Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I know if I should come in for a consultation?
- How much does the consultation cost?
- If I have a laser or radiofrequeny vein closure, how long does it take?
- Is the procedure painful?
- If I have to have varicose vein surgery, how long will I be out of work?
- Will I always have to wear support hose?
- Will this one procedure be the last I'll ever have to worry about this problem?
- I have high blood pressure. Can I still have injections or surgery?
- Is this procedure safely done in your office?
- Is age an important consideration for this type of procedure?
- If you close down the veins, what will happen to the blood that usually goes through them?
- Can I return to exercise right away after a procedure on my vein?
- What will my leg look like after surgery?
- Does insurance cover the treatment of spider veins?
- How much does it cost for treatment of spider veins?
- How many treatments do I need to remove the spider veins?
- Once the spiders are treated, can I expect any more to develop?
- What is phlebology?
Q: How do I know if I should come in for a consultation?
A: If you have bulging veins, discolored areas in the lower legs, swelling, ulceration, spider veins, or symptoms such as aching and heaviness of the legs. All of these may indicate venous abnormalities that could be helped.
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Q: How much does the consultation cost?
A: Our consultation fee is covered by most insurance plans, with only a small co-payment typically required. If you have no insurance, the consultation fee is $50 to $150 dollars, depending on time and complexity of the problem.
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Q: If I have a laser or radiofrequeny vein closure, how long does it take?
A: The procedures for vein treatment usually take approximately 45-60 minutes, though you should expect to spend a total of 2-3 hours with us on the day of your procedure, including pre-treatment and post-treatment time.
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Q: Is the procedure painful?
A: Most patients report feeling very little pain during the procedure. We use safe, local anesthesia to numb the treatment area.
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Q: If I have to have varicose vein surgery, how long will I be out of work?
A: Most people can go back to work in a 2 or 3 days after the procedure.
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Q: Will I always have to wear support hose?
A: Most people will need to wear hose for a week or so after a procedure or injection. Hose are rarely needed for long term use.
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Q: Will this one procedure be the last I'll ever have to worry about this problem?
A: We now know that many people have a genetic predisposition that may lead to new abnormal veins in the future. That is the reason that we recommend yearly follow up exams to pick up small problems before they become serious.
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Q: I have high blood pressure. Can I still have injections or surgery?
A: Yes, controlled high blood pressure presents no problem with these office-based procedures.
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Q: Is this procedure safely done in your office?
A: Yes, that is now the standard of care around the country. Since no general anesthetic or intravenous injections are given, it is extremely safe.
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Q: Is age an important consideration for this type of procedure?
A: Age alone is usually not a consideration, since only local anesthesia is used. We have several patients in the 80's and even one in her 90's who have had the Closure procedure.
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Q: If you close down the veins, what will happen to the blood that usually goes through them?
A: Because the valves aren't working correctly, the blood in the affected vein is actually going toward the foot instead of toward the heart. When this vein is taken out of the circuit, the normal veins easily handle this blood, and do a better job of it. The circulation is much improved in your leg after the procedure.
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Q: Can I return to exercise right away after a procedure on my vein?
A: After the procedure you will have support hose and a compression bandage placed which will remain for 2 days. After this you can shower and wear the hose just during the day for a few more days, depending on the extent and nature of the procedure. During the post procedure time, we encourage walking and most activities, but discourage heavy weight lifting or vigorous sports. After 2 weeks all activities can be resumed.
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Q: What will my leg look like after surgery?
A: You will have some bruising, the extent often depending on the severity of the varicose veins that are treated. This resolves in 2 or 3 weeks. If you have had injections of some larger veins, there may be mild discoloration at the site of the vein which can persist for several months.
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Q: Does insurance cover the treatment of spider veins?
A: Insurance will not pay for treatment of spider veins, but will cover other procedures unless specifically denied in your contract.
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Q: How much does it cost for treatment of spider veins?
A: The cost of spider vein treatment will vary from patient to patient, based on the number of veins that require treatment. We encourage patients to visit us for a private consultation so that our doctors can assess your individual condition and then we can quote the appropriate fee. The fee may range from $150 to $300 for a visit and 30 minutes of injections. To make payment convenient, we accept major credit cards.
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Q: How many treatments do I need to remove the spider veins?
A: You can expect about 3 sessions to obtain satisfactory results, which is considered to be about an 80% improvement. Each session is not more frequent than every 4 weeks.
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Q: Once the spiders are treated, can I expect any more to develop?
A: Most people experience gradual development of more spiders over time. Sometimes people will return yearly for "touch ups".
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Q: What is phlebology?
A: Phlebology is a medical specialty that deals with the study and treatment of varicose veins and other vein disorders.
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