October 16, 2025
For more than a decade, 71-year-old Alfred Sylvester III of Houma, Louisiana, lived with painful, swollen legs and bulging varicose veins. What started as occasional discomfort gradually became so severe that he could barely walk.
“I first noticed pain and swelling in both legs about 12 years ago,” Alfred recalled. “Over the years, it just kept getting worse. The veins in my legs started bulging and traveling up my legs. I knew something was wrong, but I put off getting treatment until I just couldn’t ignore it anymore.”
Alfred eventually turned to Dr. Matthew Finn, interventional cardiologist and vascular specialist at Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) in Houma, Gray, and Raceland, Louisiana.
“Mr. Alfred came to see me with severe leg pain, worse on the right, but also affecting the left,” said Dr. Finn. “He had significant, protruding varicose veins that had been present for over a decade. We performed an in-depth ultrasound, which not only helped us rule out blood clots but also allowed us to map out the veins and develop a personalized treatment plan.”
That plan involved two different minimally invasive procedures, one for each leg.
Dr. Finn performed a phlebectomy on Alfred’s left leg. “We numb the skin over the vein, make several tiny incisions, and use a small hook to remove the damaged vein,” explained Dr. Finn. “Although it sounds painful, patients usually tolerate it very well. It’s the procedure I use for very severe varicose veins, like in Mr. Alfred’s case.”
On his right leg, Alfred received VenaSeal, a treatment that uses a medical adhesive to seal the faulty vein and reroute blood flow. “I like to use the analogy of traffic,” said Dr. Finn. “It’s like redirecting cars from broken-down local streets to the interstate. By closing the damaged vein, we get blood flowing back to the heart in a much more efficient way.”
Alfred said the procedures were much easier than he expected. “During the procedure, I was relaxed. Dr. Finn numbed my leg, so I didn’t feel anything,” he said. “After he worked on each leg, it felt like I had two brand new legs. All the pain was gone.”
Today, Alfred says he feels stronger, more mobile, and more confident. He is grateful for the care he received and hopes others won’t wait as long as he did to seek treatment. “If your legs start swelling up and your veins start popping out, don’t ignore it – get it checked,” he said. “I would recommend Dr. Finn any day. He did an awesome job!”
Dr. Finn added that vein disease is far more common than many realize. “It’s one of the most underdiagnosed and undertreated conditions we see,” he said. “If you have symptoms like leg pain, swelling, or visible varicose veins, I encourage you to come see us at CIS. These in-clinic procedures are safe, effective, and can truly change your quality of life.”
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