Laser Vein Treatment Now Available at Wound Center

In an effort to address re-occurring wounds, The Wound Healing Center at Lake Wales Medical Center has launched a new program that uses lasers to treat blood vessels whose function is compromised to the point that they cause wounds. Dr. Fred Howard performed the first procedure at the Center on Tuesday afternoon.

“They come here, they get wound care, they get healed, but then they go back out in the community and a month or two later, they’re back,” Dr. Howard said. “This treatment will help them prevent that cycle.”

Program Manager Amanda Williams agreed. “It’s about quality of life for these patients,” Williams said. “We’re not just about healing the wound. We want to heal the disease process that causes the wounds.”

Noting that in the past, patients had their veins stripped or ablated, Dr. Howard said the laser treatment is minimally invasive. The laser works on the superficial venous system to address issues where blood starts to pool, causes swelling and ulcers.

Vascular disease affects millions of people and is often a factor in the development of chronic, non-healing wounds. Vascular disease – including peripheral artery disease – contributes to 80 percent of all non-traumatic limb amputations in the United States each year. LWMC’s Wound Healing Center is committed to providing comprehensive care for patients living with vascular disease and chronic wounds. The Wound Center has been in Lake Wales for nine years, and opened in its current, expanded location at the corner of Hwy. 60 and 11th Street in December 2018.

Other treatments offered at the Center include negative pressure therapy, total contact casting, bio-engineering tissues, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, biosynthetic dressings and growth factor therapies. For more information about wound treatment, call The Wound Healing Center at Call863-679-1986.