FAQs
Q. When do veins require treatment?
A. Veins that are cosmetically unappealing or cause pain or other symptoms – such as itching, burning and swelling – are prime candidates for treatment.
Q. Which vein treatment is best?
A. There are two general types of treatment: conservative methods, such as compression stockings, and corrective methods, such as endovenous laser ablation, sclerotherapy, and minimal surgery. In some cases, a combination of methods is best. Whatever the treatment, its success depends in part on careful assessment of the problem by a knowledgeable interventional radiologist specializing in venous diseases.
Q. Is varicose vein treatment painful?
A. In most cases there is little pain, but you may experience minor discomfort.
Q. How much does it cost?
A. If your veins are causing you pain and discomfort, most insurance companies cover the procedure.
Q. When can I get back to work?
A. You can go home the day of your vein treatment and can usually return to work the next day.
Q. What results can I expect?
A. With the evaluation and treatment methods available today, spider and varicose veins can be treated at a level of effectiveness and safety previously unattainable.
Q. What causes varicose veins?
A. Heredity is the number one factor behind varicose and spider veins. Being overweight is a significant contributing factor. Gender makes a difference, too; women are more likely to suffer from abnormal leg veins. More than 50% of American women may be affected. Other predisposing factors include aging, standing on the job, overweight/obesity and leg injury.
Hormonal factors including puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, and the use of birth control pills, estrogen, and progesterone, also affect varicose veins. Because pregnancy increases hormone levels and blood volume, causing veins to enlarge, it’s common for pregnant women to develop varicose veins. In addition, the enlarged uterus causes increased pressure on the veins. Varicose veins due to pregnancy often improve within several months after delivery. However, with successive pregnancies, abnormal veins are more likely to remain.
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