FAQ

Enlarged, sometimes twisted veins that have become swollen due to venous insufficiency causing blood to pool in the legs. Veins become varicose when their valves fail to successfully pump blood back up to the heart.

Spider veins are dilated capillaries closer to the surface of the skin. They can be red, purple, or blue, smaller, and usually not raised. Spider veins are most common on the legs and face.

Vein disease, also known as venous insufficiency, is the improper functioning of the vein valves within the legs that can cause painful symptoms. It is the leading cause of symptomatic spider and varicose veins.

There are many possible causes of varicose veins: family history, age, gender, pregnancy or hormones, being overweight, or lack of movement.

Leg pain or cramping, restless legs, especially at night, a feeling of heaviness or soreness, tenderness around veins, itching or burning, swelling of the legs or ankles, skin discoloration, or non-healing wounds.

Standing for an extensive time at your job, gaining weight, or being pregnant can add more pressure if you’ve had a change in hormones, or just aging can all affect when you will experience more pain from vein disease.

Most patients experience excellent results from vein treatments like EVLT; however, there are a few reasons why varicose veins may appear even after treatment. These reasons include: if you have a strong genetic predisposition, have another underlying condition such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or if you become pregnant after treatment.

Venous ulcers are caused by poor circulation in the leg veins due to venous insufficiency. Venous ulcers appear as sores on the legs where the skin has become inflamed due to pooled blood.

RLS is an uncontrollable urge or need to move your legs to stop unpleasant sensations, especially at nighttime or while asleep. Venous insufficiency is an underdiagnosed cause of restless leg syndrome that a leg ultrasound can easily identify. Treatment can be life-changing.

If left untreated, large varicose veins can lead to serious complications. If you are experiencing leg cramps, pain, swelling, or heaviness, contact Vein Specialist Centers for a consultation.

Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent the development of varicose veins. However, there are things you can do to improve your circulation and overall health. Some of these steps include: exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, eating well, elevating your legs, and adjusting your sitting or standing positions regularly.

Left untreated, varicose veins can become debilitating. Symptoms of leg pain, fatigue, cramping, swelling, itching, burning, or restlessness can start to impede your daily life. Untreated vein symptoms may prevent you from exercising, being able to wear a regular shoe or boot size, getting a good night’s rest, or being able to stand during the day at work.

Wearing supportive shoes, taking short breaks from standing, performing ankle rotations, remembering to stretch and flex your calves throughout the day, taking short walks at lunch, limiting saturated fats, avoiding cigarettes, and drinking lots of water can help improve circulation and decrease your risk for varicose veins if your job requires standing during the day.

Women who are pregnant experience higher volumes of blood flow during the pregnancy. The increased blood flow can contribute to enlarged veins in your legs and make developing varicose veins more likely. Another cause of varicose veins during pregnancy has been linked to the change in hormones women undergo during pregnancy.

Anyone can develop varicose or spider veins; however, a few factors can increase a person’s risk. Age, pregnancy, smoking, family history, obesity, and sitting or standing for long periods can increase the risk of developing varicose or spider veins.

Women have a higher risk of developing varicose or spider veins than men. This is because of hormonal changes women experience during pregnancy, menopause, or childbearing. About 50% of women and 45% of men will get varicose veins during their lifetime.

Yes, about 45% of men in the U.S. will develop varicose veins. Varicose veins in men are typically caused by poor circulation, inactivity, weight, and age.

After verifying your demographics and insurance coverage, you will be greeted by a team that includes a medical assistant, ultrasound technician, and vein doctor. The vein doctor will perform a comprehensive history and focused physical examination. This will be your time also to ask essential questions and express your treatment goals.

If medically indicated, your vein doctor will also request a vein ultrasound to determine the right vein treatment plan for you. When procedures are recommended, the information will be submitted to your insurance company for approval. This will take 2-4 weeks when you will be contacted to schedule any planned treatments.

Depending on the number of veins that need to be treated, the procedure typically takes between 15 to 30 minutes from start to finish. Both RF vein ablation and sclerotherapy are outpatient treatments performed right here in our offices.

Yes, you can resume your normal daily activities, drive and even return to work immediately after treatment.

No problem at all, you can continue with your usual exercises. However, please avoid strenuous activity or heavy lifting (more than 20 pounds) in the first 2 weeks after the procedure.

We recommend at least 7-10 days before taking any long flights after vein treatment. A follow-up visit will be scheduled after your vein treatment and should be completed before taking off. Be sure to wear your compression stockings while on the plane and walk in the aisle at least once every hour.

The safe and right thing to do is to wait at least 6 months after delivery. With time, symptoms sometimes improve without treatment after pregnancy as the hormonal balance returns to normal; however, pregnant patients experiencing more than usual discomfort or swelling should be evaluated at any time.

Vein treatment can be performed at any time as the treatments are minimally-invasive. It’s best to treat early to prevent the condition from worsening. Patients are advised to consider postponing cosmetic sclerotherapy treatments during summertime if they anticipate a great deal of sun exposure.

Minimal side effects are associated with sclerotherapy. It’s possible to experience some bruising or irritation. More serious side effects are rare and will be monitored closely by your vein specialist. It’s important to have sclerotherapy done by a qualified, board-certified physician in vascular medicine. When proper sclerotherapy techniques are implemented, long-lasting side effects are uncommon. Spider veins can recur if underlying venous insufficiency is not properly addressed beforehand.

