Incredible Wellness Destinations: Andrew Provost Of Metro Vein Centers On Why & How Traveling Can Help Us Heal

An Interview With Wanda Malhotra

Continue to exercise even while traveling if that is part of your routine. Scheduling time to exercise during traveling can be difficult, but prioritize making time to exercise as lots of research show that consistent exercise 20–30minutes a day is beneficial — not only for the health of your veins — but for general health as well.

The pandemic has shaped the way we travel and live, with a growing trend leaning towards health, wellness, and a holistic lifestyle. More than ever, individuals are seeking not just getaways, but immersive wellness retreats that help rejuvenate the body, mind, and soul. Destinations that provide a serene environment, unique wellness offerings, and an unparalleled experience are in great demand. In this interview series, we are talking to property owners and hospitality companies who are at the helm of these wellness havens. As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Andrew Provost.

Andrew is a Managing Partner of Mertal and founded the firm in 2017. In this capacity, Andrew is the President and lead board member of Metro Vein Centers and previously served as a director of UPAuto Group. Prior to Mertal, Andrew was an investment professional at Blackstone Capital and subsequently Gamut Capital. Andrew has also spent time at Goldman Sachs and Barclays Capital. Andrew graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University where he was captain of the triathlon team.

Metro Vein Centers serves New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, Arizona, and Pennsylvania with personalized, state-of-the-art vein treatment. Our team of board-certified vein doctors are on a mission to provide the best vein treatment experience at each of our nationally-accredited vein clinics, which have provided relief to over 100,000 patients suffering from varicose veins, spider veins, and other vein conditions. With 98% patient satisfaction and 6,200+ 5-star reviews, we’re proud to say your legs are in great hands.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. What are a few things which distinguish your property from thousands of wellness properties around the world?

Metro Vein Centers stand out among thousands of wellness properties globally through several key factors. We are dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for personalized care, tailoring each patient’s experience to their unique condition. With clinics across seven states (New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, Arizona, and Pennsylvania) our medical experts address various vein diseases (e.g. spider and varicose veins) at different stages, accommodating diverse needs. Our treatments range from alleviating severe pain hindering mobility to addressing early signs like visible vein tracks. Our approach reflects decades of innovation, ensuring high-quality care and fostering patient education. Metro Vein Centers redefines the standard of patient treatment, setting a benchmark for excellence in wellness.

What type of experience do you want your visitors to have when they visit?

Visitors to Metro Vein Centers can expect an exceptional experience that blends spa-like tranquility with top-tier medical expertise. Our commitment to diversity extends to catering to Spanish/English bilingual patients, with educational materials and clinical staff fluent in both languages. Every clinic aims to ensure every individual feels truly cared for, experiencing a thoughtful and elevated standard of service at every clinic.

What makes your property a beautiful escape for a body and mind recharge?

It’s like being treated in a spa. From the moment you step inside the Midtown clinic, you are pampered by the calming aroma of our scented candles. The staff at Metro Vein Centers greet you by name, and after checking in, you are offered refreshments of your choice — whether that’s steaming jasmine tea, berry-flavored sparkling water, or regular bottled water.

Can you share any transformative stories or testimonials from guests that visited your property?

A 70-year-old grandmother had difficulty sitting for long periods of time due to the swelling and heaviness she felt in her legs. As a retiree, she wanted to spend as much time as she could with her grandchildren. Her 11-year-old granddaughter played competitive football, and unfortunately, her games were sometimes over an hour’s drive away. She was unable to attend the games because she could not sit for such a long period of time. Ultimately, that was what motivated her to seek care and get the veins in her legs treated. When she returned for a follow-up, she was excited to show her Metro Vein Center provider videos she recorded of her granddaughter playing football when she was able to attend her first game in person.

A 35-year-old mom of two started becoming self-conscious about the spider veins and bulging varicose veins in her legs after the birth of her first child eight years ago. Since becoming a mom of two, she shared that she hadn’t worn shorts or gone to the beach for fear of showing her legs in public. During her initial consult, she talked about what her goals were with treatment, and in addition to being pain-free, she wanted to feel comfortable showing her legs in public. With each treatment, she progressively saw improvements in her legs and gained the confidence to show her legs again. She wore a dress to her final appointment with us, and we talked about how excited she was to go to the beach and show off her legs this summer!

