As I write this, I’m staring out the window from my desk at Advanced Dermatology in Lincolnshire. It’s a hot day in early August. The passersby, hopefully well-schmeared with sunscreen, hustle  to get back into someplace air-conditioned. The green leaves, inert in the breeze-less oppressive  swelter, hang dejectedly on drooping branches  and wonder (in their leafy way) when this  heat wave will end.  Though it doesn’t seem like it today, autumn is approaching. Most people in Chicagoland think of the fall as being the start of “Bears Season”. To me, autumn is “Vein Season”: there is no better time to begin your journey towards better feeling, better looking legs than when the weather starts to cool off. Reasons include:

1.  The kids are back in school [yay!] leaving us time to get things accomplished for ourselves.

2.  There is plenty of time until next spring to work towards getting our legs more “shorts worthy”.

3.  For many, insurance deductibles are paid up by the fall, thereby making evaluations and many treatments more affordable.

4.  Finally, it’s far more comfortable to wear compression stockings, a mainstay of any treatment, in cooler weather.

The forthcoming opening of Advanced Dermatology’s Glencoe office will allow patients to find the most convenient location, day and time to schedule their initial consultation with me. You are more than your legs: my initial hour-long consultations are very thorough and include a comprehensive medical history and exam, typically including an ultrasound assessment of your lower extremities. During this time, I get to know you: your concerns; your goals; your expectations. I spend a good deal of time educating each patient regarding vein disease in general and their issues in particular. Together we create a treatment plan tailored to your needs. So, when the leaves just begin to change from green to autumnal amber, let the veins on the leaves remind you that “Vein Season” is here. See you soon!

I had a fascinating consult recently that I’d like to share with you. HIPAA rules guarding patient confidentiality forbid me to disclose the identity of the patient, but let’s just say that “Mr. C” (a resident of the way way North suburbs) presented with complaints of lower extremity discomfort, swelling, heaviness, fatigue, cramping and restless legs. Mr. C feels particularly bad at the end of a long day working in manufacturing and distribution of pediatric amusement products (it was especially bad after an overnight shift on the 24th of December). Over the past 30 years, he has noticed a steadily increasing amount of bulging veins and spider veins on his legs, particularly on the inner aspect of his thighs and on the back of his legs. Both his mother and father had the same issue.

Given the high likelihood of finding underlying problems, I recommended that Mr. C allow me to take a look at his superficial venous system by doing an ultrasound examination. Once out of his curiously familiar-looking large red jumpsuit, Mr. C. put on a pair of very stylish paper shorts to allow for easier viewing of the veins in question. I found that multiple superficial veins on both lower extremities had malfunctioning valves. These valves, which ordinarily prevent downward “reflux”, were not doing their job and consequently allowed pooling of blood in Mr. C’s superficial veins. Over time, the increased pressure due to pooling leads to bulging of veins and symptoms consistent with what Mr. C had been experiencing.

The good news, as I explained to Mr. C, is that this condition is easily treatable nowadays. While patients in previous decades had to undergo invasive, surgical procedures such as vein stripping, technology has advanced to the point where superficial venous insufficiency can now be taken care of in an outpatient setting using minimally-invasive techniques and under local anesthetic alone. Another misconception that I cleared up for Mr. C is that Medicare and most commercial insurance carriers will cover such procedures (and most times will cover sclerotherapy treatment of associated varicose and spider veins). After hearing about Medicare coverage, the jolly guy got even jollier!

If you, like Mr. C, have had nagging issues with leg veins for years, winter is the perfect time to see me in consultation and receive a treatment plan tailored to your particular needs. I ho ho hope to see you soon!

By the looks of it outside it would seem that a young queen had a panic attack and let loose a spell condemning Chicagolandia to an eternal winter. Yes, I have 2 young daughters and yes…I’ve been watching A LOT of Disney’s Frozen lately.

For those unfamiliar with the story, young Queen Anna has innate magical snow powers that flare out of control in proportion to her emotions. When her true nature is revealed, her conniption results in the kingdom being cursed with an interminable winter. Only her kid sister, a showtunes-crooning snowman, a Nordic ice salesman and his trusty-sidekick reindeer can save the day. Granted, at face value it sounds difficult to relate this to chronic superficial venous disease. However, the subtext of the story is that physical challenges that many people face present a dilemma: run away or hide from them…conceal them, don’t let them show OR face them confidently…open the doors to the world around you and allow people who genuinely care to share the challenges with you.

