Frequently Asked Questions
Are these procedures covered by insurance?
Vein treatment and the diagnostic tests are usually covered by insurance provided it is medically indicated. Many insurance plans require patients follow conservative management for several months consisting of compression hosiery, life style modification (weight loss, exercises) and increase in activity and leg elevations.
What can I do about spider veins?
Spider veins are a good indicator that problems lie ahead. In 85% of cases, spider veins are usually caused by an underlying hypertension in the veins that feed them. Once the underlying hypertension is treated, the little veins may disappear and those that don't can be treated with Sclerotherapy, an injection that delivers a sclerosant causes them to collapse and disappear.Do these spider veins come back?
Spider veins are sometimes associated with hormonal levels, such as with pregnancy and when the patients are taking hormonal replacement treatment.What causes varicose veins?
Varicose veins are the result of venous reflux disease. This results in increased pressure against the wall of the vein. The end result is elongation, and dilatation (increased diameter) of the superficial veins. They become tortuous, unsightly and sometimes they can rupture, bleed spontaneously or develop clots.Most often, they are hereditary, and they are worsen by prolonged standing or sitting, tall stature, obesity, pregnancy and leg trauma. Blood clots can develop, a condition known as Superficial Thrombophlebitis.
What is Microphlebectomy?
Microphlebectomy is the minimally invasive, office based operation carried out under local tumescent anesthesia. Two mm skin incisions are made every few centimeters that permit the removal of up to 5 times larger varicose veins than the skin incision with special miniaturized instruments. These small incisions heal without visible scars in a few weeks.What are the Greater Saphenous Veins (GSV)?
This is the longest superficial vein of the of the legs. It runs inside the legs from the sole of the feet up to the groin where they connect to the deep veins. The GSV is commonly the culprit in the condition known as Venous Reflux Disease and is the most commonly treated vein.
The deep veins constitute the main venous channels that drain blood from the legs back to the heart by the combined activity of walking (leg movements during sleep) and breathing.
What is DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)?
DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is a serious, potentially life threatening condition that can develop in the deep veins of the legs in healthy adults as a result of immobility such as a two hour flight. DVT can also occur as a complication to cancer, following general anesthesia, hip, knee or abdominal surgery. DVT can also occur in the third trimester of a normal pregnancy.What complications and symptoms are commonly attributed to venous disorders?
- Small red or blue veins along the thigh, knee leg or ankles
- Burning, aching or swelling of the leg with Menses
- Bulging-rope like blue or green veins
- Ankle swelling that worsens as the day progresses
- Brown skin discoloration in the ankle and or gaiter area of the legs
- Inflammation, Redness, pain or swelling below the knees
- History of ulceration or an active ulcer or sore above the ankles
- History of superficial thrombophlebitis (clot in surface vein with inflammation of the overlying skin)
- History of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- History of Pulmonary embolism
- Bursting like pain in the legs with prolonged sitting or standing