“Varicose veins are a common affliction and affects nearly 1 out 4 Americans” according to vein specialist in New Jersey. Fortunately, most of us with varicose veins will not have any significant issues or complications. Simple at home or work measures including exercise, compression stockings, leg elevation and smoking cessation will be enough to keep symptoms at ease.
For patients with symptoms including leg pain, leg heaviness, itchy or spider veins on legs, and restless legs despite conservative measures, a new approach is needed. Many are aware that a consultation with a varicose clinic is needed, however are unsure how to find the most qualified physician. Within each major zip code, you might search and find at least 10 different vein treatment centers. As you are probably aware, not all of them are equally experienced or skilled to manage vein disease.
So let’s begin with some advice on selecting which doctor is best for you from your internet search:
1) Be certain that your vein doctor is board-certified and “trained” in vascular treatments. This is more than passing a written test, but also informs you that the vein doctor completed a formal residency or fellowship in endovascular treatments. Consider specialists with backgrounds in vascular surgery, interventional radiology or interventional cardiology.
2) Vein evaluation is a must! If you are asymptomatic and primarily concerned about cosmetics, you should not consider more involved procedures like EVLT or EVLA (Endovenous laser ablation). Vein ablation is best suited to manage patients who have medical necessity based on signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency. A vein specialist can rightly assess your condition and determine whether or not a medical condition exists.
3) If you are having treatment for venous insufficiency, the most advanced techniques are endovascular ablation, foam sclerotherapy, and venaseal. In some cases, MOCA or mechanochemical ablation can also be considered. Stripping is an older technique and is no longer the preferred or best treatment for underlying vein disease. It has a higher level of complications and is less effective
4) Phlebectomy is still very useful for large unsightly veins that are not suitable for ablation or sclerotherapy either due to their tortuosity or proximity to skin and other collateral tissue. Additionally, treating large protuberant veins with simple sclerotherapy can sometimes lead to longer healing periods and long lasting cosmetic skin discoloration. Phlebectomy is a fast and efficient tool to eliminate large varicose veins without any large incisions.
5) Support staff is another way to measure a clinic’s commitment to the highest standards. Check and see if your ultrasound technologist performing important reflux studies has passed his/her certification exams. They will let you know if they are RVT (registered vascular technicians) or RVS or RpHS (registered phlebololgy sonographers)
6) The above factors focus on being certain on the qualifications of your vein doctor and the breadth of their skills to offer various treatment solutions tailored to your symptoms, anatomy, and vein presentation. The other qualities are more abstract and are the individual feeling you get about your interaction with the staff and vein doctor. Being given appropriate time and patience to your questions and concerns reflects on how much value the vein clinic places on the individuals care. Don’t fall prey to high volume centers that emphasize procedural volume over outcomes and quality. If you feel less than satisfied with your initial consultation, it’s very reasonable to consider a different vein clinic even if you have to travel some extra miles.
Just remember if you can’t get the time and answers to your questions, what is the likelihood you will see the time and commitment given to your vein treatment. Getting high level care is difficult because the experience of vein doctor is so variable and due to financial constraints, much of vein treatment near me today are trying to fit as many cases in a limited daily schedule. Something has to give and that generally is quality. The final results will make the extra commute worthwhile and that level of expertise can only be delivered by the very best centers committed to continuing education, investment into new technology, and you the patient for time.