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If you suffer from varicose veins, spider veins, leg pain or swelling, there’s no need to put off getting help. Atlanta Vascular Specialists, a highly trained, experienced team of vascular surgeons, is qualified and ready to treat your vein-related conditions within minutes of your Fayette home.

Most treatments are minimally invasive and are performed in-office with little downtime. Moreover, you can call for a free vein screening to find out what the best course of treatment is for your condition.

“We stay at the forefront of the newest vascular treatments,” explains Dr. Eric Wellons, a board-certified vascular surgeon who leads the team at Atlanta Vascular Specialists in Fayetteville. “All of the treatments we offer are cutting-edge. Our goal is to bring the most advanced treatments to people in Fayette County and the Southern Arc, so they don’t have to travel to Atlanta for treatment.”

A graduate of the University of Virginia Medical School, Dr. Wellons has been a practicing vascular surgeon since 2002. He was inspired to enter the field by his father, a well-respected cardiovascular surgeon, and by the evolving advances in vascular specialties.

Dr. Wellons explains that vascular surgeons operate on arteries outside the heart and brain and on veins. Distinguishing the difference between the two life-giving conduits is important.

“Arteries take blood from your heart to your whole body,” Dr. Wellons says. “They keep your parts alive. They’re essentially the conduit that keeps every piece of you alive. Veins take the blood from wherever they went back to your heart.”

One of the more common conditions Atlanta Vascular Specialists treat are blocked arteries. These procedures can restore blood flow to legs, limbs and other parts of the body. Other arterial conditions Dr. Wellons commonly treats are aneurysms, strokes, and peripheral arterial disease.

Patients with arterial conditions are generally referred to Atlanta Vascular Specialists by other specialists and doctors. It’s important to note that you can request the specialists you prefer.

Veins have no mechanism, no pump, Dr. Wellons explains, for sending blood back to your heart. How does it go back?

“As you walk the muscles help move the blood through the veins,” Dr. Wellons says. “It moves somewhat passively.”

Veins have one-way valves that allow the blood from the feet to return to the heart and also to prevent it from flowing back to the feet, he explains. When those valves are not working properly, people can experience varicose or spider veins or venous insufficiency. Many treatments and procedures are available to relieve these conditions.

Spider veins are small veins that may begin to show up under the skin. They can itch, Dr. Wellons says, but for the most part, they’re something to treat cosmetically. Varicose veins tend to be larger, more prominent veins that are more symptomatic.

“Varicose veins generally cause more aches than spider veins and can sometimes indicate that you have bigger veins that are not working right,” Dr. Wellons explains.

Varicose veins are larger than spider veins and may cause swelling. Although the condition is rarely a significant health risk, patients experiencing discomfort or who are bothered by the appearance are encouraged to seek treatment.

If your legs ache and feel heavy, particularly if at the end of the day there is swelling that was not present in the morning, you’re someone who should get a vein screening, Dr. Wellon says. Also, if there is dark discoloration of your ankles, especially on the inner ankle, screening is recommended.

For each of these conditions, Atlanta Vascular Specialists offer cutting edge treatments that can quickly improve daily living and activities.

“Currently, their are doctors from a variety of specialties treating venous disease in the outpatient setting,” Dr. Wellon says. “It is important that patient’s have a choice in their surgical specialists and are informed regarding their doctor’s credentials. To make sure that your doctor is appropriately trained in treating all aspects of venous disease, you may check their board certification on the American Board of Medical Specialties. The other thing you may ask is which hospitals they hold privileges to do the same or similar procedures. “

“Make sure the person you see is board certified or board eligible in that specialty,” Dr. Wellons says. “You should be able to ask for credentials, and they should be able to produce them.”

The American Board of Medical Specialities certifies almost every specialty. You can look up a doctor’s certifications by visiting abms.org/verify-certification/

“That’s the differentiation,” Dr. Wellons says. “It should always be the differentiation.”

Dr. Wellons practices alongside Dr. James M. Combs, board certified vascular surgeon, and Dr. John D. Dooley, board eligible vascular surgeon. The trio has offices in Fayetteville, Sharpsburg, and Newnan for your convenience.



To schedule a vein screening or for more information, call 404-524-0095 or visit vascularspecialistofga.com.