Many of my patients can relate to such a dilemma. Living with chronic superficial vein disease meant quietly enduring legs that felt heavy, fatigued, crampy, “restless” and uncomfortable…especially after prolonged standing or sitting. It also meant avoiding clothes or activities that involved showing their legs due to progressively worsening varicose and spider veins.

Once patients open the door (both figuratively and literally) seeking help at our clinic and face their challenges with me, I spend an hour during my consultation getting to know their medical history and particular concerns. I spend a great deal of time teaching about vein disease and the methods of diagnosis and treatment. Treatment plans are tailored to an individual’s needs and overall goals.

Treatments are all performed in our comfortable office setting. There is no down time: most activities can be resumed immediately after treatments. Many treatments may be covered by insurance carriers, including Medicare.

In the end, an act of true love is what saves the day in Frozen. I can’t say that bringing warmer weather sooner is in my skillset, but I can honestly say that I love what I do. It is extremely gratifying to me to be able to alleviate patients’ chronic discomfort; to help their legs feel and look better; to allow them to participate in activities they avoided for years. As for the issue that has been troubling your legs for years, I say it’s time to “Let it Go”! See you soon.

Autumn is here! [Yes, the exclamation point is there because I am trying to psych myself up for the fact that winter will inevitably follow.] To the poets among us, fall is the season that symbolizes senescence; a slow inescapable decline. That’s the view I have issues with…so dreary and glum. You see, the word “season” isn’t just a noun…it’s a verb: to enhance flavor, to add “zing”. Autumn is the perfect season to season the way you feel about you. For those with chronic lower extremity varicose and spider veins, fall is the perfect time to embark on a journey that leads to legs that look and feel so much better.

This fall proves to be an especially exciting season as I will offer a new minimally-invasive procedure available for the treatment of superficial vein disease: ClariVein®. This state-of-the-art procedure allows for definitive treatment of incompetent superficial veins with minimal discomfort and only requires a minimum of local anesthetic. There is no down time after the procedure. In fact, I encourage patients to be very active. In addition to this procedure, I also offer endovenous laser ablation as well as Sclerotherapy. All of the weapons in my arsenal against varicose and spider veins are well tolerated and can be completed within 90 minutes or less.

The first step is to schedule your consultation visit with me. During your hour-long visit, we will thoroughly discuss your medical history and create a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs and goals. I absolutely love teaching and feel that it is essential to ensure that my patients are well-informed regarding the diagnosis and treatment options for varicose and spider veins. In this way, the decisions we make as a team are educated ones.

Consultations and many procedures may be covered by insurance plans, including Medicare. While many treatments may be coverable, approval for coverage can often take months to achieve. As the end of the deductible year for many patients is December 31st, earlier evaluation may help in achieving timely approval and treatment.

I look forward to helping you to have legs that look and feel better in time for “shorts season” next Spring. See you soon!

If you have ears and own a radio…certainly if you also own a teenager…you probably caught the reference to “All about that Bass” by Meghan Trainor. As a musician, it’s a cute & clever song. As a parent of 2 young girls, it’s a wonderfully iconoclastic, empowering anthem affirming that external beauty is self-determined and founded on an internally healthy self-esteem.

This concept also applies to the realm of diagnosing and managing chronic vein disease: it’s oftentimes more about the health of the system beneath the surface rather than the spidery superficial manifestations.

During every 1 hour consultation appointment with a new patient, I spend a great deal of time explaining venous physiology (how things are supposed to work) and pathophysiology (how things go wrong). Aside from the fact that I love to teach, I feel strongly about the concept that the patient-doctor alliance is a team effort. You are the “President” of your body and I’m here to be an advisor and advocate. In order for me to help you make the best decision for yourself, we have to make sure that you have as much info as you need.

During the consultation appointment, patients learn that the varicose veins that have been progressively worsening over the years may also be related to symptoms that have plagued them over time. Symptoms including lower extremity “heaviness”, tiredness, cramping, swelling and even restless legs at night. Such symptoms may be traced to malfunctioning valves in segments of their superficial venous system beneath the surface. To determine if this is the case, an ultrasound examination is performed in the office. The ultrasound is a painless, fascinating study that allows us to map the form and flow of a patient’s venous system. Malfunctioning valves may lead to wrong-way flow that in turn leads to chronic stretching of veins due to excess pressure.

