by Amy Sharp

Do you have a web of blood vessels running down your leg? Or does that protruding vein make you feel like the Bride of Frankenstein? Like a Halloween costume, spider veins and varicose veins can be scary. Don’t be fooled…the real danger is on the inside!

“Many patients come to see me because they hate the way varicose veins look” says Vascular Surgeon Dr. Ulises Baltazar, MD, “but I’m more concerned with the way your veins are working. When the valves in your veins are unhealthy, blood can then flow backward and pool inside the vein, so it swells…leading to venous diseases like spider veins, varicose veins and venous stasis ulcers. What may seem like a cosmetic issue can become extremely uncomfortable, painful and potentially dangerous if not treated by someone who understands the problem. Plus, if we can prove that the vein isn’t working properly, the treatment is generally covered by insurance!”

Spider veins may inspire “arachnophobia,” but varicose veins carry the greater risk. Your arteries transport oxygen-rich blood from your heart out to your body, while your veins return the oxygen-depleted blood back to your heart. Varicose veins increase your chance of blood clots in the superficial system called thrombophlebitis and can be associated with potentially lethal clots in the deep system called deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Dr. Baltazar says, “DVT perfectly illustrates how crucial it is to have veins that are working as they should. If a blood clot breaks free from your deep veins, it can travel through the bloodstream. If it lodges in your lungs, this “pulmonary embolism” can block blood flow, strain your heart and lungs, and can quickly become fatal.”

You don’t have to be scared with Dr. Baltazar on your team. Board-certified by the American Board of Surgery in General Surgery with special certification in Vascular Surgery, he has been named “Most Supporting Physician” and “Patient’s Choice.” He’s had years of training, diagnosing, and treating diseases of the arteries and veins and extensive experience in placing needles, guide wires, using lasers, ultrasound and the latest technology and techniques. Dr. Baltazar says, “Treating veins is my professional passion…but getting to know my patients is my personal pleasure. I’ll be the only doctor you see from your initial screening throughout your treatment, and I welcome the opportunity to chat with you, answer your questions, and put your mind at ease.”

Instead of being ‘chilled’ by the hidden danger of your varicose veins, call Dr. Baltazar. With proper treatment, you’ll be healthier and thrilled to show off your legs!

Ulises Baltazar MD, RVT, FACS
now affiliated with the renowned Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates
281-240-8400
16605 Southwest Freeway Ste 505
(in the Methodist Professional Building 3)