Frequently Asked Questions

96% of patients who have undergone the VNUS Closure or EVLT procedures are willing to recommend it to a friend or family member with similar leg vein problems.

Many insurance companies pay for the treatment. The coverage is determined based on medical necessity.  We can discuss your insurance coverage further at the time of consultation.

The most important step to determine if an endovenous ablation procedure is appropriate is to complete ultrasound examination by a qualified clinician. Age alone is not a factor. Ablation procedures have been used to treat patients across a wide range of ages.

Experience has shown that many patients at any age with superficial venous reflux can be treated with the endovenous procedure.

Patients report minimal to no scarring, bruising, or swelling following the procedure.

Many patients can resume normal activities immediately. For few weeks following the treatment, we recommend our patients to take regular walks and to avoid strenuous activities (for example, heavy lifting) or prolonged periods of standing.

Patients report feeling little, if any, pain during the procedure. Local or regional anesthetic will be administered to numb the treatment area.

The procedure typically takes about 45-60 minutes, including the normal pre-procedure preparation and post-treatment evaluation.

Effective treatment using VNUS Closure, EVLT and/or Sclerotherapy, is typically long-lasting.  The results show more than 96% of veins treated remain in reflux-free and symptom-free at five years.  With all treatment methods, new veins may appear over time. Varicose veins are rarely “cured” but treatment brings significant symptomatic relief and desired cosmetic results.

Patients at times are concerned that the loss of the varicose veins will have a negative effect on their circulation. They ask: ‘How will the blood get back to my heart if these veins are gone?’ The answer is that varicose veins are non-functional and do not help the circulation. Blood does not flow effectively through varicose veins back to the heart and instead, sits in the legs. Varicose veins can actually harm the body. Their treatment improves circulation by allowing blood to pass through the remaining normal functioning veins back to the heart.

Two alternative minimally-invasive methods called endovenous ablation procedures are available and allow to treat veins without surgery: VNUS Closure and EVLT.  VNUS Closure is based on radiofrequency energy and EVLT is based on laser energy. Both are new revolutionary treatments used instead of vein stripping. These methods eliminate venous reflux and treat varicose veins without physically removing the vein. It is performed as an outpatient same-day procedure in the office with local anesthesia. A special catheter is inserted into varicose veins and caused the vein to close off and empty blood.  These methods eliminate the pain, bruising and extended recovery time of traditional vein stripping surgery. Like other procedures, VNUS Closure and EVLT involve risks and potential complications, but risks are much less likely and results are more effective than with traditional surgery and vein stripping.

Vein stripping is a surgical procedure used for the treatment of varicose veins. This is a more extensive procedure than phlebectomy and is used in treatment of larger surface veins. Under general anesthesia, all or part of the vein is tied off and pulled out. The legs are bandaged after the surgery, however, swelling, bruising, and pain can last from days to weeks. Vein stripping should be regarded as a procedure of the past. It carries higher risk, greater pain, greater disability, longer recovery, greater cost, and less effective results than minimally invasive procedures such as VNUS or EVLT. Vein stripping causes a lot more bruising and pain which results from tearing the side branch veins while the saphenous vein is pulled out.

Phlebectomy is a surgical procedure used for the treatment of varicose veins. Multiple small incisions are made along the varicose vein and veins are pulled and removed from the leg using surgical hooks or forceps. The procedure is done under local or regional anesthesia, in an operating room or an office ‘procedure room.’ At InterMed Vein Clinic we avoid phlebectomy by using less invasive treatment methods.

Before treating surface spider veins, any underlying vein disease must be evaluated and treated first. Sclerotherapy is used to treat spider veins. This involves using a tiny needle to inject a small quantity of a solution that will shut down the vein. It is nearly painless, and even patients who are afraid of needles do very well with treatment. First, larger varicose veins are treated. Second, medium size surface feeder veins (called reticular veins) which are connected to spider veins are treated. Lastly, spider veins are treated within a few weeks. After treatment sessions, a compression stocking is worn for four weeks during the day. Injection sites may initially appear bruised or red. Within a few weeks, once the healing process in complete, most spider veins look better, although, continued improvement usually occurs over many months. Depending on the size and surface area of spider veins, multiple treatment sessions may be necessary.

Exercise, compression stockings, and elevation of legs during rest may improve symptoms. However, these regimens will not treat varicose veins or the underlying disease (venous reflux) and will not prevent varicose veins from worsening. At best, they may slow the advances of the complications of chronic vein disease, but will not reverse them.