The beauty about this field of medicine is that no matter what we find, there is always good news to give to patients! If we find that the valves and flow are normal, patients have peace of mind; we only need to focus on treating (with a safe, simple and comfortable technique known as sclerotherapy) the surface spider/varicose veins. If we find wrong-way flow (called reflux) in certain vein segments, the good news is that technology has finally caught up to the problem!

Unlike the invasive, surgical options of yesteryear, the past decade has ushered in a new era of minimally invasive, maximally comfortable techniques to treat chronic vein disease. Using ultrasound guidance, flow can be improved by treating problematic veins from the inside, rather than stripping them out of the body. These techniques, Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) and mechanical occlusion with chemical assist (MOCA, or ClariVein^®) are performed in the office, using only local anesthesia and take about an hour. There is no downtime: patients can resume most normal activities immediately after their procedures. In fact, activities such as walking are strongly encouraged! Discomfort is minimal both during and after the procedures.

In addition, patients are surprised to learn that their consultation visit and many treatments may be covered by commercial insurance & Medicare. Coverage may vary based on an individual’s policy and can often take weeks to months for approval. No worries, we handle all of the insurance submissions for our patients.

The cold winter months (aka “pants season”) are the perfect time to address these nagging issues. The “silver lining” about our seemingly interminable winters is that we have time to start dealing with your venous issues before “shorts season” is here. I look forward to meeting you and helping you be “All about the happy legs!”

There are plenty…plenty of problems we face each day that we can only blame on ourselves.

Sometimes…rarely…there are problems that we have absolutely no culpability for…the finger pointing goes every-which-way but back at us.

Spider and varicose veins are just such a problem. It turns out that the biggest factors leading to the development of varicose and spider veins are Genetics (thanks mom and dad) and Pregnancies (thanks, kids).

As for the genetics part, if ONE of your parents had a significant underlying leg vein issue…the kind of problem that led to them requiring the use of compression stockings or needing (now outmoded) procedures such as vein stripping or other surgery…you had about a 50% chance of developing similar issues. BOTH parents with the problem?…about a 90% chance. That’s why it’s so important to choose your parents wisely. Nonetheless, add that to all the other things you can blame them for…ahem…like not being taller.

As for pregnancies…sure, we choose to get pregnant…or at least that’s what we tell the kids, anyway…so there’s some volition involved…but it’s the significant changes in the body during and after pregnancies that can heavily contribute to the development and progression of lower extremity vein disease…so it’s really ultimately the kids’ fault.

Here’s what those critters are doing to your lower extremity veins during pregnancy:
1) There are more hormones (estrogen and progesterone) swirling about your bloodstream that help to support and maintain the pregnancy. They can also make veins more “stretchy”…and this can lead to failure of the valves that are meant to prevent pooling of flow in your legs. Broken valves can lead to the development of varicose and spider veins.
2) There is more volume flowing through the veins as mom has to both supply her body and the growing baby’s during the pregnancy. More volume leads to more “stretchy”…see #1 above.
3) Finally, there is a creature growing in mom’s pelvis…getting bigger and bigger and may impact the ability of venous flow to return from the lower extremities. More “back pressure” impeding flow can lead to “venous hypertension” in the lower extremities….more stretching out of veins.

So…what does all of this mean? It means that if you have varicose veins (bulging) and/or spider (web-like, reddish/bluish) veins in your lower extremities, you need to do 2 things:

1) Ask…no…DEMAND….much in gifts for Mother’s Day. Flowers? Feh! You need to lift up your pant leg and say “Do you see what you did to me?! This is fixed with diamonds and fancy chocolates, buddy…not flowers!!!”
2) OK…its not fixed with either of those things. No harm in asking for those things, but they are actually fixed by ME, Dr. David Rosen. So you need to come see me.

When patients come to see me for their 1 hour Initial Consultation appointment, I do a thorough medical history and a focused exam. I spend all that time in order to learn about you, about your goals and help to create a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.

