Frequently Asked Questions

Are the procedures painful?
In general, there is very little pain involved with our treatment procedures. Sclerotherapy involves a series of small needle pricks, and the solutions that we use are not painful. Surgical procedures are usually performed in the office under a local anesthetic with minimal discomfort and a quick return to normal activities.

Will treatment be covered by my insurance?
Several factors play into whether your treatment will be covered by health insurance. If your veins are painful or if physical signs such as swelling or skin changes are present, treatment may be a covered benefit. If treatment is desired purely for cosmetic purposes, or your symptoms are not severe enough to meet medical necessity criteria, coverage is usually not available. However, if you have a Health Savings Account or cafeteria plan for non-covered medical expenses through your employer, these may often be used to pay for your treatment. Our office will help you in determining this when you schedule your treatment.

Do you use laser treatments?
No. Lasers can be used in various ways to treat venous problems, but we feel that the treatments we offer are equally effective and are a better value. Laser is often used for ablation of the saphenous vein; however, the VNS Closure® procedure is equally if not more effective and is associated with less post-operative pain and swelling. A different type of laser may be used to treat spider veins, but the cost may be more and larger reticular veins and varicose veins are more effectively treated with sclerotherapy than laser.