Frequently Asked Questions          

    What causes varicose veins?
    Arteries carry blood from your heart to the rest of your tissues. Veins return blood from the rest of your body to
    your heart, so the blood can be recirculated. To return blood to your heart, the veins in your legs must work
    against gravity. Muscle contractions in your lower legs act as pumps, and elastic vein walls help blood return to
    your heart. Tiny valves in your veins open as blood flows toward your heart then close to stop blood from flowing
    backward. Varicose veins are thought to be caused by weakened valves within the veins that allow the valve to
    stretch and no longer close properly. This causes the blood to pool in your veins instead of traveling to your heart
    causing pain, swelling, discoloration, sores that won't heal, blood clots and other problems. The veins appear blue
    because they contain deoxygenated blood.

    What kinds of veins can be treated?
    Huge varicose veins down to tiny spider veins. Treatable veins can be  located anywhere on the body, however    
    most are commonly treated on the legs and face. Veins are treated with Laser Therapy Sclerotherapy,
    Microphlebectomy,  ELAS, and VNUS.

    How soon will I notice a difference in appearance?
    The tiniest spider veins may remain slightly red for several days and then begin to fade over a period of 1 to 2  
    months. Larger veins almost always take longer to fade. Normal healing varies from person to person.

    Will it hurt?
    Closure procedures are performed under local anesthetic, and there is very little pain during the procedure.
    Sclerotherapy is preformed with extremely small needles in which a sclerosing solution is used to inject the veins.
    Minimal pain is felt at the injection site. Some discomfort may be felt after the procedures.  These procedures offer
    an excellent alternative to once-painful vein stripping operations with patients currently experiencing minor, if any,
    pain after the surgery, and an almost zero use of pain medication .

    Can the veins come back?
    Current treatments for varicose veins and spider veins are effective. However, it's possible that varicose veins can
    recur.  The veins treated with sclerotherapy are destroyed and will be reabsorbed into the body so those veins
    can't come back. Varicose vein segments are permanently  removed. However nothing can be done can be done
    to prevent your body from forming new spider and varicose veins.

    Do I have to be hospitalized for my treatments?
    No, all of our procedures are performed in our office. No hospitalization is required. There is minimal "down time"  
    following all of these treatments.

    Will my insurance cover theses procedures?
    The diagnosis and treatment of significant vein problems which interfere with normal daily activities are covered by
    most insurance companies. Spider veins are considered cosmetic and usually not covered. Our evaluation can
    quickly tell whether diseased veins are causing medically significant problems.