Finding the Right Doctor for Varicose Vein Treatment

Varicose Vein Treatment

Busy parents tend to put their medical needs last, including treatment for varicose veins, especially during the hectic summer months when their children are out of school. Now that the school year has begun, moms and dads have more time to take care of themselves. This means finding a doctor for varicose vein treatment.

Despite common misperceptions, varicose veins are more than just a cosmetic problem. Varicose veins and spider veins appear because of vein disease, a medical condition that can lead to further health complications. The pain, aching, itching, and swelling related to vein disease can have a negative impact on the quality of life. In rare cases, vein disease can cause serious health issues such as venous leg ulcers that can lead to amputation. Most patients with varicose vein disease have a family history of the condition. Moreover, because it is a progressive condition, it will continue to get worse if left untreated " making future treatments more extensive and costly. That is why it is important to undertake varicose vein treatment at its onset.

Due to recent advances in varicose vein treatment, there are new options for people who suffer from vein disorders. These medical options are effective and minimally invasive, unlike surgical vein stripping, which was the primary treatment option in the past. Sclerotherapy is a procedure in which a medication or "sclerosant" is injected into the abnormal vein to close it. An advanced form of sclerotherapy called COMPASS has been proven to be safe and efficacious in the treatment of large varicose veins, recurrent varicose veins following surgery, and venous leg ulcers. Endovenous Laser Treatment (ELT), which is covered by most insurance companies, achieves the same result of closing the vein by using laser energy delivered through a tiny fiber that is inserted into the abnormal vein. Neither option requires hospitalization or surgery. Instead, each is performed in the physician's office. The patient can be back on his or her feet resuming normal activities the next day, or even sooner.

Despite these advancements in varicose vein treatment, many patients become confused and frustrated when researching their treatment options. In some cases, many physicians have not received in-depth education about the depth and complexity of this disease. This fact can prevent varicose vein sufferers from receiving proper diagnosis or guidance on treatment options. In addition, some physicians offer treatment themselves; however, if they are not properly trained specifically in vein disorders, they may not be able to provide the most comprehensive and effective options to their patients.

Considering these factors, how does a consumer choose the most appropriate physician and the best possible varicose vein treatment option? Because vein disease is not part of the standard training physicians receive in medical school, it is essential for sufferers to do their homework and to be proactive when seeking treatment. Here are some questions to ask when choosing a doctor to treat your varicose veins:

• How long have you been treating vein disease?

• Is vein disease treatment the primary focus of your practice?

• Do you use ultrasound to evaluate the extent of my vein disease beyond those problem veins that are visible?

• Do you utilize ultrasound imaging during treatment?

• Will you treat all of my problem veins or just a portion of them (including those below the knee and those that are not visible, but still problematic)?

• What is the likelihood that my legs will need to be treated again? How often?

• What is your plan for long-term management of my vein disease?

Paul Putterman, M.D., from Vein Clinics of America in Charlotte, said, "Phlebology is a medical specialty just like any other. It takes a great deal of training and experience to treat it effectively; the type of experience that can only come with a sole focus on vein treatment."

VCA is the largest medical practice in the United States specializing exclusively in the non-surgical treatment of varicose veins, leg ulcers, and related vein disorders. Unique to the treatment of varicose veins, VCA offers state-of-the-art ELT in addition to its COMPASSSM protocol of sequential ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy. As a result, VCA meets the needs of each patient, providing treatment for the largest, ropey varicose vein to the smallest spider vein. Procedures are performed in the physician's office and are incorporated into a treatment plan designed to lessen the possibility of recurrence common to varicose vein disease. Founded in 1981, VCA has 25 locations throughout Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

For more information regarding varicose veins, vein disease, and treatment options like ELT or COMPASS procedures, call VCA at 1-800-660-8346 or visit veinclinics.com.