Since vein valves cannot be easily or effectively repaired, the only alternative is to re-route blood flow through healthy veins. Traditionally, this has been done by surgically removing (stripping) the troublesome vein from legs. The endovenous ablation procedures (VNUS and EVLT) provide less invasive alternatives to vein stripping by simply closing the problem vein instead of stripping it. Once the diseased vein is closed, other healthy veins take over and empty blood from legs.

A skin ulcer is caused by a venous reflux disorder or chronic leg venous hypertension that is not treated. Venous stasis ulcer or sores are areas of the lower leg where the skin has opened and exposed the flesh beneath. Early signs that a venous stasis ulcer may develop include darkening of the skin in the area of the ankle. Gradually, the skin may become leathery or waxy in appearance. Without treatment of the venous disease, the skin may breakdown and bleeding may occur. Ulcers can differ in size or appearance. They are painful, odorous open wounds which weep fluid and can last for months or even years. Most leg ulcers occur when vein disease is left untreated. They are most common among older people but can also affect individuals as young as 18.

While varicose veins are located deeper under the skin in fat, spider veins are hair-thin, much smaller and superficial and are located in the skin. They may be blue or red color and frequently look like a spider. They may or may not be associated with other underlying vein disease, such as varicose veins. Therefore, an ultrasound exam may be advised since unrecognized underlying vein disease is the most common reason for unsatisfactory results.  This is why even spider veins should be treated by a physician with formal expertise in vein disease.

The blood flow in varicose veins is slow enough to encourage blood to sit still and coagulate. The medical term, superficial thrombophlebitis, refers to the occurrence of blood clots in superficial veins. Superficial thrombophlebitis rarely causes death or a blood clot that travels to the lungs. However, progression of a superficial phlebitis to involve the deep veins may have fatal consequences.

If varicose veins are left untreated, smaller abnormal veins may increase in number and are associated with worsening symptoms such as leg pain, leg cramps, swelling, fatigue, skin rash and discoloration.  Phlebitis, thrombosis (severe blood clots), spontaneous bleeding and skin ulcers are complications of varicose vein disease.

Varicose veins may cause legs to ache, feel heavy, and tire easily. Feet and ankles may swell by the end of day. Varicose veins may itch or burn. Leg cramps can occur at any time, but more often at night. Varicose veins can get inflamed and cause redness of the skin. As skin and tissue damage progresses, ankles and feet can develop brown or black discolorations. In some cases, patients may develop ulcers and open painful sores.

Multiple conditions contribute to varicose veins: genetics, hormonal changes at menopause, pregnancy, extended standing, injury to legs, obesity, and past vein such as thrombophlebitis (inflammation of veins) or previous history of blood clots. Women suffer from varicose veins more than men, and the incidence increases to 50% of people over age 50.

Varicose veins are enlarged veins extending down the leg, or occurring in bunches, like grapes, or in snakelike curves beneath the surface of the skin.  Varicose veins develop when valves in veins fail.  The distance from the feet to the heart is the furthest blood has to travel in the body. Consequently, if the vein valves fail, the backflow of blood causes the surface veins in legs to be under pressure, become swollen, enlarged and distorted.

Deep veins are in the center of the leg, within the muscles and near the bones. 90% of blood from legs returns back to the heart via these deep veins.  Superficial veins are just beneath the skin, above the muscles. They act as the side roads to return blood back to the heart. Perforator veins serve as connections between the deep and superficial veins. Blood flows from superficial veins into the perforator veins in order to connect with the deep veins and return to the heart.

Arteries are blood vessels that pump oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to different parts of body. Veins are blood vessels that return oxygen-poor blood from various parts of the body back to the heart. With respect to the legs, arteries bring the blood down to the legs, and veins return blood up the legs back to the heart. All veins have one-way valves to prevent blood from flowing in the wrong direction back toward the feet.

We have several financing options to offer to our patients with no insurance. The terms and conditions of these financing options depend on multiple factors, including patient’s credit score and income. We also accept payments by Care Credit, major credit cards, and Paypal.

We are participating providers for Medicare, Medi-Cal, all PPO plans, most of HMO plans and many other insurance plans.

InterMed Vein Clinic is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

We begin your preliminary consultation with a thorough physical examination in combination with an ultrasound to determine the extent of your varicose veins. With this information, Dr. Milne creates a personalized treatment plan designed to achieve your desired results