Want to Know Vein Treatment Success Rates? Just Ask.

As a smart consumer and advocate for your own health, you have likely done your research about the variety of varicose vein treatments available, and you have probably noticed that vein procedure success rates are hard to find. Some try. There are statistics tucked into difficult-to-read research abstracts and surveys. Some reports contradict others. Others offer success rate ranges with a twenty point spread.

The truth is, there are no simple and definitive answers. If you really do want to get a sense of your personal best course of treatment—and the kind of results that you can expect—the smartest thing that you can do is consult with a qualified vein specialist.

What Constitutes Varicose Vein Treatment Success?

Now, understand that when we talk about varicose veins treatment, we are mostly talking about veins being removed, obliterated or completely closed off in some way. When the treatment is successful, those veins are not coming back. Be assured that removing some veins is a safe practice—when it is done by a qualified professional. Your venous system is complex, and has backups built into it, and it is better for your overall vascular health to remove a few damaged veins than to leave them as they are, reservoirs for blood to pool and potentially lead to complications, such as lymphedema, ulcerations, or chronic venous insufficiency.

At this point, you probably have a list of questions for your vein specialist that is longer than your arm. Here are a few more suggestions:

 

Which Varicose Veins Procedures Do You Offer?

Remember that old adage, “If the only tool in your toolbox is a hammer, everything looks like a nail?” This applies to veins as well. There are a variety of highly effective, minimally invasive vein treatment procedures available now. But while sclerotherapy (for example) might work well on spider veins and small venules, larger vessels will respond better to Thermal Ablation or the VenaSeal procedure. It takes an experienced vein specialist with a well equipped toolkit to understand which of these procdedures will work best on each of your veins. A good one will likely incorporate more than one procedure in your tailored treatment plan.

Do You Use Duplex Ultrasonography?

This powerful diagnostic technology overlays a three dimensional view of blood flowing through veins over a two-dimensional view of the structure of the veins. This allows your qualified vein specialist valuable insight into your vascular health, where it might be compromised, and how it can best be fixed. It is also a valuable tool for assessing success during treatment—and after. If your vein specialist is not using this technology, the follow-up question should be, “why not?”

How Many Peripheral Varicose Vein Procedures Have You Performed?

There are a lot of vein specialists who offer a lot of services for a range of conditions. This might mean that they have only performed the particular procedure that they are suggesting for you a few times. Consider seeking out a vein specialist who specializes in peripheral varicose vein treatments. It is more likely that they will have performed this treatment thousands of times. More experience means more refined skills—and greater sense of outcome.

What Can I Do to Ensure That I Have the Most Successful Procedure Possible?

The short answer to this one should be, “take care of yourself.” When all has been done properly, if you experience the reappearance of varicose veins, it is possible that other untreated veins have since developed varicosities. While genetics are a strong indicator for this, there are things you can do to minimize further damage to your vascular health, such as maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising, eating for health, and following the post-procedure self-care suggestions given you by your qualified vein specialist.

When it comes down to it, optimizing your chances for varicose vein treatment success means receiving the right treatment for the right situation from the person with the right experience. Book your free consultation with a qualified vein specialist today.

I have spider veins that hurt!

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | May 9, 2019 | Comments Off on I have spider veins that hurt!

Question: I have spider veins on my legs and they really hurt to the touch. Can that be dangerous to my health? Answer: In the large picture, pain associated with spider veins is not life threatening.  It would be worthwhile to have an evaluation by a qualified provider to see if these spider veins are…

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I have had a blood clot before and I am worried.

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Apr 25, 2019 | Comments Off on I have had a blood clot before and I am worried.
blood clot

I am scheduled for a right leg radiofrequency ablation. I have venous insufficiency in the saphenous vein and have had a blood clot before. Question: In 2006, I underwent an artificial lumbar disk implant. This failed causing artificial disk to move into the spine. While surgeon removed the artificial disk implant, he nicked the liac…

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Sclerotherapy before endovenous laser vein treatment?

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Apr 21, 2019 | Comments Off on Sclerotherapy before endovenous laser vein treatment?

My doctor said my vein is too large to have sclerotherapy performed first, is this true? Question: I have a few visible spider veins on my lower leg that I want treated with foam sclerotherapy. However, the doctor wants me to do endovenous laser treatment before the sclerotherapy. According to him, my vein is way…

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Same pain, new location

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Mar 21, 2019 | Comments Off on Same pain, new location
leg pain at night

I’m having the same pain that I had before my ablation procedure, except it is in a different new location. How long will this go on? Question:  It’s been 2 months since my GSV endovenous laser ablation procedure. I have the same pain that I had before the procedure, except it’s in a new location.…

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Circular wound with redness

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Mar 14, 2019 | Comments Off on Circular wound with redness

I recently had the VNUS procedure done (both legs, multiple veins).  Is it normal to have open, circular wound with redness and slight weepiness? Question: All of the other areas are healing nicely, but the area on my shin (a bit off center) has a much larger wound. It has been quite red in the…

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Compression socks make my legs hurt more, is this normal?

By Jason Babcock, MBA ACRP-CP | Mar 2, 2019 | Comments Off on Compression socks make my legs hurt more, is this normal?

Question: How big of a size do compression stockings come in?  Answer:  Compression socks should be comfortable and supportive. If the stockings are making your symptoms worse, it is likely that they do not fit you correctly.  There are numerous companies that make standard sized compression stockings. Some make 7 to 8 different sizes.  Additionally,…

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Get rid of my varicose veins

By Jason Babcock, MBA ACRP-CP | Feb 12, 2019 | Comments Off on Get rid of my varicose veins
get rid of my veins

Question: WHAT CAN I DO TO GET RID OF MY VARICOSE VEINS? Answer: There are numerous options to treat varicose veins. Some are considered medically necessary, while others are strictly cosmetic. Larger veins are treated in a myriad of ways depending on the provider you consult with and their proficiency in a given intervention. The…

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I injured my varicose vein over my knee, what should I do?

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Feb 12, 2019 | Comments Off on I injured my varicose vein over my knee, what should I do?
injured varicose vein

Question: I knelt down the other day and injured the large varicose vein over my knee. It bruised quickly and felt very sore, so I put a pressure bandage on it. Since then, the vein bruise has spread and is now about 12″ up my thigh. It is very red, and I’m not sure what…

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What Treatment Options Are Available For My CVI?

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Jan 15, 2019 | Comments Off on What Treatment Options Are Available For My CVI?
Compression Socks

Question: What treatment options are available for my CVI? I can’t sit or stand in one place and I have heavy, aching legs all of the time. I started to have achy, heavy leg feelings about a month after I sprained my right ankle and scratched my left knee last April. I was diagnosed with…

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Q&A: During my EVLT, I could smell and taste a slight “burning” odor plus I was dizzy during my procedure. Is that normal?

By Jilanne Rose, DNP ANP-BC | Jan 10, 2019 | Comments Off on Q&A: During my EVLT, I could smell and taste a slight “burning” odor plus I was dizzy during my procedure. Is that normal?

Question: During the EVLT laser procedure I really didn’t feel well, especially when the laser was on. I felt dizzy and the smell of “burning” freaked me out. Even after I was done, it took me couple hours to feel normal again. Is that normal? Answer: The “odor” and sometimes a taste is normal during…

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About Jason Babcock, MBA ACRP-CP

Jason is the Practice Administrator and CEO of Advanced Vein Institute of Arizona. Mr. Babcock brings over 30 years of healthcare administration experience to the organization with a strong background in finance, business development, operational improvement and customer service to AVIA.