Treatments nowadays do not require surgery [Yay!]. State-of-the-art treatments that I offer are:
• all performed in the office
• do not require any sedation. Minimal, if any, local anesthetic is ever required
• VERY well tolerated. Traffic on the Edens Expressway is more painful than anything I do
• without any downtime. You can leave the office and return to most of your routine activities immediately.

Many treatments may even be covered by commercial insurance carriers and Medicare. The first step is booking your appointment so we can determine the extent of your problem and the eligibility of coverage.

I look forward to meeting you and helping your legs to feel and look better than they have in years.

Meanwhile, try not to be too hard on your kids. They say that when you point a finger at someone else, there are 3 pointing right back at you: remember your own mom on Mother’s Day!

Whether or not you’re a fan of Game of Thrones,
for Chicagolanders the phrase “Winter is coming” sends a cold shiver down our spines.
I mean, we don’t have to worry about hordes of zombies breaching a magical ice wall
and invading from the North…not that I know of anyway…but still, it’s an unsettling thought.

So we, like most creatures in the Chicagoland area, have a significant choice to make this Fall.
Do we:
A. Fly off and migrate to a warmer climate until Spring…or
B. Stiffen up our upper lips, grit our teeth, get prepared and make the best of it.

If you typically choose A, I don’t love you any less…in fact I admire your adventurous spirit. But… if, like me, you choose B…we have another choice to make. Do we:
1. Sit around kvetching about the cold…or
2. Use the cooler months to get things done that were less desirable to do than when it’s warm and lovely out. Things like honing our ice sculpting skills…or alphabetizing our food pantries…or…yes, you guessed it…taking care of our varicose
and spider veins.

Yes, the Fall/Winter is the perfect time to take care of your bothersome veins. There are a number of reasons why this is true:
• “Shorts season” is over for the year. Getting rid of varicose and spider veins is not instantaneous; it’s a process that may take weeks to months to reach desired results, depending on the extent of each patient’s issues/goals. There is plenty of time to spend before next “shorts season”.
• If you have met your insurance deductible or are close to meeting it, the Fall is the perfect time to have a consultation to determine the extent of your issues and start treatments before the year’s end.

• Consultations and many treatments may be coverable by commercial insurance and Medicare. However obtaining approval for coverage of treatment is itself a process that may take up to 2-3 months, depending on the insurance carrier.

That last point is one that most patients are unaware of and is actually the best reason to schedule your consultation appointment with me as soon as possible. The sooner we determine your eligibility, the sooner we can submit for coverage (if possible), the sooner we can get started.

Many of my patients have suffered for years with symptomatic chronic vein disease. It turns out that what you have waited for…effective, comfortable, safe, affordable treatments with no downtime…has arrived! Schedule your consultation now to learn more about treatments such as Endovenous Laser Ablation, Clarivein^® and sclerotherapy and how they may help you to have legs that feel and look better than they have in years! Winter may be coming…clouds and all…but we’ll find the silver lining together. See you soon!

Women and men who come to see me in consultation regarding their varicose and spider veins have been living with those nagging, annoying things for years…decades in many cases. Aside from aesthetic concerns, such veins are often painful and associated with other symptoms such as leg swelling, cramps, “restless legs” and legs that feel tired and heavy.

While there are certain barriers that kept most patients from wanting to deal with this issue, technology has finally “caught up” to vein disease and has answers for every concern. I’m here to shed some light and battle Fiction with Facts:

• Fiction: “Procedures are very invasive and risky.”

• FACT: State-of-the-art, minimally invasive procedures I provide are very safe and have very low risk. They are all performed in the office while we chat and listen to music!

• Fiction: “Procedures are very uncomfortable.”

• FACT: Procedures such as Endovenous Laser Ablation, Clarivein®, Sclerotherapy and VenaSeal® all require only local anesthetic and are very well tolerated. Post-procedure discomfort is minimal.

• Fiction: “There is a lot of down time and restrictions after procedures.”

• FACT: Such minimally invasive procedures allow patients to resume most routine activities IMMEDIATELY after treatments. Drive yourself to & from procedures. Rather than limited, activity is encouraged after procedures.

• Fiction: “Procedures are ineffective; veins just come back.”

• FACT: Procedures are very effective at permanent closure of veins. However, healing often takes time. Similar factors may lead to formation of new spider/varicose veins over time. Often times being proactive about treatments today may prevent or slow progression of future issues.

