Have you done varicose vein treatment?

[smilequeen]

I'd love to know what you did, how it worked, how long it took, any discomfort issues, etc.?

I developed some on one leg during my last pregnancy (so it's been a while). I recently lost almost 30 lbs (still have a bit left to lose) and it's really bothering me, the way it looks in shorts when I worked so hard to have my legs looking pretty great otherwise.

I'm curious if it looks ugly during treatment and maybe I should wait until fall as well?

[Zukini]

Following to hear more responses.

A week ago, I went to see a vein specialist attached to a big cardiovascular practice in town. I’ve had bundles of varicose and spider veins on the backs of my legs and lower thighs since teenage years. Pregnancy did not help either. He reccomended sclerotherapy as an outpatient, cosmetic procedure. He said to have it covered by insurance it would need to be debilitating. He indicated I would need 2-3 treatments, each a month apart. I could decide after the second treatment if I wanted to do a third, and that it was definitely a situation of diminishing returns after each subsequent visit. Cost of $400 per treatment which I found to be very reasonable. Interestingly, he stressed repeatedly that my legs would look ALOT worse (discolored, bruising) before they looked better, and that I may want to consider waiting till Fall / Winter months when I’d be wearing leggings or long pants anyways to do this series of treatments. I’d also need to wear custom fit hip to ankle compression stockings for 48 hours following treatment, and avoid the pool for a week each time. He also said that it is not a permanent solution and I would probably find that in several years I will have new veins popping up. I’m definitely looking forward to hearing others experiences as I’m seriously considering doing it.

[zukeypur]

Following to hear more responses.

A week ago, I went to see a vein specialist attached to a big cardiovascular practice in town. I’ve had bundles of varicose and spider veins on the backs of my legs and lower thighs since teenage years. Pregnancy did not help either. He reccomended sclerotherapy as an outpatient, cosmetic procedure. He said to have it covered by insurance it would need to be debilitating. He indicated I would need 2-3 treatments, each a month apart. I could decide after the second treatment if I wanted to do a third, and that it was definitely a situation of diminishing returns after each subsequent visit. Cost of $400 per treatment which I found to be very reasonable. Interestingly, he stressed repeatedly that my legs would look ALOT worse (discolored, bruising) before they looked better, and that I may want to consider waiting till Fall / Winter months when I’d be wearing leggings or long pants anyways to do this series of treatments. I’d also need to wear custom fit hip to ankle compression stockings for 48 hours following treatment, and avoid the pool for a week each time. He also said that it is not a permanent solution and I would probably find that in several years I will have new veins popping up. I’m definitely looking forward to hearing others experiences as I’m seriously considering doing it.

Would you mind sharing where you went?

[nfceagles]

Would love to know more too. I keep hearing Vein Clinics of America ads on the radio and they make it sound so quick and simple, but when I went to their website I felt a little more uneasy. I’ve had many since my teenage years.


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[Zukini]

Zukeypur, of course! I PM’d you.

[HannaAddict]

I don’t have them, but be super careful and stick to a “real” board certified doctor that has a real practice and not a vein clinic that advertises. Lately, my husband has had multiple people approach his practice about horrific results from doctors that have opened these clinics. He doesn’t do that kind of case but said the injuries were unreal and awful and long lasting. No quick fix or if it is too easy or inexpensive, big red flag. It is strange that they have suddenly started seeing these cases and think that more doctors are getting into it for the $$$ and don’t have the skills. Good luck.


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[lcarlson90]

I had sclerotherapy done four years ago. I had horrible blue veins on the back of my legs. They were more like large spider veins rather then varicose veins. If I remember correctly they originally told me I would need two treatments but I ended up needing a third one. The procedure wasn't really too painful. They basically inject a solution into the veins and it collapses them. I think having to wear the compression stockings for a week after was the worst part about it. My legs did definitely look worse after because of the bruising. I would recommend doing the procedure in fall/winter. They told me it wouldn't be a permanent fix but it's been about 4 years and the blue veins haven't returned however I have little red clusters of small spider veins popping up but they don't look nearly as bad. I will see if I can find my before/after pics to post. I didn't go to a "vein clinic" and it definitely wasn't cheap so make sure you do your research.

[nfceagles]

What type of “real” doctor do you see for this instead of vein clinics?


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[NCGrandma]

What type of “real” doctor do you see for this instead of vein clinics?


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At our academic medical center, the Department of Surgery has a Division of Vascular Surgery. According to their info for patients, they evaluate and treat varicose veins as well as the more scary stuff (like carotid artery disease or aortic aneurysms). They have a Vein Center where they use minimally invasive approaches for "symptomatic and cosmetic venous disorders." But they also have the expertise to know when something else is needed. If I were looking, I’d look for a physician who is board-certified in vascular surgery as well as in surgery.

By comparison, I looked at a Vein Clinics ... website and saw that they train their own physicians in "Phlebology" (which is not a recognized medical specialty). Not clear whether they are actually board certified in anything.


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[HannaAddict]

At our academic medical center, the Department of Surgery has a Division of Vascular Surgery. According to their info for patients, they evaluate and treat varicose veins as well as the more scary stuff (like carotid artery disease or aortic aneurysms). They have a Vein Center where they use minimally invasive approaches for "symptomatic and cosmetic venous disorders." But they also have the expertise to know when something else is needed. If I were looking, I’d look for a physician who is board-certified in vascular surgery as well as in surgery.

By comparison, I looked at a Vein Clinics ... website and saw that they train their own physicians in "Phlebology" (which is not a recognized medical specialty). Not clear whether they are actually board certified in anything.


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Exactly. Board certified vascular doctor with a practice that is stable and ideally connected to a well respected practice group or institution. The vein clinics are all over now and wouldn’t go near one.


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