Dr. Wright was named a Top Doctor in the St. Louis area, second most influential doctor in the St. Louis area overall, and ranked third in the country as Top Physician for varicose veins on legs. Dr. Wright is the medical director of Laser Lipo and Vein Center in O’Fallon, MO. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery as well as a Diplomate with the American Board of Phlebology.

1,250 other doctors nationwide rated Dr. Wright’s expert medical knowledge as correct and helpful. The HealthTap Top Doctor Competition Winter 2013 brought together the world’s best and most helpful online and mobile medical experts to compete for both local and national titles.  Tens of thousands of doctors competed for Top Doctor, Top Specialist, Most Influential Doctor, and Thought Leader Awards. Winners were selected by other doctors, who rated their peers based on demonstrated knowledge and expertise, and by nearly half a million consumers, who rated doctors on bedside manner, helpfulness and personality. Said Dr. Wright, “HeathTap is a great forum for patients and doctors, and I am happy to be able to assist patients with their needs through the HealthTap resources. I appreciate hearing from my colleagues and others that my assistance has proved valuable to the national patient and physician communities.”

Dr. Wright has been published in several surgical journals, and he has given numerous lectures and presentations during his medical career. He has comprehensive experience in varicose vein surgery, vein treatment and diagnosis, laser skin resurfacing, liposuction, Botox, and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. He also has vast experience with ultrasound, which allowed him to pursue advanced training in Phlebology with an emphasis on the use of EVLA laser closure and ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy in the non-surgical treatment of vein diseases. In 2005, he founded the Laser Lipo and Vein Center for the diagnosis and treatment of vein disease.

HealthTap, headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, is a physician-monitored online health resource, with information about a range of health issues supplied interactively by a network of 30,000 U.S.-licensed doctors in good standing. HealthTap also provides the opportunity for peer review, which consists of doctors rating each other. It is the largest interactive community of physicians online.

For more information, photo, or to contact Dr. Wright, email info@laserlipoandveins.com or call (636) 397-4012

When you have veins on the face and nose, you might be displeased with your overall look and want to have them removed. Luckily, there is a great deal of knowledge about medical procedures that are aimed at removing veins that are not wanted.

Although many people think of varicose and spider veins when they think about vein problems, these typically appear on the legs. Facial veins are as common, though many people do not know they have simple options for treating these issues.

How are these veins removed?

Options for removing facial veins depend in very large part on a combination of their position and their size. Some treatments are simply not designed for the area of the face, others work well. A specialist who has skills and an understanding of facial veins will guide you to a treatment you for your situation. After meeting with Dr. Wright, he will assist you in finding a treatment that works best for your needs.

In many cases, the veins that appear on the face and nose are relatively small. A safe and effective treatment for these visible facial veins is VeinWave, which uses a very fine probe and radiofrequency to seal the vein, closing it and causing it to shrink and disappear. The process is quick, easy, requires no downtime, and is very safe. For more information, call the office at 314-488-2586, or request your free consultation online.

A: When a vein is refluxing, and its valves are not functioning properly, laser ablation is a quick and comfortable procedure to treat incompetent saphenous veins. Under local anesthetic, the refluxing saphenous vein below the skin, which is generally the cause of varicose veins, is accessed via a small puncture. Into this entrance a laser fiber is inserted, and the laser guided through the vain, and then fired. The laser light interacts with the water in your veins to heat seal the vein closed. This is a safe and procedure, and local anesthetic provides maximum comfort. The vein will close and problems associated with refluxing veins, including cramping and pain, cease.

Q: Do varicose veins always hurt?

A: Not all varicose veins cause symptoms, but in most cases, varicose veins announce themselves with not only visible, ropy veins but leg pain, cramping, fatigue, heaviness, tenderness and burning. Some people report an itching feeling from varicose veins, while some feel restlessness in the legs. Sometimes varicose veins do not produce symptoms of pain but can simply manifest as thick, ropy veins. In any case, this is a medical condition that requires treatment, as untreated varicose veins are not just a cosmetic issue, they are a medical problem and can cause ulcers and blood clots if left untreated.

Q: Is the endovenous laser ablation painful? How long does the operation take?

A: Great Question. I actually did a study on the comfort levels of patients undergoing endovenous laser ablation. Endovenous Laser Ablation requires about 5-6 needle punctures with a tiny needle to introduce local anesthetic to numb the skin and around the vein. This is not painful to the vast majority of people; most patients report this as being not uncomfortable, as the needle is very small and it numbs the area immediately with carefully administered anesthetic. After this, the area is numbed and the procedure is quite comfortable. On average my patient rated the discomfort of the procedure and recovery on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being most painful, and most rated it a 1. The procedure last about 45 minutes, after which normal activities may be resumed (except airplane flight or heavy lifting). It has proven to be a very comfortable and effective treatment for veins.