• Fiction: “Insurance/Medicare never covers vein treatments.”

• FACT: The biggest surprise to many patients is that commercial insurance and Medicare may cover many of the procedures I provide. Determination of coverage eligibility requires a consultation visit. Such visits are also typically covered by insurance/Medicare. Eligibility, when possible, often requires months to achieve due to individual insurance policy rules. The sooner you are evaluated, the sooner we can get your treatment process started.

Winter…or “pants season” is the perfect time to get treated so you can be ready to go for “shorts season” next spring and summer. I look forward to meeting you and helping your legs to feel and look better than they have in years!

Each consultation with a new patient is an opportunity for patients to get answers to their questions…ones that have been at the back of their minds…and at the front & back of their legs…for years.

One question I commonly get is: “Will exercise help my legs?”

Yes, but… Exercise won’t fix varicose veins, spider veins nor the underlying issues that often lead to them. In many cases, veins we see at the skin surface are just the “tip of the iceberg.”

The underlying problem often stems from faulty valves that become leaky and allow flow to move downward with gravity. This pooling of flow leads to increased pressure in veins that, over time, causes them to become stretched out, twisty and bulge from the surface (varicose veins). Unfortunately, such broken valves can’t be fixed. But there are things that my patients and I can do to help alleviate the problem.

While exercise doesn’t fix valves, engaging in activity that involves moving your legs…walking, running, biking, zumba-ing (it’s a word)…all help to make your calf muscles more fit. Your body uses the calf muscles as a “peripheral heart”: when they contract, they pump flow upwards and return it to the “real” heart. The more fit the muscle, the more efficient the “pump”, the more outflow from the legs and the less pooling of flow in veins.

Graduated compression stockings also help to allow flow to leave the legs more efficiently and make it harder for pooling to occur. But, like exercise, stockings don’t definitively deal with the underlying valve problem.

Definitive solutions used to involve surgery. Nowadays, state-of-the-art vein care is minimally invasive, maximally comfortable and has no downtime. Rather than stripping veins with faulty valves, I am able to instantly reroute flow to properly functioning veins by using endovenous (inside-the-vein) closure techniques such as Endovenous Laser Ablation & Clarivein®.

To learn if these procedures are right for you, schedule a consultation with me today. I’m here to answer questions and help your legs feel and look better than they have in years!

Autumn is a great time to “fall” in love with
 your legs again! Oy… I know, I know…awful pun…
but it’s true: once it starts getting cooler outside and we transition from “shorts season” to “pants season”, it’s a perfect time to finally take care of those nagging varicose and spider veins. There are 3 really good reasons why:

• The Treatments: All of the treatments that I
 offer are comfortable, safe, effective and state-of-the-art. They are minimally-invasive, have no down time and have minimal bruising. But, because there is some bruising and because it’s better, as a rule, to avoid sun exposure, “pants season” is a great time to check this off of your to-do list.

• The Healing Process: All of the minimally-invasive techniques I use encourage your body to make the bothersome veins disappear over time without having to physically remove the veins. The key word is time: in order to have legs that are ready for next “shorts season”, your body can use the fall, winter and early spring to heal. In addition, I recommend that patients use compression stockings after treatments in order to encourage safe and effective healing. Many patients prefer to wear them during the cooler months.

• The Insurance Coverage: For many, but not all patients, some treatments may be coverable by insurance carriers, including Medicare. However, authorization for coverage can often take weeks to months to achieve, depending on your insurance carrier. The sooner we see you this fall, the more likely we may be able to get the coverage you deserve during this deductible year. For most patients, the deductible year ends December 31st. It’s crucial for you to be seen for your consultation visit as soon as possible to determine your eligibility and the likelihood of coverage during this calendar/deductible year.

During the hour-long consultation visit, I have plenty of time to learn more about you, your medical history and your particular concerns. In many cases, an ultrasound exam is warranted; this painless, but highly informative test allows us to tailor a treatment plan that suits your needs and goals. 
I also have time to teach you a bit about vein disease and give you as much information as you require to make the best, most informed decisions about your own care.

I look forward to meeting you and helping you learn more about the exciting and new procedures I offer to treat chronic superficial vein disease, including Endovenous Laser Ablation, Clarivein®, liquid & foam sclerotherapy and more!

