Click to Play Video

I was recommended to come here by my physician. I’ve had some problems with my legs and I decided to come here [Alsara Vein Clinic] and see if I could get helped. I’m disabled now. I’ve had a liver transplant 12 years ago. I was having some problems with my legs swelling and discoloration and things. And I have diabetic neuropathy. And it really got down to the point where my legs just couldn’t take the pain anymore.

Well, each year it’s gotten worse and worse, and I just get down to the point where I have to sleep in a recliner, and then I prop my legs up even higher than that, trying to get the swelling down. And I was having an awful time, you know, sleeping in the recliner.

And, so, I decided to come here and see if he [Dr. Gupta] could take some of the pain away, you know. I know he can’t get rid of everything, ‘cause it, you know, it’s just not going to happen. I know that. But anything is better than nothing! That’s the way I looked at it.

And he did an awesome job, I believe, you know, and that’s all that really matters.

They really made me feel welcome. They explained everything: why they were doing it; how come; and this and that; and what they were doing. And it really made me feel comfortable, you know, to see that and understand it. And that [means] a lot to the person, you know.

My priorities [were]: get rid of some of the pain that I had, and being able to tolerate it, you know. I’ve lived in pain all my life and I’m tired of it, you know. I mean, a person can only deal with so much. But ah, no, that’s probably about the highlight – the results.

You know, I was more than impressed. Well, I mean it’s just a 100% change around. When I first came here, you know, my legs really hurt bad. And [Dr. Gupta] explained what he was gonna do, and if he couldn’t make any results, he wasn’t gonna do anything, and I understand that. But he felt that he could ease some pain to me, and he did. And now, each and every day gets better.

I hadn’t played pool in 15 years. And now, I’m able to go play pool for a couple of hours a day. And, to me, that’s quite a bit, you know, ‘cause I enjoy that. Yup. Yeah, it really is awesome, trust me! You ain’t [got] nothing to do all day – and now, you got something to do now, you know.

So I would definitely recommend people – if they have [leg] problems – to come here. And if the doctor can’t help you, he won’t; and if can, he will! And to me, he’s awesome. He’s helped me tremendously. Yeah.

Please describe your experience with us:

Front Desk staff:

All were professional, kind and courteous.

Ultrasound Technologist:

All were professional, kind and courteous.

Provider/Doctor/Nurse Practitioner:

All were professional, kind and courteous.

Billing/Patient Account Services:

All were professional, kind and courteous.

What made you choose us?

Your local advertisements.

What symptoms were you experiencing?

Pain, leg heaviness.

How were you affected by your legs previously? What couldn't you do? How has that changed now?

Am still the recovery process.

What improvements have you seen in your legs?

Less aches, pain.

Additional Comments: What did you appreciate? What makes us different than other medical clinics? What could we have done better to exceed your expectations? What changes would you like to see?

Wait time always exceeded my expectations. All staff very knowledgable & professional.

Please describe your experience with us:

Front Desk staff:

Very attentive.

Ultrasound Technologist:

Very good.

Provider/Doctor/Nurse Practitioner:

Explained everything to me, very good.

Call Center/Patient Service Center:

Very good.

What made you choose us?

Heard from a friend.

What symptoms were you experiencing?

Poor circulation in legs. Varicose veins.

How were you affected by your legs previously? What couldn't you do? How has that changed now?

Had lot of heaviness, hurt at night. Now so much better.

What improvements have you seen in your legs?

A lot. They don't hurt and my circulation seems like it's a lot better.

Additional Comments: What did you appreciate? What makes us different than other medical clinics? What could we have done better to exceed your expectations? What changes would you like to see?

I appreciated the staff, very friendly. The technicians that did Ultrasound were very professional & explained what they were doing. Dr. Gupta did a wonderful procedure on my legs. I am so thankful.

Please describe your experience with us:

Front Desk staff:

Fantastic. Friendly & very welcoming.

Ultrasound Technologist:

Very caring and helpful.

Provider/Doctor/Nurse Practitioner:

Best ever!!!

Billing/Patient Account Services:

Really helpful and friendly.

Call Center/Patient Service Center:

Very friendly & helpful.

What made you choose us?

Found you online.

What symptoms were you experiencing?

Open ulcer on ankle & very red discolored legs, pain & soreness.

How were you affected by your legs previously? What couldn't you do? How has that changed now?

Constant pain & redness. Could not sleep or function at work. [After treatment:] It is a miracle – no pain and color is coming back!

What improvements have you seen in your legs?

Ulcer has healed & the pain is gone. Color is getting better.

Additional Comments: What did you appreciate? What makes us different than other medical clinics? What could we have done better to exceed your expectations? What changes would you like to see?

The Doctor & staff have a great personal touch and they really care about the patients. It is one of the best clinics I have ever been to. I highly recommend them. Thank you sooo much.

