Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can varicose veins and spider veins reappear?

Once a varicosity or spider vein has been adequately treated, that vein is gone forever and will not reappear. You can, however, develop new varicosities and/or spider veins in other areas or even in areas that were previously treated.

2. Will getting rid of varicose veins and spider veins hurt my circulation?

Removal of true varicosities actually improves venous circulation by helping to restore normal venous blood volumes and venous pressures. In general, the removal of spider veins has a minimal effect on overall circulation and may improve local venous circulation in the area treated.

3. Can I get a blood clot from injection therapy (sclerotherapy)?

Blood clots do occur in the superficial varicosities being treated by injection therapy. They occur when the vein is shut down during injection therapy, but they do not impose any health risks and resolve as the injected vein is absorbed by the body. These superficial blood clots should not be confused with much more dangerous blood clots which can occur for other reasons in the deeper veins in the legs.

4. How long will it take before I see results?

This varies based on the severity of the disease being treated. Some individuals see results within a few weeks, but we caution most people not to expect their best cosmetic results for two to three months. In rare instances, it may take up to six months before the best cosmetic result is achieved. Individuals who are being treated for symptomatic varicosities will notice improvement in their symptoms within the first week or two following treatment.

5. Where do these veins come from?

Both varicosities and spider veins arise from previously normal veins that have become enlarged and dilated. The most common causes of vein enlargement are an inherited weakness in the vein wall and local injury.

6. How many injection therapy treatments does it take?

The number of treatments varies with the severity and type of venous disease. Larger varicosities can generally be treated in one to two sessions. Since spider veins run within the skin and not beneath it, they need to be treated more delicately to avoid injury to the surrounding skin. It generally takes at least two to three sessions to achieve optimal clearing for spider veins.

7. When can I start exercising following sclerotherapy treatment?

In general, light exercise can be started approximately 48 hours following injection treatment with resumption of normal or even aggressive activity in a few days.

8. Will my insurance cover this? If not, why not and how much will it cost?

Treatment by injection therapy is usually considered to be cosmetic and is not reimbursed by insurance companies for that reason. We provide pre-treatment financial estimates including an estimate of expected maximum treatment costs.

9. How does endovenous laser therapy work?

Laser therapy has been developed to treat chronic venous insufficiency by delivering laser energy through a small puncture in the leg to close the diseased vein. With endovenous laser therapy, no surgery is required, and the entire procedure can be performed in less than one hour in our office.

During the procedure, you are awake and your leg is anesthetized. A thin laser fiber is inserted into the greater saphenous vein in your thigh. Your physician then will deliver laser energy through the fiber and into the vein, causing the vein to close.

10. Why is the laser fiber placed in the thigh, when the varicose veins are located below the knee?

Bulging varicose veins in the lower leg ususally are caused by a faulty valve located higher in the leg that can't be seen at the surface. The endovenous laser thearpy treats the source of the problem, which then causes the varicose vein in the lower leg to shrink and disappear.

11. Is endovenous laser therapy painful?

Although individual responses vary, most people report little to no pain associated with endovenous laser therapy. Often the only sensation is felt during the delivery of anesthetic to the leg. After the procedure you may feel some tenderness, tingling, itching or tightness in the treated leg, which should disappear within a month.

12. How successful in endovenous laser therapy?

Clinical results have been published which document the success of endovenous laser treatment. Like any medical treatment, however, endovenous laser therapy has certain risks which your physician will explain to you as they apply to your individual case.

 

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