A phlebologist is a specialist who deals with diseases related to the venous system. Phlebology, as a branch of medicine, is one of the most dynamically developing areas. The dysfunction of the venous system is one of the most common diseases. Both phlebogol and phlebology are derived from the Greek phlebos meaning vein.
Who is a phlebologist?
A phlebologist is a doctor who works with various imaging techniques for vascular diseases. In Poland and in our system of postgraduate medical education, there is no such medical specialization. Therefore, phlebology is most often dealt with by doctors who specialize in such areas as: angiology, general and vascular surgery, dermatosurgery, radiology and imaging diagnostics, interventional radiology, internal diseases, urology and aesthetic medicine. The phlebologist helps patients with serious diseases, but also those with problems on the border of medicine and cosmetics. Considering this, a visit to a phlebologist can take place not only in a medical clinic, but also in plastic surgery or aesthetic medicine clinics.
What does a phlebologist do?
Phlebology is a branch of medicine that derives from vascular surgery. Flebolologists deal with the treatment of people struggling with acute conditions, which include active phlebitis, but also chronic ones – for example, venous diseases or post-thrombotic syndromes. There are many situations in which it is worth consulting a phlebologist, for example when we observe disturbing changes that are especially noticeable in the area of the lower extremities. They can take the form of visible, enlarged and tortuous veins through the skin, which can indicate varicose veins.
Another factor may be the appearance of small, dilated capillaries, most often blue or red in color, which may be vascular spider veins. The presence of brown discoloration and pimples on the skin, often located in the ankle area, should also interest us and prompt us to visit a phlebologist’s office. Also, swelling around the ankles, worsening at the end of the day, is a worrying symptom. It is also worth going to a phlebologist when you notice wounds on the lower legs that are difficult to heal, as these may be leg ulcers. Other situations in which it is necessary to start treatment with a phlebologist are varicose ruptures, thrombosis or inflammation of the veins.
Phlebology is a growing field of medicine. There are more and more phlebology clinics on the medical market, whose daily task is to diagnose and treat diseases of the venous system. Specialists deal with: thrombosis of the deep and superficial veins, venous insufficiency of the pelvis and varicose veins in the intimate area, venous leg ulcers, atypical varicose veins, vascular dysplasia, otherwise known as Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, venous malformations, post-thrombotic syndrome and venous compression syndromes.