9 minute read
Varicose Veins
BY DAWN ANDERSON PHOTO BY DICK ARNSPIGER
Dr. Steven Samuel of Comprehensive Vein Care in Jeffersonville, Indiana, spent 33 years as a general surgeon. Long days working primarily on his feet caused his legs to become heavy and swollen with varicose veins, inspiring Dr. Samuel to become certifi ed and trained in vein care. His experienced patient-to-patient approach guides his patients to “healthy legs that you can be proud of!”
“Veinous insuffi ciency has a wide spectrum of symptoms, including ankle swelling and legs feeling heavy or tired,” says Dr. Samuel. “As the insuffi ciency progresses, it leads to varicose and spider veins. Spider veins are cosmetic, whereas varicose veins have signifi cant medical symptoms. As the blood leeches out of those veins, the skin becomes blood-stained and dark. If left untreated, the skin breaks down with ulcers.”
Dr. Samuel shared some statistics relating to varicose veins' causes and contributing factors. Seventy-fi ve percent of varicose vein cases are due to genetics. One parent with a history of varicose veins increases the risk by 41%, and two parents by 82%. The remaining 25% of cases are commonly due to occupational factors or spending long hours working on your feet. Each pregnancy also increases the risk of varicose veins by 12.5%.
A signifi cant advantage of Comprehensive Vein Care is everything is performed at one location and is a “turnkey operation.” Every procedure is at his medical offi ce under a local anesthetic, without incisions or stitches. Each procedure takes thirty minutes or less, and there is no downtime or loss of work. Patients may return to work the same or the next day.
BEFORE AFTER
Enjoy a change in life and lifestyle as summer vacation approaches. Wear your shorts and swimsuits with more confi dence. For more information, visit comprehensiveveincare.net and follow @ComprehensiveVeins on Facebook. To make an appointment, call (502) 583-7741.
PREGNANCY & Childbirth
With help from the experts at Women First
BY KELLI MUDD MILLER, MD, FACOG, OB/GYN, WOMEN FIRST OF LOUISVILLE COURTESY PHOTOS
Having a baby changes your life forever and, as obstetricians, it’s an incredible joy to be part of that with journey with our patients.
At Women First, our goal is to help prepare you for pregnancy and childbirth, supporting you at each step along the way so that you feel calm, confi dent, and prepared for childbirth and new motherhood. Each patient has a personal Care Team comprised of a physician obstetrician, a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant, and clinical staff who are all dedicated to your individualized care. Providing exceptional health care, we offer more choices in your birth experience and respect alternative therapies and treatment in keeping moms and babies healthy.
IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
To help you understand your pregnancy and get ready for childbirth, our obstetrics guidebook details much of what you need to know when you’re expecting. Information about what to eat, which medications are safe to use, how (and how much) to exercise, how to evaluate daily activities, when it’s safe to travel, and much more help support you in making the best choices for you and your baby throughout pregnancy.
Every woman should champion her own birthing experience so that it will be everything she imagines. To help you prepare for labor and childbirth, an individualized Birthing Plan prompts you to think through all of the aspects of the birthing process before your big day. You select the labor and delivery options you are most comfortable with, so you feel calm, confi dent, and empowered to have the birth you deserve. Choose your laboring style—walking, moving about, using birthing balls or a birthing tub—and then add music, aromatherapy, visitors, and more to give you the fl exibility and control you desire throughout your labor. Select the pain management options that will work best for you, from no pain medication at all to nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to intravenous pain medication and an epidural, if you desire.
During delivery, do you want a mirror to view the birth? We recommend immediate skin-to-skin contact with your baby as soon as possible after birth for connection, and there are many timing options for cord clamping/cutting, breastfeeding, washing your baby, and baby’s care.
Women First delivers exclusively at Baptist Health, partnering with the Baptist Health Labor & Delivery team to have a safe and comfortable experience for you. Labor and delivery rooms offer privacy during birth with postpartum rooms for you to bond afterwards with your new little one. Lactation consultants are on staff 24/7, offering help and guidance to ensure your breastfeeding is successful.
Of course, no birth can ever be “planned” since situations may arise during labor and delivery that were not expected. If that happens, we work closely with you to keep you informed of any changes and what your new choices may be to still achieve your birthing goals in a safe and nurturing delivery environment. And Baptist Health’s high-risk pregnancy consultations and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) offer peace of mind and expert medical care for you and your baby.
Once you’re home with your new little one, our care continues. To make sure you’re adjusting well to new motherhood, our twoweek post-delivery, complimentary telehealth visit is a reassuring call. We’ll check on you and your baby to answer any questions you may have on breastfeeding, sleeping schedules, adapting to your baby, and more. And we’ll screen for issues—including postpartum depression—that you may be experiencing to address your concerns early, before they can become bigger challenges.
