Don't Settle for a Hasty Varicose Vein Consultation

Yes, God should be praised for helping me to become a doctor. I have devoted my entire life and sacrificed my youth studying and training to treat vascular disease.

The History of Varicose Vein Treatment Centers in Pittsburgh

Before lasers revolutionized the world of varicose vein care, only surgeons could treat varicose veins. That was done by stripping varicose veins. Just saying the words, stripping varicose veins makes most people shudder. In Pittsburgh, before lasers there were only four surgeons interested in treating varicose veins. The four surgeons exclusively treating varicose veins were Dr.Stanley Hirsch, Dr. William Katz who founded the circulatory center in 1979, Dr. J. L. Buchanan, who operated out of Mercy Hospital and Dr. John Happel who began practicing vascular surgery in Pittsburgh in 1986.
Dr.Hirsch merged his practice with UPMC and has retired. Two chiefs of vascular surgery at UPMC offered Dr. Happel a vascular surgery position but he declined joining their group. He remains in private solo practice. Dr Katz sold the Circulatory Centers to Dr. Louis Certo who franchised the practice into 29 locations in six states. Dr. Buchanan passed away. Dr. Happel has maintained his solo vein practice since 1986 and has two offices in McMurray, PA and Wheeling, West Virginia.
With the advent of the laser around the turn of the century, varicose vein care was no longer restricted to surgeons. This opened a floodgate of all different kinds of doctors claiming to be specialists in varicose vein treatments. Many inexperienced doctors who had no training vascular disease at all suddenly decided to start treating veins.
This continues to this day. Emergency room doctors, family practitioners, radiologists, and even heart doctors have started treating people with varicose veins. Many of these doctors learned their vein techniques at three day conferences and from paying to watch other vein doctors for a couple of days.
This raises a question of quality and experience in treating venous disease. One of the busiest vein practices in Pittsburgh started out merely by treating spider veins. Advertising heavily and a strong entrepreneurial spirit has helped them to thrive.

The Difference Between Solo Veins Practices and Vein Franchises

The doctor who will treat you should always do your initial consultation.
Vein offices that have a medical assistant, nurse, technologist, or physician assistant doing your initial consultation should raise red flags. At Happel Laser and Varicose Vein Center, I alone will do your initial consultation and treatments.
I am a board certified vascular surgeon. You will have my complete care during the entire process from beginning to end. You will not see that in the current tag team vein franchise approach.
I often hear stories from patients seeking a second opinion. They tell me they did not meet their doctor at other vein centers until the day of their laser procedure. That is a disgrace. After their consultation, all of the treatment decisions were made by ancillary medical personnel.
Most people feel uncomfortable with this approach. Other patients come to me after these procedures have already been unsuccessful.
All of these places have to advertise heavily on TV to create new patient flow. Many people come to me for a second opinion from a vein center which advertises heavily on television. These people question overly aggressive and unnecessary laser procedures recommended by nurses at vein franchises.

For a different approach, try our vein office. Call us at 724-969-0600.