Q: I have large dark varicose veins in both legs. But I don’t want a procedure using needles and an incision. Which procedures do not need an incision?

A: There are several procedures to treat varicose veins that do not require incisions. After an ultrasound evaluation to determine whether a vein is refluxing in the saphenous vein/s, which often is the underlying cause of varicose veins, endovenous laser ablation or radiofrequency ablation can be done. Tiny needle punctures are the only invasive part of this procedure; there is no cutting or incision. If the vein is not refluxing and issues are confined to the varicose veins less deeply in the skin, these may be treated with sclerotherapy, which again does not require incision but just tiny needle injections.

Although it is inevitable that some people develop varicose veins due to what is thought to be genetic or hormonal influences, you can still take measures to avoid the development of varicose veins.

Varicose Vein Prevention Tips

• Avoid standing for long periods of time without rest. The same goes for sitting: Standing without resting every now and then will put unnecessary strain on the legs, weakening valves. Sitting for long periods of time without getting up every now and then will encourage the pooling of blood.
• Participate in regular physical exercise. Make sure that you incorporate activities that keep your heart rate going, as well as activities that target muscle development within the legs to keep valves in the legs strong and healthy, which can go a long way in varicose vein prevention.
• Lose weight if you are overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese will put unnecessary pressure on your legs, contributing to the weakening of valves in the legs. Losing weight will help reduce the amount of pressure felt in the legs as well as improve the flow of blood all throughout the body, especially the legs.
• Avoid wearing tight clothes and heels. Tight clothes, especially those tight around the legs, groin, upper thighs and waist will impede the ability of valves to effectively keep blood flowing. Wearing heels for long periods of time can put unnecessary stress on your legs, potentially weakening the valves. You should try to wear lower-heeled shoes instead, as they can not only decrease the amount of stress on your legs but also help improve muscles tone in your calves.
• Quit smoking and all other tobacco products. Smoking and other forms of tobacco use can lead to poor blood circulation and high blood pressure, both of which are conditions that can exacerbate the formation of varicose veins. Quitting smoking and other tobacco products will improve the flow of blood as well as reduce blood pressure.

If varicose veins have already developed, don’t worry! Because untreated vein disease can lead to complications such as ulcers, bleeding and clots, see a doctor to have your varicose veins checked. Phlebologists such as Dr. Wright are fully capable of providing comprehensive diagnosis and varicose vein treatments as well as other vein disease treatments in St. Louis.

The Food and Drug Adminstration has announced approval of Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), the first oral medication approved for the treatment of DVT since the approval of Warfarin (Coumadin) 60 years ago.

Rivaroxaban’s approval was based mainly on results from three trials with a total of 9,478 patients randomized to Rivaroxaban, placebo, and Enoxaparin (Lovenox) combined with a vitamin K antagonist such as Warfarin (Coumadin).

A simple oral regimen of fixed-dose Xarelto treated Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and recurrence of pulmonary embolism as well as a sequence of low-molecular-weight heparin and warfarin does, but with less bleeding risk, clinical trial determined. A placebo-controlled trial showed that 1.3% of patients taking rivaroxaban had recurrent thromboembolic events compared with 7.1% of those assigned to placebo.

The major adverse event with Xarelto is increased risk of bleeding, as is the case with other anticoagulant drugs. The studies also indicated that Rivaroxaban has a lower risk of bleeding events. For example, in the EINSTEIN-PE trial, reported earlier this year in the New England Journal of Medicine and at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting, 1.1% of patients on Rivaroxaban had major bleeding versus 2.2% with Enoxaparin. However the bleeding events when they occur may be harder to treat because there is no ready antidote to reverse the blood thinning effect of Xarelto if bleeding occurs.

Another major advantage of Rivaroxaban, an oral Factor Xa inhibitor, is that it doesn’t require the close monitoring of coagulation activity needed with Heparin and its analogs. “All in all, this is a welcomed option for patients who develop or need to prevent a DVT or a pulmonary embolism,” says Dr. Thomas Wright, the medical director of Laser Lipo and Vein Center in O’Fallon, MO.
Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot in the deep veins. When a thrombosis detaches and subsequently travels to the lungs, it is called a pulmonary embolism. The conditions affect about 1 in 1,000 adults annually.

Dr. Wright is the Medical Director of the Laser Lipo and Vein Center in St Louis, Missouri. His practice specializes in vein treatment and cosmetic medicine, including treatment and diagnosis of vein disease. Dr. Wright was one of the first two-hundred-plus surgeons in the United States to become board certified in Phlebology by the American Board of Phlebology. Dr. Wright received his undergraduate degree from Duke University in Durham, NC and completed his medical training at the University of Missouri at Columbia. He completed his residency at the University of Alabama Birmingham. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, and a former Howard Hughes Research Fellow.

