FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will insurance cover my procedure?
Spider veins are considered cosmetic and, therefore, not covered by insurance. However, Varicose Veins are usually caused by a more significant problem in the leg, so treatment is typically covered by most insurance companies. If you are unsure, visit us for a free vein screening, where well evaluate your legs and guide you step-by-step through the process.
If there is no insurance coverage, is there financing available?
Yes. We offer CareCredit. Click to learn more.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are superficial veins that have lost their ability to appropriately carry blood up and out of the leg and are allowing the blood to flow backward toward the feet. This is a result of broken valves inside the veins. Once a vein has become varicose it wont go back to normal and must be treated. If left untreated, severe varicose veins can ultimately lead to chronic leg pain and swelling, eczema-type symptoms, skin thickening and discoloration, and even ulcerations that wont heal until the veins are treated.
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What are spider veins?
Spider veins appear as red, blue or purple sunbursts on the skin surface, but most typically occur on the face, legs or ankles. A cosmetic concern, they are not a health risk alone, but can be symptomatic and cause itching, burning or aching, and can be found alone or in combination with varicose veins.
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What causes varicose and spider veins?
Heredity is the number one factor causing varicose and spider veins. Women are more likely to suffer from varicose veins, especially because of pregnancy and hormonal factors. Pregnancy causes increases in hormone levels and blood volume, which in turn causes veins to enlarge. In addition, the enlarged uterus causes increased pressure on the veins. Varicose veins due to pregnancy may improve within several months after delivery, but never go away. Other predisposing factors include occupations involving prolonged sitting or standing, obesity, trauma, and hormonal factors.
What is the best treatment for varicose or spider veins?
A variety of treatment options can be used that involve different procedures including: Endovenous Laser Therapy, RadioFrequency (RF) Ablation, Endovenous Chemical Ablation, Ambulatory Phlebectomy and Cosmetic Sclerotherapy. A personalized treatment plan will be recommended by Dr. Raffi Krikorian during your initial consultation.
Is varicose vein treatment performed in the hospital?
Unlike the old-fashioned vein stripping procedures that required a hospital stay and weeks of recovery, todays vein treatment is simple and efficient. We perform all our varicose vein procedures in the comfort and convenience of either our St. Louis or Farmington, Missouri offices. We use only local anesthesia, so youll walk out of our office shortly after your procedure with no major downtime, incisions or scarring.
What is RF Ablation?
Using small tubes, under ultrasound guidance, veins are entered. After using local anesthetics, heat is applied to the inside of the veins walls and veins is closed off.
What is an ambulatory phlebectomy?
An ambulatory phlebectomy, also called micro-phlebectomy, is used to treat certain types of varicose veins. The word phlebectomy literally means removing the vein. The day of the procedure, the doctor or nurse will mark your leg where the veins bulge out. Then, a special local anesthetic (numbing medication) called tumescent is injected into the area surrounding your vein. The doctor will make tiny incisions or stabs of about 2-3 mm and use a crochet-type hook to grab the vein and remove it. This interrupts the vein, causes any remaining portions of the vein to be absorbed, and gets rid of those unsightly bulgy areas!
But don’t I NEED those veins?! What if I need bypass surgery later?
If the veins were functioning normally, then yes! But since the veins are dilated and not working properly, they are doing more harm than good. Heart doctors do not use varicose veins for bypass surgery for this very reason!
Does this replace vein stripping?
The veins that we now close with laser are the same veins that were previously removed by vein stripping. The difference is that we can now do the procedure in the office, under local anesthetic, with much less postoperative pain and an immediate return to activity. Patients walk out of the office, and most are able to resume work the next day.
What is injection sclerotherapy?
An FDA-approved solution called Sotradecol is injected into the vein through a microneedle to induce an inflammatory reaction, which causes the vein to seal shut and gradually shrink away and disappear. Once the vein is sealed, blood is forced into healthier veins. Sotradecol gives much better results and is far less painful than the traditional hypertonic saline injections.
Why not just inject all the veins?
That method alone results in a higher chance of varicose veins returning. We do not use injection sclerotherapy for very large veins. We will offer the best treatment for each individuals vein problem, which can sometimes require minor surgery to get the best long-term result.
Who are candidates for treatment?
Any individual who has unsightly spider or varicose veins is a candidate, and both large and small veins can be treated effectively. Best results with spider veins are seen in fair skinned individuals. Tanning or prolonged sun exposure should be avoided both before and after treatment.
How many treatments are required?
The number of treatments to provide you with the results you want to achieve will be determined during your initial consultation session where a personalized treatment plan will be developed. For most large bulging veins, one treatment is all that is needed. Spider veins do require several treatments. The average person requires 3-5 sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart in order to get resolution.
Will sclerotherapy hurt?
Most patients experience little or no pain, and any discomfort lasts only a second. Topical anesthesia or ice packs can be applied for pain sensitive patients. While the amount of post treatment pain varies from one patient to another, most require only Tylenol or ibuprofen for any discomfort.
What about side effects?
Most treatments have minimal side effects and recovery time. Patients often experience slight redness or bruising following treatment, but this goes away within a few days.
What about post-procedural care?
Spider vein patients resume all normal activities immediately with no downtime. The majority of patients treated for varicose veins walk out of the office and return to normal daily activities, including work, within two days. While the amount of post treatment pain varies from one patient to another, most require only Tylenol or ibuprofen for any discomfort. Complete recovery, including resolution of bruising, takes from 4-6 weeks. Detailed written and verbal instructions will be provided to each patient both before and after treatment.