Please describe your experience with us:

Front Desk staff:

Very pleasant & helpful.

Ultrasound Technologist:

Always pleasant & informative. Answered many questions.

Provider/Doctor/Nurse Practitioner:

Excellent - Very informative & professional.

Billing/Patient Account Services:

Very good.

Call Center/Patient Service Center:

Very good.

What made you choose us?

Internet web page.

What symptoms were you experiencing?

Leg pain, charley horses frequently at night – tired leg.

How were you affected by your legs previously? What couldn't you do? How has that changed now?

Discomfort sleeping and occasionally standing for long periods of time. [After treatment] sleeping better & legs do not feel tired.

What improvements have you seen in your legs?

Less tired legs.

Additional Comments: What did you appreciate? What makes us different than other medical clinics? What could we have done better to exceed your expectations? What changes would you like to see?

Treatment at your facility was a very good experience. All staff were friendly & informative. I feel like I received excellent treatment at your facility. [I] would recommend you to friends & family.

Please describe your experience with us:

Front Desk staff:

Friendly and informative.

Ultrasound Technologist:

Knowledgeable, willing to explain.

Provider/Doctor/Nurse Practitioner:

Very professional. Explained everything.

Billing/Patient Account Services:

Excellent.

Call Center/Patient Service Center:

Very helpful.

What made you choose us?

Doctor referral.

What symptoms were you experiencing?

Lower leg swelling.  Pain.

How were you affected by your legs previously? What couldn't you do? How has that changed now?

Leg felt heavy.  Swelling cause skin breakdown which lead to continuing infectons.

What improvements have you seen in your legs?

Less swelling and the pain has gone away.

Additional Comments: What did you appreciate? What makes us different than other medical clinics? What could we have done better to exceed your expectations? What changes would you like to see?

I appreciated the staff and how they make a patient feel comfortable.  Your facility is very clean and pleasant.  I also liked that the staff was not trying to push me through my appointment to get to the next patient.  Don't change a thing. "One can't fix what is not broken.".

Because heat dilates the veins, many vein issues increase during the summertime. As the veins expand with higher temperatures, leaky veins can get even worse, leading to more pooling of blood in your legs and problems associated with it such as pain, tiredness, cramps, swelling, and clots. There is an increased chance of seeing new spider veins, pain, and symptoms. Here are tips to help you enjoy the warm season:

1 Stay Cool

Make sure you wear clothes that won’t trap heat. Always use sunblock (SPF 30 or above) not just on your legs, but also on your face and nose, where thinner skin is more prone to developing spider veins.

2 Take a Dive

In addition to offering great respite from the summer heat, swimming is one of the best ways to promote normal circulation in your legs. Swimming is a low-impact exercise that saves your joints from the pounding, yet increases your heart rate and improves circulation overall. Also, cooling exercises like swimming and brisk evening walks are best because the lower temperatures help prevent the blood vessels from dilating.

3 Stay Hydrated

Keeping your body properly hydrated will help it effectively circulate blood, heal injuries faster, and allow for healthier skin. Though it seems like a no-brainer, patients with vein problems should pay close attention to their hydration levels during the summer when the heat can easily dry anyone out. If you plan on being out of the A/C, plan to also bring a water bottle along. Avoid caffeine.

4 Avoid Heels

We recommend flats and sandals rather than high heels as they keep your calf muscles from effectively pumping blood out of the leg. Wearing lower heels makes your calves work a little harder, keeping blood pumping throughout your legs and back to your heart where it belongs.

5 Elevate Your Legs

Since veins in our legs have to work against gravity to send blood back to the heart, it helps them if you take periodic 15-minute breaks, elevating your legs above the level of your heart. This facilitates the flow of blood back to the heart and helps “empty” some of the blood pooled in your legs.

6 Calf Pumps

Our calf muscles play a very important role in helping “push” blood upwards towards the heart against gravity. Sitting or standing for prolonged periods renders the calf pump inactive. We recommend taking breaks to walk or stand on tiptoes for 10-second intervals throughout the day whenever possible. Brisk walking, bicycling, using a stepper, and swimming is some of the best ways to strengthen calf muscles.

7 Wear Compression Stockings

They may not be at the top of anyone’s list of hot summer fashions, but compression stockings put pressure on your legs which helps to move blood up and away from your lower legs. Though you may not want to wear them outside during July and August for fear of overheating, wearing them regularly may prevent blood from pooling in your legs, which can cause or worsen vein problems.

Varicose and spider veins have ruined too many summers. To keep them from ruining this one, schedule a free consultation and complimentary vein screening at Alsara Vein Clinic at 816-396-0245 to set up a Consultation today. Current treatments allow us to permanently treat affected veins with no downtime and you can be rid of your compression stockings within days of treatments. Many insurers, including Medicare, offer coverage.

