Frequently Asked Questions

Varicose veins are large, sometimes bulging blue and purple lines that appear on the lower extremities. They occur when the walls of superficial veins weaken and blood flow back to the heart is impeded. In some cases, varicose veins will not have any other accompanying symptoms. However, many patients experience heaviness, pain or swelling in the legs as a result.

Spider veins are veins that are closer to the surface of the skin and appear as red or blue lines. Most patients do not experience any physical symptoms with spider veins, although some will have symptoms similar to those with varicose veins.

There are two reasons to pursue treatment for varicose veins. First, if you are experiencing painful symptoms as a result of your vein disease, treatment can effectively eliminate those symptoms. Even if you are not currently experiencing physical problems as a result of your varicose veins, treatment can eliminate unsightly lines on your legs that make you feel self conscious. It can also reduce your risk for more severe problems, like thrombosis or ulcerations, in the future.

The procedures we offer have advantages over traditional vein stripping done in the past. First, vein stripping often required the use of a general anesthesia and a significant recovery time. Many of our patients require no anesthesia and most are back to work the next day. Our procedures also carry a much lower risk of recurrence than vein stripping, meaning that treated veins will not return.

The time involved varies, depending on the type of procedures done and the number of veins requiring treatment. Most procedures take an hour or less to complete.

Patients are usually pleasantly surprised by the low level of discomfort they experience both during and after vein treatments. Because most treatments simply require the use of a needle, patients who can tolerate blood draws easily will not have a problem with these procedures. Any post-procedure discomfort can be effectively managed with oral medication.

Recovery time for most vein treatments is fairly short, with many patients returning to work the day after treatment. In fact, patients are encouraged to walk as soon as possible after treatment and regularly for the next two weeks to speed recovery. There are some restrictions on air travel, hiking, biking, tubing or tanning after treatment. We will discuss the specifics of your restrictions at your initial consultation so you know what to expect.

Some of our vein treatments do require more than one session to achieve desired results. Treated veins will not return, but that doesn't mean you won't see similar conditions in other lower extremity veins. We recommend a yearly follow up to catch new varicosities early so subsequent treatment will be minimally invasive.

Most insurance companies consider treatment of symptomatic lower extremity vein disease to be medically necessary and often will authorize treatment when criteria for medical necessity have been met. We will work with your insurance company to verify coverage prior to your procedure. That way, you will know ahead of time if you will be responsible for any out of pocket expenses. Some insurance companies require photos as part of their pre-authorization process.