Why do you think the experience you offer is so needed nowadays?

The services and treatments Metro Vein Centers offer are particularly relevant in today’s health culture due to the recent awareness surrounding vein health. In the past 15–20 years, there has been a significant increase in available information regarding vein conditions. Previously, individuals might have dismissed symptoms like leg swelling or the appearance of spider and varicose veins as untreatable hereditary issues. However, with the studies and research now accessible, patients understand that proactive measures can be taken. Factors such as increased travel, including flights and train rides, and jobs that require prolonged standing or sitting, all have contributed to a greater consciousness of circulation health.

What was once considered cosmetic now holds deeper implications, often indicating underlying health conditions. Metro Vein Centers focus on education and awareness to ensure that individuals recognize the interconnectedness between visible veins and potential health issues. Taking control of vein health is no longer seen as superficial; it often signifies deeper issues that can be exacerbated if left untreated.

The recent medical innovations have outdated practices like vein stripping making them obsolete. Today, vein diseases are not only treatable but also preventable. Metro Vein Centers offer advanced treatments that address these conditions effectively.

Do you think travel enhances our mindfulness, optimism, or sense of gratitude? How? Can you please explain with an example or story?

One of our providers remembers traveling to Paris and spending much of the time walking, appreciating the architecture and history. It reminded him that this is how a lot of people feel when they travel to New York City. He recalls coming home from Paris and remembering not to take the city for granted, or his health. It’s worth mentioning for anyone who loves walking metropolitan avenues: don’t forget your compression socks. All our medical experts can attest that they will do wonders to support your vein health and reduce fatigue.

What are your “5 Habits You Should Develop In Order Make Travel Into An Opportunity For Wellness & Personal Growth?”

1. Wear compression stockings in general, but definitely on your flight to NYC (for example) for your wellness trip. It has to be 20–30mmhg because that’s the firmness that studies show helps alleviate the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency (i.e. swelling on plane rides, heaviness with lots of walking). and the rule of thumb is: as much as you can tolerate during the day and the stockings should go up as high as possible (thigh high > knee high).
2. Be mindful of how your legs feel. Prolonged sitting, standing, and walking during traveling can flare up the symptoms of venous insufficiency. To counter the effects of this, elevate your legs against the wall for 10 min each night before you go to bed.
3. Make sure you hydrate before you come in for a check-up. Drink plenty of water as dehydration/underhydration can falsely make the size of the vessels appear less than their true size — masking the reason the symptoms of venous insufficiency.
4. On the same note, get plenty of sleep the night before and avoid excess caffeine the morning of your appointment; caffeine can also falsely make the size of the vessels appear less than their true size — masking the reason the symptoms of venous insufficiency.
5. Continue to exercise even while traveling if that is part of your routine. Scheduling time to exercise during traveling can be difficult, but prioritize making time to exercise as lots of research show that consistent exercise 20–30minutes a day is beneficial — not only for the health of your veins — but for general health as well.

Based on your experience, where do you see the future of wellness travel heading in the next 5–10 years?

Travel for wellness is already something we regularly see, so it is only going to continue to grow. New York City has roughly 8 million people, and an additional 1 million commute into the city for work almost daily. Whether they are walking, sitting in traffic, or standing on the train, we are seeing more and more people suffering from venous insufficiency. It’s our quality of care that also attracts people to travel great distances to receive treatment in our clinics, whether they come from neighboring states or Puerto Rico. As awareness of vein health grows, we know our clinics will also grow to meet the demand.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)

Kim Kardashian is a public figure who clearly travels a lot and has been open about health concerns with her audience. Her brand is a blend of fashion, beauty, and women’s issues, so it would be great to speak with her. She ensures that she and her followers know that while visible veins may seem to be a cosmetic issue, they can have a deeper impact on one’s overall health.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Yes, you can visit www.metroveincenters.com for more information and to schedule an appointment. For daily educational information you can visit the Metro Vein Center blog, The Vein, and Instagram @metroveincenters.

Thank you for these really excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent on this. We wish you continued success.

About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.