Varicose Vein Facts and FAQ

Varicose Vein Facts. Did You Know:

• that 1 in 5 Americans get varicose veins?
• that the condition so negatively impacts peoples' lives that health insurance companies will often times cover the treatment if they cause health problems?
• that there is a way of getting rid of them without major surgery?

Modern help is now here. Laser technology has taken an awful problem and created a simple and effective outpatient treatment for this devastating disease that plagues millions of men and women today.

Q: What other problems do varicose veins cause?

1. Unsightly appearance. The large gnarly rope like veins in your legs are unattractive but they also have health risks. Getting rid of these ugly veins often has health benefits.

2. Pain. Patients with varicose veins are often debilitated by the chronic pain. They are not at their best in sports or even their everyday life. Even walking or standing can become a chore.

3. Sluggish blood flow in the varicose veins (venous stasis) often causes chronic inflammation resulting in:

• Ugly skin discoloration
• Relentless itching
• Dermatitis
• Ankle swelling
• Ulcers

Q: Why did I get varicose veins?
There are many reasons that normal people develop varicose veins and they include:

• Family history. This is a common story. "My mother developed varicose veins after pregnancy and so did I."
• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Prolonged standing
• Leg injury
• Constipation
• Blood clots in the leg

Q: Do I need varicose vein treatment?
Not all varicose veins need treatment. If your varicose veins are unsightly but do not cause medical problems like pain, skin discoloration, or other symptoms, most people can live normal lives without treatment.

On the other hand, if your life is changed or hindered because of varicose veins, you will benefit from ridding yourself of the problem.

Most insurance companies require conservative treatment before considering surgery. Up to 6 months of compression stockings may be needed to prove that your varicose vein symptoms are not improved or relieved with conservative treatment. If after conservative treatment, your symptoms still hinder your life, you may be a candidate for vein surgery.

Q: What treatments are available for varicose veins?
The old treatment of vein stripping that required incisions and removal of the varicose vein is a thing of the past with the new laser technology available today. Gone are the unsightly scars that plagued older treatments.

Lasers have changed the treatment of varicose veins for good. It is called Endovenous Laser Treatment, EVLT, where a thin laser fiber is inserted into the varicose vein through a tiny needle puncture under local anesthesia and intense laser light is used to destroy the bad vein from the inside leaving no visible scars.

Q: How many treatments will I need?
The number of treatments needed will depend the severity your problem. This has not changed from the past but the treatments are less invasive, less painful, and do not require hospitalization.

Q: What about spider veins?
Varicose veins often cause visible spider veins on the skin surface, however, removing that varicose veins usually does not cure the spider veins. Sclerotherapy or laser treatment of the surface veins is needed to eliminate the last remnants of your varicose veins. Insurance usually does not cover this treatment.

Sclerotherapy and surface laser treatments are simple procedures usually performed in our Medi-spa to get rid of spider veins.

If you are interested in learning more about varicose vein treatment, contact Southcenter Cosmetic Surgery in Seattle and we will be happy to answer your questions.