What are Varicose Veins & Spider Veins?
• Varicose Veins are enlarged, often twisty veins that bulge from the surface of the skin. Most commonly on the legs & thighs.
• Spider Veins are smaller, web-like collections of veins. They can be varying shades of red or blue. Although mostly isolated abnormalities, they can also be the “tip of the iceberg” of significant underlying venous disease.

What causes Varicose Veins & Spider Veins?
• Frequently issues in larger, deeper veins which live unseen beneath the surface can be the root cause of surface abnormalities
• The “job” of leg veins is to help channel flow back up to the heart. Since they have to work against gravity, leg muscles are used to “pump” the flow upward. This flow is kept moving in a one-way, upward direction by means of venous valves.
• Valve malfunction can lead to wrong-way, downward flow or reflux. Chronic reflux stretches veins living at the surface; often to the
point of bulging. Chronic reflux can also lead to chronic leg symptoms. Symptoms are often worse after prolonged standing/sitting.

What are some common symptoms of chronic venous disease?
• Heaviness
• Tired legs
• Swelling
• Cramps
• “Restless” legs
• Chronic red/brown discoloration, mainly at the lower legs

How common are Varicose & Spider Veins?
• Extremely! About half of men and women in the US will have some form of venous disease in their lifetime.

What are risk factors for developing Varicose & Spider Veins?
• Genetics: If one/both parents have significant vein disease, you are more likely to develop superficial venous issues. Vein disease affects both Men & Women.
• Pregnancies: Each pregnancy can increase the risk of developing worsening vein issues due to extra pressure on vein valves and increased stretching of veins.
• Other factors, such as increasing age, obesity and lack of exercise can also play a role.

What are some of the treatments for Varicose & Spider veins? Is surgery required?
• No, surgery is no longer the mainstay of superficial vein treatments. State-of-the-art care of underlying significant superficial vein disease includes minimally-invasive procedures such as Endovenous Laser Ablation, Clarivein® and VenaSeal procedures.
• Varicose and Spider veins are safely, comfortably and effectively dealt with using sclerotherapy or surface lasers.

How do I know which treatments are right for me?
• The way to tailor a treatment option that is optimized for your particular issues is to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. David Rosen. Dr. Rosen is certified by the American Board of Venous & Lymphatic Medicine and is an expert at diagnosing and treating chronic superficial vein disease.

Whether or not Global Warming is an issue at the forefront of your consciousness or whether math was your strong subject in school, there’s an equation that is undeniable and easy to comprehend: Summer=Warm=Less Comfortable to Wear Pants.

For some of my patients, the discomfort of wearing pants in warm weather is outweighed by their apprehension about wearing shorts or shorter skirts. For some of those patients, their reason relates to having varicose and spider veins on their legs.

Many patients are not only troubled by the aesthetics of chronic vein issues, but they are plagued with chronic, nagging symptoms in their legs: heaviness, fatigue, cramping, swelling and “restless legs”.

My medical specialty, Phlebology, deals with diagnosing and treating the causes and effects of chronic superficial vein disease. The evaluations I provide take place during an hour-long initial consultation. I spend that time doing a thorough medical history: you are more than just a pair of legs…it’s important for me to learn about you in order to give you the best advice. In addition, I spend a great deal of time teaching patients about their issues. Since you, as the President of your body, are the ultimate decision-maker, you need as much “intel” as possible to make the best decisions for yourself. If necessary, we also spend some time doing an ultrasound evaluation for potential underlying causes of symptoms and surface issues.

Initial consultations and many procedures may be covered by commercial insurance and Medicare. Coverage depends on what we discover as well as patients’ individual policies. Coverage may also take weeks to achieve, so here’s another equation for you: Scheduling consultations sooner = Quicker coverage approval = Quicker time to resolving your issues in an efficient and affordable way.

The state-of-the-art treatments I offer are:
• Non-surgical. Techniques include Endovenous Laser Ablation, Clarivein® and Sclerotherapy.
• Safe.
• Comfortable. Only some local anesthetic is required.
• Convenient. There’s no downtime: you can resume most normal activities immediately
• Effective.
I look forward to meeting you and helping you to love the look and feel of your legs again! See you soon!