Sclerotherapy is the preferred method of treatment for cosmetic spider veins. Many patients will see significant improvement after the initial injection within 6-8 weeks. However, some patients will need two or three treatment sessions for optimal results. The key is to find the right sclerotherapy treatment for each individual.

Almost all patients are suitable for sclerotherapy. During your consultation with one of our experienced vein doctors, we will evaluate your individual condition and personal preferences to determine which method of sclerotherapy is best for you. Patients will notice astonishing improvements in spider veins before and after sclerotherapy.

No downtime is associated with sclerotherapy, so you can resume your daily activities immediately after treatment. For optimal results, compression stockings will be recommended by your vein doctor for a variable length of time.

At Vein Specialist Centers, we use polidocanol forms for sclerotherapy. In comparison to hypertonic saline, sotradecol (STS), and glycerin, polidocanol has an improved safety profile. Polidocanol has been shown to have fewer incidences of hyperpigmentation, skin ulceration, and matting than other forms of sclerotherapy.

Ablation treats the vein from within by heating the vein wаll and collapsing the targeted, unhealthy segments. Circulation is then redirected to the other healthy veins within the legs to relieve symptoms and prevent further complications.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) does not require any sedatives or general anesthesia. Your doctor should feel comfortable doing the procedure under local anesthesia. If your skin is very sensitive, ask the doctor for any preparations that can be used to make the process even smoother.

Both procedures are endovenous techniques that have become the standard of care for vein treatment. Both are highly effective with proven long-term success and low risk of recurrences.

Patients can feel a considerable difference one week after their radiofrequency ablation procedure. In particular, patients will notice their leg heaviness, restless legs, and cramps may completely disappear.

Varicose veins result from a progressive disease, and while we can treat what is occurring now, it is up to the individual patient, their genetics, and their lifestyle to determine whether other spider veins and varicose veins will develop over time.

Many patients recall “vein stripping” as being a difficult procedure to endure in which the entire saphenous vein would be removed through large skin incisions. Fortunately, “vein stripping” is in the past, and new technologies have made vein treatment procedures minimally invasive. With the current endovenous techniques, there is no need for skin incisions or anesthesia to treat varicose veins.

ELVA can significantly improve unsightly and painful varicose veins. Your symptoms and ultrasound findings will determine the insurance coverage level you will receive. Our team of experienced vein doctors will perform the necessary tests, and our staff will submit all required information on your behalf for prior authorizations.

The treatment sessions are under one hour, and patients can resume most daily activities immediately after.

Don’t worry! We use numbing medicine to prevent discomfort. Many patients don’t feel anything at all.

The endovenous laser is a specially-designed catheter for treating underlying diseased veins. It is highly effective and does require the need for a vascular specialist. Cosmetic laser treatments are typically used for spider veins at the skin's surface and do not address the treatment of the underlying cause.

Patients can notice a considerable difference in how their varicose veins and legs look and feel within one week following EVLA. In particular, the heaviness, restless legs, and cramps may completely disappear.

Ambulatory phlebectomy is a time-consuming process that requires attentive skills and patience. Other vein clinics may not have the available tools and highly qualified staff necessary to successfully perform this effective vein treatment.

While each treatment has the same goal, to get rid of varicose veins, phlebectomy and sclerotherapy serve different purposes. Microphlebectomy or ambulatory phlebectomy is the ideal treatment for large varicose veins, as larger veins do not always respond well to sclerotherapy. We recommend consulting the vein doctors at the Vein Specialist Centers to determine which varicose vein treatment best suits your needs and desired outcome.

Since the VenaSeal treatment does not require any tumescence for local anesthesia, patients find the procedure to be much more comfortable and essentially pain-free.

Both vein treatments are very effective in permanently closing off targeted vein segments. However, VenaSeal does so without any heat delivery. As such, there is no need for large amounts of anesthetic solution.

The glue is a medical adhesive that is gradually absorbed by the body with time.

Clarivein is a complementary solution to more commonly used treatments such as radiofrequency ablation and sclerotherapy. Your vein specialist will decide the best course of action based on your current anatomy and prior treatments.

Like other endovenous procedures, the ClariVein treatment to treat vein disease is completed in-office and in under one hour.

Yes, most major insurance companies usually cover vein treatment for symptomatic vein disease. We will confirm that your condition will meet insurance guidelines prior to the treatment.

Yes, we would love to help! We offer instant insurance verification when scheduling online. If you’d like to verify over the phone, please call (609) 257-2095 to speak directly with our patient coordinators.

At the end of your initial appointment, which includes a comprehensive vascular ultrasound, our vein specialist will discuss your situation and, if needed, suggest an individual treatment plan. We will then be able to provide you with the exact price.

Compression stockings can be a very effective method for controlling spider and varicose vein disease symptoms. It can also prevent the underlying condition, venous insufficiency, from worsening. Your vein doctor can assist you with properly selecting and sizing compression stockings. If compression stockings have failed to control symptoms, your vein doctor can work with your insurance company to obtain approvals for medically necessary procedures.

You will be asked to wear compression stockings for a few days to a week after your treatment. This length of time is determined by your doctor and can vary from patient to patient; this is because the number of veins treated and severity of venous insufficiency will affect the length of time compression stockings need to be worn.