You’ve finally decided that your painful leg veins have bothered you long enough, and now you’re ready to take the next step to regain your healthy, youthful legs. Choosing the right vein doctor can greatly affect the success of your treatments.
The following questions can help you assess your doctor’s qualifications and understand your diagnosis, helping you make an informed decision about your vein health:
1. What are your qualifications? Some doctors may advertise themselves as “vein experts” but actually lack the proper credentials. It’s important to choose a vein specialist who is board-certified, meaning advanced education and training in the vascular field has been completed. Also, make sure your vein specialist is a member of nationally recognized venous societies such as the American Venous Forum, the Society for Vascular Surgery and the American College of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. This typically indicates the physician has undergone rigorous training and passed a certification exam that qualifies him/her to diagnose and treat vascular disorders.
2. What percentage of your practice is devoted to vein care? A practice that treats leg veins all day every day is a practice designed to treat venous disease 100 percent of the time. This provides patients access to state-of-the-art treatments, giving them the best chance of a positive outcome.
3. What are my vein treatment options, and how do I know which one is best for me? Your vein specialist will evaluate your vein health concerns and develop a customized treatment plan specific to your goals and needs. Several minimally invasive, non-surgical options exist, such as endovenous laser therapy (EVLT), sclerotherapy, foam, vein adhesive solutions, microwave-type catheter ablations and others. Your vein specialist will help you determine which treatment is best for you; oftentimes a combination of treatments may be required to achieve the desired results.
4. What are the benefits of treatment? Vein specialists who offer these office-based treatments will be able to elaborate on their many benefits. However, to name a few, these procedures are typically performed within 30 minutes and require only a local anesthetic. Patients maintain the ability to drive themselves to and from their procedures and resume their normal activities soon thereafter. These treatments help alleviate painful leg symptoms, like swelling, cramping, itching and fatigue, while also gaining an improved appearance. Patients enjoy an active lifestyle again and better sleep after addressing their restless, crampy legs. And most importantly, these treatments offer restored, healthy blood flow back to the heart.
5. How do vein treatments work? These treatments aim to seal shut any diseased veins and reroute blood flow to other healthy, surrounding veins and back up to the heart. Over time, the body will naturally reabsorb your treated veins. Years ago, many patients underwent “vein stripping” procedures, which are now somewhat obsolete. Most current vein treatments are now minimally invasive and do not require vein removal.
6. Are vein treatments painful? In short, no. Your vein specialist will use a local anesthetic, numbing only the targeted area. Most patients find the treatments very tolerable and experience little to no pain. Some patients occasionally report mild discomfort or a stinging sensation. Patients are awake and relaxed during the entire procedure.
7. Are treatments covered by insurance? Yes, most major health insurance plans and Medicare typically cover treatments for venous disease. Most vein treatments performed by a vein specialist are deemed medically necessary and not “cosmetic,” given that it affects the blood circulation in your legs.
A skilled, experienced and compassionate vein specialist will provide the clarity you seek in managing your leg vein issues and walk you through a personalized treatment plan. Don’t let the pain and unsightliness of leg veins keep you from enjoying everyday life.