If you’ve had a prior Cesarean delivery, you now have more options for vaginal birth after a c-section (VBAC) with Women First. Because vaginal deliveries generally have lower risks than c-section births, we work closely with patients to determine viable candidates for VBAC. Assessing your delivery history and risk factors is key to determining success, as is developing an individualized birthing plan with VBAC-approved patients.
Working closely with our VBAC patients helps them understand and be prepared for potential changes in that birthing plan, including the potential need for an emergency c-section. And that preparation has paid off. Women First’s success rate for VBAC delivery is close to 90%—signifi cantly higher than the national average.
Our goal is healthy moms and healthy babies, and Women First takes pride in the 100 or so babies we deliver every month. We love supporting new moms—helping you be prepared for this amazing journey and empowered make the best decisions for you and your new baby. It’s defi nitely the little things that count.
For more information call 502-891-8700 or visit wfofl ou.com.
— Winnie the Pooh
ASK THE BEAUTY EXPERTS:
Easy Mommy Makeovers
We asked top local aestheticians and beauty experts to share the latest on injectables for our annual Mother’s Day issue. Treat that remarkable woman in your life to a gift certifi cate for a facial or beauty treatment. Or set up a consultation and explore options to freshen her look and make her feel her very best.
BY DAWN ANDERSON
WHAT REMEDIES DO YOU OFFER TO HELP TIRED MOMS LOOK REFRESHED?
Jana Brewer, CRNA, Co-Owner - XO Aesthetic Refi nery:
“XO Aesthetic Refi nery, formerly known as Louisville Lush Aesthetics, is a clinical aesthetics spa with aestheticians, injectors, and owners who are also full-time medical professionals. As moms, we are the ‘keepers of all the things’ who deserve to look and feel our best. The hardest part is just fi nding the time to book a consultation. Once they do, we develop a plan respectful of their budget, long-term aesthetic goals, and busy schedule! We start with basic skincare and target what bothers them the most. Quality skincare makes aesthetic injections look good and last longer.
Neurotoxins such as Botox®, Dysport®, and Xeomin® are easy ways to tiptoe into injectables. Biological volume loss and bone reabsorption affect how we look starting at age 25. We ensure appropriate treatments to restore proper mid-face volume through dermal fi llers or PDO thread procedures. We also offer regular facials and microneedling treatments for a more natural approach. We desire to make you look like a more rested and youthful version of yourself!” Visit xoaestheticrefi nery.com or call (323) 929-5874 for more information. Follow @xoaestheticrefi nery on Instagram.
DO YOU HAVE SOME WORDS OF ADVICE TO HELP REJUVENATE VOLUME LOST WITH AGE?
Brooke Evans, PA-C - Hūe Aesthetics:
“I was a physician assistant in orthopedic surgery and moved into aesthetics in the Lexington area. I saw a spot in the Louisville market to make aesthetics more accessible, comfortable, and concierge for patients. At Hūe Aesthetics, we have diagrams in the offi ce to explain volume loss, including loss of collagen, elastin, and structure. Our goal is not to change your face entirely but to turn back the clock a little bit to enhance your natural features.
Treatments such as Hyaluronic Acid Fillers, Radiesse®, and Sculptra® can be very effective. HA Fillers and Radiesse® smooth moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds and can correct volume loss. Radiesse® and Sculptra® stimulate collagen production and elastin formation for a more youthful appearance. We offer free one-hour consults for new patients where we educate, listen to concerns, answer questions, and come up with a game plan.” For more information, visit huemedspa.com or call (502) 709-5726. Follow @hue.aesthetics on Instagram and @hueaesthetics on Facebook.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE ON SKINCARE REGIMENS TO HELP KEEP SKIN LOOKING YOUNG?
Michelle Gamwell, Aesthetic Treatment Consultant - Aesthetic Alternatives:
“A thorough but realistic skincare regimen makes all the difference in enhancing and extending the results of cosmetic treatments, such as laser treatments, dermal fi llers, Botox®/Dysport®, Sculptra®, or Kybella®. At Aesthetic Alternatives, we offer a wide collection of medical-grade, physician-dispensed skin care and sunscreens. We recommend a Vitamin C serum, SkinCeuticals antioxidants, EltaMD® sunscreen, and skin-hydrating moisturizers for your daily morning routine. Even with clean, mineral-based makeup formulations from Colorescience® or Jane Iredale®, the rule for nighttime is ‘Don’t sleep in your cosmetics!’ Nighttime is also the right time to let a retinoid work its magic.
Exfoliation is essential a few times a week to slough dead skin cells. Treat yourself to our steam facials monthly and chemical peels a few times a year. Incorporating regular facials and dermaplaning into your regimen not only helps remove impurities and the top layer of dull skin but also allows products to perform better, optimizing a youthful glow.” Visit aestheticalternatives.com. To book an appointment, call (502) 625-2214. Follow @AestheticAlternativesAID on Facebook and @aesthetic_alternatives on Instagram.
Cuisine 68 71 Tha Drippin Crab top 5 dining: Sunday Brunch
