Question 1

What are Varicose Veins?

Accepted Answer

Well, varicose veins are really the result of what's called venous insufficiency. So veins have one-way valves that bring the blood back to the heart and when those valves don't work properly, blood pools in the lower extremities or legs and results in varicose veins the varicose veins or result of the back pressure in the veins But you can also get leg swelling leg pain fatigue in the legs and other symptoms Because of that back pressure Over time it can actually result in skin changes And uh it could become a serious medical problem now conditions that predispose somebody to get it are pregnancy type of job they have if they're sitting a lot or standing a lot So for instance, we see a lot of uh patients who are using computers all day or working at a desk and they'll develop venous insufficiency.

Question 2

What are the different types of vein treatments?

Accepted Answer

There are several treatments that involve the veins. The good news is that they are all relatively simple. Most of the treatments are based on treating large veins first and then going down progressively to small veins for large veins. There are two predominant treatments that we have. One is called Venous ablation and the other one is called Venous Seal. They're both procedures that are done in the office. One uses radiofrequency energy to destroy the vein, and the other uses a glue type of technique. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, and that's something that we determine based on each individual patient. Those were the most common procedures that we do, other procedures include sclerotherapy. So for those patients who have spider veins or what we call reticular veins, those green veins that may be visible, those are usually treated with sclerotherapy often after the ablation or VenaSeal procedures were done initially. For some patients, it's quite rare, but they may need a surgical procedure because they're very varicosities are so large some of these other techniques won't work for them. But in general, most of the procedures are done in an office setting and are easy to recover from.

Question 3

How long is the recovery process after vein treatment?

Accepted Answer

The recovery process is quite simple. Most patients will walk right out and drive home if they do the procedures without any sedation. Most patients will be able to go back to work the next day or within two days. There may be some special circumstances, but those can be discussed with your doctor.

Question 4

Will my varicose veins come back after vein treatment?

Accepted Answer

Well, actually the varicose veins that are treated with these procedures that we've mentioned are very very unlikely to come back. The effectiveness of these treatments are 99.9% so it's very rare that a vein that is treated with any of these methods is going to come back. What's more common is that patients develop a new vein and that becomes a problem. When a patient presents, there are up to six veins that could become significantly diseased and require treatment. But someone may come and only one vein is bad or maybe two veins are bad and we target the treatment for those veins that are significantly diseased at that time, and what may happen is they are fine for a year or two years and maybe three years later one of those other veins that was fine decided to not function, and then you might see the symptoms again or more varicose veins. And in that event, we would reevaluate them and treat that particular vein that decided to go bad years later.

Question 5

Are varicose vein treatments painful?

Accepted Answer

Varicose vein treatments in general are not painful. A majority of them are performed in the office setting under a local if patients desire they can receive oral pain medication ahead of time. But during the procedure and immediately after the procedure, there's minimal to no discomfort it's a very well-tolerated procedure. There's a varying degree of procedures that can be performed majority of which again are performed in the office. Rarely they could be performed depending on the procedure as an outpatient. Hi, I'm Dr. Ray Rassai, a surgeon and vein specialist here at the BASS Vein Center.

Question 6

What is the process to determine if I need varicose vein treatment?

Accepted Answer

The process to determine if a venous procedure is indicated would be first to evaluate the patient meeting, meet with them, obtain their history as there are different risk factors that predispose to venous disease, look at the extremities, and obtain a physical exam. After that we do highly recommend a diagnostic ultrasound which is not invasive, it only takes a few minutes to perform typically of both legs, and based on the ultrasound results and the history and exam, we will come up with a treatment plan. Hi, I'm Dr. Ray Rassai a surgeon and vein specialist here at the BASS Vein Center.

Question 7

What will happen if I don't treat my varicose veins?

Accepted Answer

If venous disease is not treated like many other disease processes it will continue to progress. Symptoms including varicose veins will get worse. The underlying problem is venous reflux which is venous insufficiency due to failure of the valvular function of the veins, and typically this will lead to progressive disease whether it's worsening swelling pain, some people have restless leg from venous reflux, and of course varicose veins and potentially skin discoloration. Hi, I'm Dr. Ray Rassai a surgeon and vein specialist here at the BASS Vein Center.

Question 8

Why do I get Varicose Veins?

Accepted Answer

The most common risk factors that lead to varicose veins and venous disease, in general, are genetics, obesity, history of pregnancy, occupations that require standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time. Hi, I'm Dr. Ray Rassai a surgeon and vein specialist here at the BASS Vein Center.

Question 9

Does my insurance cover varicose vein treatment?

Accepted Answer

Yes, most insurance plans do cover vein treatments particularly after it has been demonstrated that patients continue to have significant symptoms after a trial of conservative measures which includes the use of compression stockings, avoidance of prolonged standing, regular walking, and leg elevation.

Question 10

What should I do to prevent varicose veins from coming back?

Accepted Answer

After undergoing treatment for your varicose veins, to minimize the possibility of the varicose veins returning it's always a good idea to continue wearing compression stockings, to walk or exercise regularly, avoid prolonged periods of standing, and to elevate the legs when sitting.

Question 11

Who qualifies for vein treatment?

Accepted Answer

Venous disease can manifest in many different forms including varicose veins, and leg ulcers, patients can also have aching burning and pain, as well as swelling in the legs. Patients can experience one or more of these symptoms. Initial therapy consists of non-procedural methods such as the use of compression stockings, avoidance of prolonged standing, regular exercise, and leg elevation. However, many patients continue to experience significant symptoms despite using these measures to the point where the pain or discomfort significantly impairs their ability to engage in work or normal activities. In these cases, vein treatments can be very effective and are generally covered by insurance.

Question 12

Why do we get varicose veins?

Accepted Answer

Varicose veins typically developed as a result of a combination of factors. While they affect both genders, they do tend to be more common in women. Other factors include family history, obesity, and those who stand for prolonged periods. However, varicose veins are very common and many people can develop them even in the absence of any of these risk factors. Varicose veins typically develop as a result of a condition known as Venous reflux. In this condition, the one-way valves in the veins have become leaky so that instead of moving smoothly through the veins back to the heart the blood pools or stagnates in the legs leading to backpressure. This in turn leads to the development of the bulging veins we know as varicose veins as well as spider veins. It can also cause discoloration or damage to the skin of the legs in addition to causing symptoms such as aching, pain, burning, and swelling in the legs.

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Varicose Veins

Varicose Veins

Does vein treatment hurt?

Varicose veins post treatment

Why you should see a BASS specialist

Recovery after Vein Treatment

Types of Vein Treatments

What are Varicose Veins?

Developing Varicose Veins

Who qualifies for vein treatment?

How to prevent Varicose Veins

Will insurance cover vein treatment?

Vein Treatment without insurance

Does vein treatment require a hospital?

Why do we get varicose veins?

Importance of treating our veins

Do I need vein treatment?

Do vein specialists still strip veins?