You have to hand it to the daffodils: though there’s still frost on the ground on these early April mornings, they are still determined to make the world a bit more beautiful. Unlike in cartoons, flowers don’t actually instantly sprout out of the ground…it takes time, effort, patience. But ultimately it’s so worth it!

Dealing with one’s varicose and spider veins are quite similar experiences. There is no magic eraser in the medical arsenal to wipe those annoying things away instantly. However, with proper diagnosis, a carefully tailored treatment plan and optimal time to allow for the body to heal…ultimately, it’s so worth it!

Allowing optimal time means starting the process as soon as possible. We do this with an initial consultation appointment. I do a thorough medical history and focused exam. I learn about your goals. The information you share with me helps to determine whether an ultrasound examination is warranted: such an exam helps to uncover underlying issues that may lurk beneath the surface of those varicose and spider veins.

If such underlying issues are uncovered, patients are surprised to learn that many treatments may be covered by insurance, including Medicare. However it may take time for us to obtain coverage, which makes it so important to start the process as soon as possible. Initial consultation appointments may be scheduled for Wednesdays between 9am and 8pm.

The state-of-the-art treatments I provide are all performed at our comfortable office here at Advanced Dermatology in Lincolnshire…soon to be double its size after the remodeling! Treatments are comfortable, safe and effective. Treatments include Endovenous Laser Ablation, Clarivein® and Sclerotherapy. You can drive yourself to & from appointments and there is no downtime!
I look forward to seeing those daffodils bloom, but I’m even more excited to meet you and help your legs feel and look better than they have in years!

Autumn is a great time to “Fall” in love with your legs again! I know, I know…awful pun…but it’s true: once it starts getting cooler outside and we transition from “shorts season” to “pants season”, it’s a perfect time to finally take care of those nagging varicose and spider veins.

There are 3 really good reasons why:

1. The Treatments: All of the treatments that I offer are comfortable, safe, effective and state of-

the-art. They are minimally-invasive, have no downtime and have minimal bruising. But, because there is some bruising and because it’s better, as a rule, to avoid sun exposure, “pants season” is a great time to check this off of your to-do list.

2. The Healing Process: All of the minimally-invasive techniques I use encourage your body to make the bothersome veins disappear over time without having to physically remove the veins. The key word is time: in order to have legs that are ready for next “shorts season”, your body can use the Fall, Winter and early Spring to heal. In addition, I recommend that patients use compression stockings after treatments in order to encourage safe and effective healing. Many patients prefer to wear them during the cooler months.

3. The Insurance Coverage: For many, but not all patients, some treatments may be coverable by insurance carriers, including Medicare. However, authorization for coverage can often take weeks to months to achieve, depending on your insurance carrier. The sooner we see you this Fall, the more likely we may be able to get the coverage you deserve during this deductible year. For most patients, the deductible year ends December 31st. It’s crucial for you to be seen for your consultation visit as soon as possible to determine your eligibility and the likelihood of coverage during this calendar/deductible year.

During the hour-long consultation visit, I have plenty of time to learn more about you…your medical history…your particular concerns. In many cases, an ultrasound exam is warranted; this painless, but highly informative test allows us to tailor a treatment plan that suits your needs and goals. I also have time to teach you a bit about vein disease  and give you as much information as you’d need to make the best, most informed decisions about your own care.

I look forward to meeting you and helping you learn more about the exciting and new procedures I offer to treat chronic superficial vein disease, including Endovenous Laser Ablation, Clarivein®, liquid & foam sclerotherapy and more!

The new year is a classic time for making resolutions. If one of your resolutions involved doing something about those varicose and spider veins that have bothered you for years, I’m here to be the “easy button”.

Unlike a few decades ago, nowadays the state-of-the- art treatments for chronic superficial vein disease are all non-surgical, minimally-invasive and maximally comfortable. There is no downtime: you can resume most normal activities immediately. Most people are also surprised to learn that many procedures may be coverable by insurance, including Medicare.

It isn’t just about aesthetics, chronic superficial vein disease commonly leads to symptoms such as legs that feel heavy, tired, and uncomfortable. At times, some patients also experience leg cramps, “restless legs” and swelling. If left untreated, the underlying factors that lead to superficial vein disease may lead to significant medical issues, including chronic leg discoloration, skin damage/ulceration, clots, and bleeding. Unfortunately, many doctors and patients fail to recognize the connection between such symptoms and chronic vein disease.

