Does angioplasty always treat atherosclerosis?

I am afraid not!: Angioplasty simply opens a blockage by squishing the plaque against the wall much as the same way you make room in a garbage bag by squishing its contents. While it improves the blood flow, it does nothing to alter the underlying disease process which is generally wide spread. It requires medicines such as statins, ace inhibitors and Aspirin and more importantly healthy living and not smoking.

Never, Only Symptoms: Rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque, decades after it starts, sheds debris downstream and often induces blood clots over the rupture. These clots may narrow the opening of the artery a little or a lot, sometime closing it. As the clot heals, it tends to shrink but leaves behind scar tissue within the opening. Angioplasty, stents and bypass treat the narrowing but further complicate the disease.