Dr. Robert Handley would like to say that his path to becoming the leading interventional radiologist at Flower Mound has been a straight line – he has wanted to be a physician since he was a young child and has never taken his eyes off that goal. But the truth is, the Houston native didn’t realize his true passion for healthcare until he was 32 years old.
“I’ve done a lot,” said Dr. Handley, a software engineer who graduated from college. He also attended flight school, served as a volunteer paramedic, and earned a master’s degree in space science. “As soon as I started thinking about medical school, I jumped right into it.”
“Focusing on interventional radiology was the best decision I could have made. I love it.”
That was almost 30 years ago. Dr. Handley earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and then trained in general surgery at the University of South Alabama. He then completed a residency program in diagnostic radiology and a fellowship in interventional radiology and vascular medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.
Since venturing out on his own and opening North Texas Vein & Vascular in 2012, his practice has quickly become recognized for quality, patient care, and a resource for a variety of procedures aimed at helping people live their lives better. As a board-certified physician, Dr. Handley has extensive experience in minimally invasive image-guided procedures and has a special interest in venous procedures and the treatment of venous insufficiency. This includes helping patients relieve the pain and embarrassment of varicose and spider veins.
He is also one of the top doctors in Metroplex for uterine fibroid embolization procedures, which is a minimally invasive alternative to major surgery such as a hysterectomy or myomectomy. He’s dedicated himself in recent years to educating more women about their choices.
Putting all these awards and specialties aside, Dr. Handley insists that it all boils down to providing patients with unparalleled care.
“We put a tremendous amount of effort into patient care and the overall patient experience, and I’m proud to say we’ve been able to help so many people overcome conditions that have affected their lives for years,” said Dr. Handley.
While Dr. Handley has long been known for venous procedures, a growing part of his practice near and dear to his heart is dedicated to helping women with symptoms of fibroids. Although noncancerous, these tumors develop in the uterus and can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from heavy menstrual bleeding to pelvic pain, pressure, bloating, and more. A woman can have one or several fibroids, each of which varies in size and location, and it is estimated that 70 to 80 percent of women will have them in their lifetime.
Not every woman needs treatment, but those who don’t usually know about UFE as an alternative to surgery. UFE requires only a wrist piercing. Instead of removing the fibroids, the procedure cuts off blood flow to the fibroids, causing them to shrink and die.
“We hear horror stories where women say they are prisoners in their own home because they are worried about bleeding, etc,” said Dr. Handley. “They also don’t always know that UFE is an option. But when they do treatment, they get better quickly, and they can get their life back, it feels great to us. That’s why we focus so much on UFE because it can benefit so many women.
“They need relief without the invasive complications of surgery, and we strive to provide that for them.”
Besides offering a variety of treatments under one roof, including cosmetic treatments such as laser hair removal, skin tightening, and more, North Texas Vein & Vascular is excited about the complete renovation and new dedicated treatment facility. Located at 870 International Parkway, Suite 200 on the south end of Flower Mound in the Lakeside Development, North Texas Vein & Vascular features an office laboratory, in-house procedures, an interactive waiting room for patients and families, and several patient rooms and procedure suites – all complete with advanced technology.
“It feels great to see our clinic do so much for our patients, and we want to continue building the practice,” said Dr. Handley. “Now that we’re in Lakeside, we’re much more accommodating to a lot of our patients both locally and in Dallas.”