Frequently Asked Questions

leg

Table of Contents





What are varicose and spider veins?

Varicose veins and spider veins are common problems, sometimes painful and always cosmetically unpleasant. They have nothing to do with weight or exercise, crossing the legs, high heals or walking on hard floors, but are rather an inherited condition appearing often as early as teenage years and especially during pregnancies. Nonetheless, it is not uncommon to see them develop much later in life.

Back to top

What are the most common symptoms?

Typically they cause aching discomfort and a heavy feeling and legs that tire easily, with symptoms often worse as the day wears on. Relief comes with walking or elevating the legs. Regardless, there are many who complain of no symptoms at all.

Back to top

Is treatment necessary?

Varicose veins and spider veins are always abnormal and will not disappear without treatment. Left unchecked varicose veins can lead to unpleasant and even serious complications such as skin discoloration and sores, bleeding, ankle swelling and phlebitis. Spider veins, not associated with varicose veins, will likely remain only a cosmetic problem although some patients complain bitterly of discomfort for no other apparent reason. While many persons chose not to treat varicose veins, especially when they are not causing pain or discomfort, in the minority of cases that complications develop,treatment may come to late.

Back to top

Do varicose veins require surgery?

With rare exception surgery is no longer necessary or advisable. In most cases they are treatable with almost painless injections of sclerotherapy, which will cause them to “dry up in a few weeks. Lasers can also be used to treat spider veins and really small varicose veins.

For larger and more severe varicose veins, minimally invasive outpatient techniques can be administered using needles no larger than those used for drawing your blood for lab tests. Laser transmitting fibers can be inserted into veins and permanent closure of even the largest veins achieved by lasering them from within. Patients may drive themselves home and return to work and usual activities the next day.

Back to top

What is sclerotherapy? Is it also an alternative to surgery?

Sclerotherapy refers to the injection of dilated veins and spider blemishes with medication specifically formulated to cause their disappearance without doing harm to normal healthy veins, the skin or other tissues. Only the finest and highest quality needles are used and strict asepsis is observed, with everything appropriately discarded immediately after use.

No. Except in a few generally isolated cases where foam sclerotherapy is applicable, injection of sclerosing medications is not a wise or acceptable alternative and high-tech sounding terms such as ultrasound guided injections do not make it so.

Many cosmetic dermatologists and plastic surgeons and other trained medical doctors treat patients with varicose veins and spider veins as part of their overall practice in which they provide the highest quality care to their patients. But they always refer patients they know they cannot help to qualified associates.

Back to top

Why Does The Vein Clinic of South Florida insist on surgery for some patients?

Because some patients with varicose veins cannot be treated without some form of intervention to relieve the underlying causes of their varicose veins. Within recent years, specially developed catheters and fibers have had the same effect on varicose vein treatment as angioplasty has had for many patients who would otherwise have had to undergo open coronary bypass surgery. For varicose vein patients recent catheter and fiber designs allow insertion through nothing more than needles placed directly into varicose veins. Such access permits lasering the vein from within with minimized risk and discomfort.

Back to top

Is sclerotherapy safe for all patients?

Ninety percent of patients at The Vein Clinic are treated with sclerotherpy alone because it is safe, virtually painless, inexpensive and highly effective. As with our minimally invasive techniques, all sclerotherapy patients return to normal activities right away. No convalescence is required as veins disappear while patients go about their usual activities. Relief of heaviness and other symptoms is almost immediate and many veins are completely gone within six weeks. For spider veins and small varicose veins, sclerotherapy is usually all that is necessary and generally speaking results are superior, at least in our hands, to laser treatments.

Back to top

How effective is treatment?

Varicose vein patients may expect 100% relief. Spider vein patients are advised to expect at least a 70% overall improvement; most will experience more.

What is the cost of treatment?

Treatment need not be expensive but spider vein patients are advised that their insurance will not cover it. Excepting unusual circumstances a consultation charge is not rendered and additional laboratory testing is not necessary. While it is difficult to predict how much treatment will be necessary, we advise that most patients (about 70%) require between three to six fifteen minute treatment sessions, usually over a period of three to six months. The rest will require one or two, or when the problem is more extensive, some may require more treatment over an extended period of time.

For patients with more serious varicose veins problems, venous duplex peripheral vascular examination is scheduled at a future date. These patients are told a treatment fee in advance and we then make every effort to obtain maximum reimbursement that is permitted under their insurance plan.

Back to top

Will my insurance plan cover the costs of the treatment?

Traditional indemnity and PPO managed care plans should help pay for treatment of varicose veins, but different plans within the same company will vary widely in their reimbursement allowances. Only spider vein treatment is not likely to be covered. With HMO insurance that does not implicitly include benefits for treatment outside your plan, treatment with Dr. D’Alessandro at their expense is not possible.Regardless, treatment at The Vein Clinic of South Florida may still be your wisest decision.

If insurance coverage is a matter of concern, you can get a great deal of information from us over the phone. You need not make an appointment for a consultation to benefit from what we have learned from dealing with your insurance company for the past fifteen years.

Back to top

How can I get more information on the Vein Clinic of South Florida?

If you would like more information on the Vein Clinic of South Florida, including our fee schedule, call us at one of our three office locations in Dade, Broward or Palm Beach counties or request a free brochure, which will be forwarded to your home address or sent as an attachment via email. Click here.

Back to top

How can I make an appointment?

To make an appointment, call Pat, Donna or Millie at (954) 943-2480, or one of our other locations, weekdays between 8:00am and 5.00pm, or email us at info@veinclinic.net.

Back to top

Got a Question?