What happens at a consultation?
We will ask you to fill out a brief medical history form concerning your general
health and your vein problem. If you are coming in for your leg veins, a
screening ultrasound evaluation of both legs will be done to determine what,
if any, vein problems are present. Your areas of concern will be examined and
all your questions will be answered. We will discuss what it is that you want
to accomplish and how best to achieve your goals. All possible treatment options
will be explained to you, not just the treatments that we provide. Should you
select a procedure that we do not perform, we will attempt to refer you to a
reliable physician experienced in that procedure. Whatever you decide is fine,
but we want you to make an educated choice. Your consult will last about 60
minutes.
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Will insurance cover my treatment?
If you are coming in for purely cosmetic purposes, no. If, however, you are having symptoms or other complications related to your vein disease, you may be eligible for insurance coverage. This will be determined on a case by case basis, and will depend on your individual insurance policy. We can never guarantee coverage. Whatever the case may be, we will inform you about what you can expect financially PRIOR to beginning your treatment.
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Don't I need these veins? Where does that blood go? What happens to my circulation?
No you don't need them. You have miles of superficial veins in your leg, and what we will treat is just a small fraction of the total. Moreover, your vein disease did not develop overnight. In most cases, it will have taken years to get to the point at which you begin to consider treatment. Therefore, your body has literally had years to redirect the venous blood flow in your leg into the miles of good veins. When we treat your broken veins, and alleviate the backpressure coming down the leg in the wrong direction, your circulation will improve!
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What if I need a coronary artery bypass? Won't the doctor need this vein?
The greater saphenous vein (along the inseam of your leg) is often used for bypass surgery, but only if it is a normal vein, not if it is a varicose vein. There are multiple alternative vessels to use for bypass grafting.
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I am on Coumadin to thin my blood. Can I be treated?
Yes, in most cases. The procedures we perform are so minimally invasive that there is no significant blood loss associated with them. Therefore, most patients will not have to stop their blood thinners around the time of treatment.
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Another doctor said my only option was surgical stripping, and that nothing else will work. Is this true?
This is almost always false. Most patients now have multiple successful options available for their treatment, all of which are much less invasive than surgical stripping.
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I have massive, ropey clusters of varicose veins all the way down my leg. Will they actually disappear?
Yes. The leg can be significantly disfigured from varicose veins. In nearly all patients, all of the large, bulging veins will vanish and the normal contour of the leg will be restored following treatment.
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I love to exercise. Are there any limitations following treatment?
Yes, but only for a short period of time. For small vein treatment, strenuous exertion is not allowed for the rest of the day. For large varicose veins, we usually restrict strenuous exercise for about 1-2 weeks. Fitness can be maintained by walking, which is encouraged during this time.
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You say I have large varicose vein disease, but I just want the small veins treated. Why won't you do that?
Large varicose veins are high-pressure veins flowing backwards down the leg. Even if they are not visible from the skin surface, this high-pressure, reverse flow tends to back up into smaller vessels, enlarging them. For the majority of patients with large and small vein disease, proceeding with treatment of the small veins prior to treating the large, underlying vessels will only lead to short-term, unsatisfactory results at best. At worst, it may lead to poor cosmetic results with extensive discoloration of the skin, more veins than you began with, and the waste of a significant amount of your time and money.
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I'm planning to have more children. Should I wait to begin treatment?
Pregnancy can cause multiple problems with varicose veins. In most cases, having them treated before your next pregnancy will be to your benefit, and reduce the risk of possible complications during your next pregnancy. Even if additional veins develop with your next pregnancy, they will typically be fewer in number and easily treated following the birth of your child.
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Do I have to wear compression hose following treatment?
Compression stockings are not required following the treatment of your small veins. If we are treating your large varicose veins, however, it is recommended that you use compression stockings for a minimum of 7 days.
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