Large, bulging varicosities that appear on the skin surface as ropey veins are usually branches of deeper saphenous veins inside the leg. In the past, the saphenous vein was typically treated first using thermal ablation such as Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA). Any remaining varicosities that were closer to the surface of the skin were then typically sealed from the inside by sclerotherapy.

At times, unwanted veins were too large for sclerotherapy and had to be removed by microphlebectomy. The revolutionary VenaSeal™ offers an opportunity to seal all affected varicosities (veins that are deeper inside the leg and those closer to the surface of the skin) in one session without undue risk of thermal injury or pain during the procedure. The FDA-approved VenaSeal™ involves use of a medical superglue (cyanoacrylate) that permanently seals the unwanted veins from inside. Even better, the prolonged use of stockings after the procedure is not required. Once sealed, the diseased veins are gradually absorbed by the body. Your Vein Specialist will help you decide if this novel treatment would be suitable for you.

Now you can get rid of unwanted ropey veins in one hour while you select a pair of shorts online that match your new legs! Call us at 816-396-0245 for a Consultation.

– and bikini contests!

Where did summer go? It seems like only yesterday the snow had finally melted, after a prolonged winter, and here I am talking about fall. In fairness, this summer was an extraordinarily busy time for us at Alsara Vein Clinic. We saw more new patients in July than any other month in the past. Every one of my staff members worked extra, long hours to ensure each patient received top-notch care, even in the face of increased patient volume and the numerous urgent requests to see a patient the same day.

I am humbled by both the confidence that numerous referring providers have in our care and the trust of patients who refer family and friends. For example, Jim*, a 76-year-old gentleman, came to Alsara Vein Clinic after exhausting all options at hospitals and other clinics in the area. With a tracheostomy collar in place, he was unable to talk and breathe at the same time, yet he had much to discuss. After providing his medical history, he cleared his “airway trash”, drew a deep breath, and concluded by saying, “I am hanging by the last straw. My neighbor across the street advised me to come to you. You took care of him when he had no hope that anything could be done.” Since then, the topic of his conversation has been anything but medical. Taking swift breaks to inhale, he seemed more interested in talking about his friends, family and his many aspirations although, as he politely stated, “I realize that I won’t be able to participate in a bikini contest anytime soon!”

Later that week I saw Tom**, a 58-year-old, who had avoided seeking care as he was sure that leg amputation was going to be the only option available, given the advanced stage of chronic venous insufficiency in his leg. It seems that every clinic day has its fair share of patients with swelling, severe leg cramps, and restlessness. We also see many male patients with clots, bleeding, and poorly healing sores in their legs, all of which are features of advanced, chronic venous insufficiency.

A detailed duplex ultrasound scan (Mapping) provides us with a “road map” of all the key veins in the legs. The goal of every treatment modality is to get rid of the underlying varicose veins and restore proper blood flow by routing blood to the healthy veins. The new, modern, minimally invasive treatments allow us the opportunity to eliminate the diseased veins safely and effectively with very little downtime; these are also much safer than surgeries used in the past. Over the last 10 years, further advancements have occurred in our understanding of venous diseases and the options available to treat them. For instance, the latest 1470 nm laser used at Alsara Vein Clinic offers a 40-fold improvement in energy absorption, compared to older generation lasers, resulting in even less bruising and discomfort. All treatments including Endovenous Laser Ablation and Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy are performed in the comfort of the office setting and patients can resume normal activities immediately.

I feel very fortunate for the technology and scientific knowledge backed by the experience of successfully treating thousands of patients over the past decade. Although participating in a bikini contest is not completely ruled out for Jim*, I suspect that he will put his legs to much greater use in the years ahead!

Concerns about your legs? Call Alsara Vein Clinic at 816-396-0245 to set up a Consultation today.

Sam Gupta, MD, MPH

* Jim is an actual patient of Alsara Clinic and has graciously given permission to use his quotes, story and images.
** Tom – his name changed to protect confidentiality.

Please describe your experience with us:

Everyone was helpful and friendly.

Front Desk staff:

Helpful, pleasant & friendly.

Ultrasound Technologist:

Kati so friendly & gentle & explains what she was doing.

Provider/Doctor/Nurse Practitioner:

Dr. Gupta very polite & explains the procedure.

What made you choose us?

Primary doctor sent me here.

What symptoms were you experiencing?

Swelling & blood clot in the right leg, swelling in the left leg.

How were you affected by your legs previously? What couldn't you do? How has that changed now?

Couldn't do what I wanted because my leg wouldn't let me. I didn't realize there was something wrong with them.

What improvements have you seen in your legs?

Walk a whole lot better, pick legs up easier; less swelling. Legs don't give out on me. Must have had problems for years & didn't know it.

Additional Comments: What did you appreciate? What makes us different than other medical clinics? What could we have done better to exceed your expectations? What changes would you like to see?

Very friendly and explained things to us & let us watch on screen. Didn't spend any time in the waiting room. They seem to get to you right away.