The road to legs that feel and look better begins with a consultation appointment. During this visit, we often decide to do an ultrasound to determine whether underlying issues are contributing to symptoms and signs of superficial venous disease. This painless, informative ultrasound study is typically covered by most insurers and Medicare. The results of the ultrasound will determine if your particular issues may be coverable by insurance. You should be aware that insurance coverage may take weeks or even months to achieve (no worries…we do all the “legwork”, including dealing with insurers!); that’s why  it’s important to start the process as soon as possible.

So, let me help you make 2019 the year you learned to love your legs again! Wishing you a happy and healthy new year, Dr. David Rosen, MD.

Now that spring has finally sprung, it’s time to set our sights on doing all of the fun things we love to do outdoors. Many of my patients are reluctant to head into “shorts season” because of chronic varicose and spider veins. It’s not merely for the fact that patients often feel such veins are unsightly, they often have a number of symptoms that make their legs less fun to use:

• Heaviness

• Tiredness

• Swelling

• Cramping/”Charlie horses”

• Restless Legs

• Itching

Most of my patients have never made the connection between such symptoms and chronic vein disease. In fact, patients’ other physicians are often unaware of the subtle signs and the potential impact of chronic vein disease. Providers at Advanced Dermatology often recognize such subtle cues and recommend patients to see me for a consultation. I spend an hour during my initial consultation appointments getting to know your medical history and particular concerns. I spend a great deal of time teaching about vein disease and the methods of diagnosis and treatment. Patients are excited to learn that the latest, state-of-the-art treatments I can provide are:

• Non-surgical. Minimally-invasive endovenous

techniques are safe and effective.

• Comfortable. There is no downtime. You can resume

most activities immediately after treatments. Drive yourself in, drive yourself home!

• Affordable. Diagnosis and many treatments may be covered by insurance, including Medicare. Treatment plans are tailored to an individual’s needs and overall goals.

Such exciting, effective treatments include:

• Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA)

• Clarivein®

• Ultrasound-guided Sclerotherapy

• Veinlite® guided Sclerotherapy

Don’t let another “shorts season” pass you by without exploring the newest opportunities to have legs that may feel and look better than they have in years. See you soon!

Autumn is a great time to “Fall” in love with your legs again! I know, I know… awful pun… but it’s true: once it starts getting cooler outside and we transition from “shorts season” to “pants season,” it’s a perfect time to finally take care of those nagging varicose and spider veins.

There are 3 really:

1. The Treatments: All of the treatments that I offer are comfortable, safe, effective and state-of- the-art. They are minimally-invasive, have no downtime, and have minimal bruising. But, because there is some bruising and because it’s better, as a rule, to avoid sun exposure, “pants season” is a great time to check this off of your to-do list.

2. The Healing Process: All of the minimally-invasive techniques I use encourage your body to make the bothersome veins disappear over time without having to physically remove the veins. The key word is time, in order to have legs that are ready for next “shorts season,” your body can use the Fall, Winter and early Spring to heal. In addition, I recommend that patients use compression stockings after treatments in order to encourage safe and effective healing. Many patients prefer to wear them during the cooler months.

3. The Insurance Coverage: For many, but not all patients, some treatments may be coverable by insurance carriers, including Medicare. However, authorization for coverage can often take weeks to months to achieve, depending on your insurance carrier. The sooner we see you this Fall, the more likely we may be able to get the coverage you deserve during this deductible year. For most patients, the deductible year ends December 31st. It’s crucial for you to be seen for your consultation visit as soon as possible to determine your eligibility and the likelihood of coverage during this calendar/deductible year.

During the hour-long consultation visit, I have plenty of time to learn more about you… your medical history…your particular concerns. In many cases, an ultrasound exam is warranted; this painless, but highly informative test allows us to tailor a treatment plan that suits your needs and goals. I also have time to teach you a bit about vein disease and give you as much information as you’d need to make the best, most informed decisions about your own care.

I look forward to meeting you and helping you learn more about the exciting and new procedures I offer to treat chronic superficial vein disease, including Endovenous Laser Ablation, Clarivein®, liquid & foam sclerotherapy and more!