Why should I go to Washington University vascular surgeons to have my veins treated?

All of our vascular specialists are board-certified, and their clinical practice focuses exclusively on the diagnosis and treatment of blood vessel disorders. They have earned national recognition for expertise in their field. Why trust your legs to anyone else?

What time of year is best for getting my veins treated?

Vein treatments can be performed at any time of year. If micro-incision venectomies are performed, we recommend shielding the small incisions from sun exposure to minimize pigmentation changes.

Are there any veins that are not treatable?

Most vein procedures – such as varicose vein and spider vein treatments – focus on the superficial veins of the leg. In contrast, deep vein disorders are usually treated with medicines and the use of specialized compression therapy. Our surgeons are expert in the interventional and medical management of all types of venous disorders. Your initial evaluation will determine the causes of your vein problems and which treatments will yield the best results.

Do the vein procedures hurt?

Our physicians take great care to see that your vein treatments are accomplished with minimal discomfort. When necessary, sedation and injection of anesthetics are used to keep you relaxed and comfortable during treatment sessions, and analgesics are prescribed to treat any residual discomfort at home. More complex venous problems are addressed in our surgical suites, where our expert anesthesiologists ensure that your outpatient procedure is a pleasant experience.

Do the veins ever come back?

Some patients may develop new varicose veins and spider veins in the years after their initial treatment. The good news is that these recurrences can usually be successfully removed with repeat treatment.

What will the procedure cost?

Treatment of symptomatic varicose veins and saphenous vein reflux is covered by most insurers. Each plan requires that you meet specific conditions (such as an unsuccessful trial of compression stocking therapy) before they will cover your procedure.

Remember that “coverage” for a procedure does not mean that your insurer pays the full cost of the treatment! In general, most insurers will bill the patient for a fixed co-pay amount or percentage of the treatment cost. The specifics of that co-pay amount will vary from plan to plan. Before you schedule any vein treatments, it is important for you to discuss the amount that you will be expected to pay with a representative of your insurance company.

In most instances, injection sclerotherapy for spider veins is not covered by insurance. Your surgeon can discuss how many sessions of sclerotherapy would be needed to complete the treatment and provide you with an estimate of the cost.