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. Which type of therapy is better, injection or light-based (such as laser)?

The choice of therapy depends on the size and location of the vein being treated. In general, most veins larger than 1-2 mm are best treated with injection sclerotherapy and the smaller veins by some form of light-based therapy. These therapies are often combined for optimal results.

7. How many 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.

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

The vein treatment center does NOT participate with insurance providers; patients are responsible for payments at the time of treatment.  Our staff will be pleased to assist patients who are seeking "out of network" reimbursement from their insurance company

9. When can I start exercising following treatment?

In general, light exercise can be started approximately 48 hours following injection or light-based therapy treatment with resumption of normal or even aggressive activity at one week.

10. Does sclerotherapy cause discomfort during treatment?

There is minimal discomfort during treatment employing either of these therapies. Sclerotherapy is performed with extremely small needles close to the diameter of a hair, and most individuals barely feel the injection at all.