To contact Dr. Wright, please call (636) 397-4012

In this, his third consecutive year earning this accolade, Dr. Wright has received near perfect scores from his patients rating such areas as follow-up care, accuracy of diagnosis, the doctor’s bedside manner, the amount of time patients spend with the doctor and overall opinion.

“Treating our patients is truly an enjoyable experience,” says Dr. Wright. “We are pleased that our attempts to give them great health care and personal attention mean something to our patients. We are honored to have them come to us with their health needs.”

Dr. Wright is the Medical Director of the Laser Lipo and Vein Center in St Louis, Missouri.  His practice specializes in vein treatment and cosmetic medicine, including liposuction, cosmetic surgery, body sculpting and treatment and diagnosis of vein disease.

Dr. Wright was one of the first two-hundred-plus surgeons in the United States to become board certified in Phlebology by the American Board of Phlebology. Dr. Wright received his undergraduate degree from Duke University in Durham, NC and completed his medical training at the University of Missouri at Columbia. He completed his residency at the University of Alabama Birmingham. He is also a registered medical sonographer, credentialed by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and a Fellow of the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, and a former Howard Hughes Research Fellow.  Dr. Wright is a board-certified surgeon who has been performing cosmetic procedures for over ten years. He was trained in liposuction by the inventor of tumescent liposuction, Dr. Jeffrey Klein.

In addition to the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Patients’ Choice Awards, Dr. Wright has been accorded many other honors during his medical career. Some of these awards include election to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, the American Medical Association Physician Recognition Award, and appointment as a Howard Hughes Research Fellow. In 2009, Dr. Wright was selected as one of St Louis Magazine’s TOP DOCS.  TOP DOCS are chosen by physicians that have been previously honored. The selection represents the endorsement of the St. Louis medical community.

Of over 700,000 active physicians in the United States, only 5 percent received the prestigious Patients’ Choice Award in 2012. The voting takes place exclusively among patients.

To contact Dr. Thomas Wright of the Laser Lipo and Vein Center in St. Louis, Missouri, call 636-397-4012 or request a consultation online.

Patients have gone out of their way to provide feedback about their experiences, rating physicians on various aspects of the care they provide, including bedside manner, time spent with patients, courtesy of doctor’s staff and office follow-up.. Those who rank consistently highly earn the Compassionate Doctor Award. While many physicians receive positive reviews from their patients, few receive sufficiently high accolades to qualify for this award.

This is the second year in a row Dr. Wright has received this great honor. Thanks to our patients for their continued appreciation of Dr. Wright and the Laser Vein Center.

The study found significant benefit in using low fluence/high repetition for laser hair removal. Subjects treated with this type of laser reported permanent hair reduction in four treatments. Success in so few treatments was not limited to one hair type or complexion color; results were shared across different types of skin tone and hair type. Subjects also experienced fewer side effects and adverse reactions to laser therapy delivered by this laser as compared with traditional lasers.

Traditional lases are high fluence/low repetition. Widely used for hair removal, these devices are associated with more discomfort from patients. High fluence lasers are associated with more complications and side effects in dark-skinned and tanned individuals. These lasers also usually require a longer course of treatment to arrive at permanent hair reduction: Most providers encourage six or more treatments to achieve hair reduction.

Dr. Wright is a fellow of the ASLMS and contributor of original research to the journal. His practice, the Laser Lipo and Vein Center, is dedicated to vein diagnosis and treatment and state-of-the-art laser medicine, and is located in O’Fallon, MO. Dr. Wright is a multiple-time Patients’ Choice Award winner and a former Howard Hughes Research Fellow. Dr. Wright received his undergraduate degree from Duke University in Durham, NC and completed his medical training at the University of Missouri at Columbia.

Dr. Wright received near perfect scores from his patients rating such areas as follow-up care, accuracy of diagnosis, the doctor’s bedside manner, the amount of time patients spend with the doctor and overall opinion. Dr. Wright was a Patients’ Choice honoree in 2010 as well.

“Patient experience is our highest priority,” stated Dr. Wright. “To earn the trust and approval of our patients and to assist in their health care is an honor for me.”

In addition to the Patients’ Choice Awards, Dr. Wright has been accorded many other honors during his medical career. Some of these awards include election to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, the American Medical Association Physician Recognition Award, and appointment as a Howard Hughes Research Fellow. In 2009, Dr. Wright was selected as one of St Louis Magazine’s TOP DOCS. TOP DOCS are chosen by physicians that have been previously honored. The selection represents the endorsement of the St. Louis medical community.

Of over 700,000 active physicians in the United States, only 5 percent received the prestigious Patients’ Choice Award in 2011. The voting takes place exclusively among patients, who go out of their way to provide reflections on their experiences with their physicians.