Have questions about vein treatments? Find answers to the most common ones here.
Spider veins are discolored veins visible on the surface of the skin. Spider veins are often blue, red or purple in color and small in size. On the contrary, varicose veins are larger than spider veins and typically described as “bulging” veins. While varicose veins may appear discolored, bulging veins are usually flesh colored.
Chronic Vein Disease (CVD) typically causes spider veins and varicose veins. CVD may occur in individuals suffering from an atypical circulatory system.
In a normal circulatory system, the heart pumps blood to the body. This blood is fuel – consisting of oxygen and glucose – flowing into the arterial system. Once the arteries deliver the blood to the body (via the arterial system), the veins collect the blood (via the venous system).
Unlike the arterial system, the venous system lacks a high pressure pump, and thus is described as a low pressure system. Veins utilize one way venous valves to push the blood back to the heart and lungs. When the valves begin to leak or dysfunction, as in CVD, varicose veins and spider veins may present. This results in slower blood drainage through the veins, resulting in leg pain, swelling, restlessness and prominent spider veins and varicose veins.
Over 30 Million people in the US suffer from Chronic Vein Disease (CVD), although only 1.9 Million (about 6%) seek treatment each year. Unfortunately, most patients – and sometimes doctors – are unaware that innovative, improved and effective and treatment options are now available. According to recent research, among patients who reach the age of 60, 72% of women and 43% of men will suffer from CVD.
There are several factors that can increase your risk of developing Chronic Venous Disease (CVD), including:
While CVD is more commonly found in women, men can be affected as well. One study estimated that by the age of 60 years, 72% of women and 43% of men will have some degree of CVD.
Patients suffering from Chronic Venous Disease (CVD) can present with a variety of leg symptoms, including:
If you suffer from any combination of the above signs and symptoms, and you feel that these are preventing you from living the kind of life that you want to live, you should seek treatment by a qualified vein specialist.
At McQuaid Vein Specialists, we will collect your medical history and perform a physical examination. If we feel that your signs and symptoms are likely to be related to Chronic Venous Disease (CVD), we will perform a non-invasive duplex ultrasound study on your legs. All of that information will then be reviewed and a customized treatment plan will be developed, using a combination of the treatment modalities available to us, to address your condition.
In the past, Chronic Venous Disease (CVD) was treated with conservative measures-essentially leg elevation and compression therapy-until the patient’s condition got severe enough to warrant surgery. Vein stripping was the surgical procedure of choice. It was a painful procedure which required either regional or general anesthesia in a hospital setting, and frequently required post-operative hospitalization. There was a significant amount of post-operative discomfort, and it took a long time for patients to recover. Vein stripping procedures were often complicated by nerve injuries, and recurrence/failure rates were high.
Thankfully, much has changed in the management of CVD over the past 10-15 years. At McQuaid Vein Specialists, we are now able to treat CVD in the office setting, with minimally invasive procedures performed with local anesthesia. Once the diseased veins are identified by a non-invasive ultrasound study, we treat them by shutting them down, using a combination of the modalities that we have available to us. Eventually, the treated veins turn into scar tissue and are absorbed by the body. Once the diseased veins are shut down, the body redirects the “used” blood to other, healthy veins, and the blood is able to drain from the leg more efficiently, as it is supposed to.
During your initial visit you will have time with a provider for a consultation. You will have a physical examination and if indicated an ultrasound will be performed. Many insurance companies require a trial of conservative measures prior to scheduling a surgical procedure. This may include medical grade compression stockings, and other measures such as elevation and symptomatic treatment with NSAIDs. After reviewing your ultrasound your physician, Dr. McQuaid, will create your personalized treatment plan.
A follow up appointment is typically scheduled based on the requirements dictated by your insurance company. Most insurance companies require conservative measures before they will approve definitive treatment of your insufficient veins.
In some extreme cases, a patient may qualify to have procedures performed without the conservative measures requirement. This would be outlined in your insurance policy criteria. Typically, patients must have some kind of ulceration or bleeding to qualify for this exemption but it can vary, based on your insurance.
After reviewing your ultrasound, your physician will establish your personalized treatment plan. A member of our clinical team will call you and go over the recommended procedures. This process can sometimes take up to two weeks.
“Conservative measures” would include measures such as exercise, leg elevation and medical grade compression stocking use. These measures can help to decrease the symptoms associated with Chronic Venous Disease (CVD), and may also help to slow down the progression of CVD, but they will not effectively treat the underlying cause.
Most insurance companies require use of medical grade (20-30mmHg or higher) compression stocking and other conservative measures. To document this, we ask that you bring a copy of your receipt for your stockings for our records.
Most patients with spider and varicose veins have underlying venous disease. We want to provide our patients with the most optimal treatments for the best possible long-term results. Therefore, McQuaid Vein Care require that all patients have a detailed ultrasound of their leg veins performed after their initial consultation to determine the extent of venous disease. If this ultrasound shows no underlying issues, cosmetic vein procedures may be considered.
We most commonly offer Valium to our patients in 5-20mg doses, depending on your tolerance and other health factors. Sometimes Versed is also offered, on a case-by-case basis.
Sedation is not required for the procedures. Although, we highly recommend taking sedation for thermal ablations and significant phlebectomies.
The amount of time you need to wear the compression stockings after a procedures depends upon the procedure that was performed. Please double check the post-op instructions given to you after your procedure.
Compression stockings are generally used for one week after the procedure. If you can’t find the post-op instruction sheet, they can be found here.
The prescribed anti-inflammatory medication will help reduce inflammation following your procedures, and this will help with discomfort.
Please refer to the post-op instructions for further clarification.
Low impact exercise in the form of walking is encouraged, starting the day of the procedure
Restrictions: for 1 week after any procedure
Allowed:
You can swim after 1 week in your own pool and 2 weeks in a public pool.
Sun exposure is not recommended without heavy sunscreen. The sun can cause darkening of the skin on areas that are bruised or discolored after procedures.
If you need to travel after a procedure, wear your compression stockings, stay well hydrated (avoiding caffeinated beverages), and ambulate often. Stop at least once each hr if traveling by car to walk for 5-10 minutes. If flying, the same precautions apply, and you can either walk around the cabin or flex and relax your calf muscles regularly during the flight. This encourages blood flow out of the leg, and lowers risks of blood clots. Flights over 3 hours are not recommended for 1st month following thermal ablations.
There is a common misconception that the treatment of venous disease is considered purely cosmetic, and therefore not covered by health insurance. While that is true for the treatment of spider and reticular veins (the small, blue/purple veins close to the surface of the skin), those treatments are only a small component of the treatment of venous disease. Patients who have spider and reticular veins typically have more significant underlying venous problems which are causing those surface veins to become more noticeable. Fortunately, most insurance plans do cover the procedures that treat those underlying problems.
If you’re struggling with vein-related issues, our team is here to help. Our modern, minimally invasive treatments offer lasting relief with minimal disruption to your life.
We are here to answer any question you may have. Feel free to reach via contact form.
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