Vascular health is an area of health care that many folks ignore until they begin to experience pain and debilitating symptoms due to vein disease.
It is essential to find the right skilled vein specialists to ensure your veins are in top shape and help treat and prevent issues such as spider veins and varicose veins.
What is a Vein Specialist?
A vein specialist is a doctor who focuses on treating varicose veins, among other vein disease symptoms, and the underlying condition, venous insufficiency.
Vein doctors possess a strong background with formal training in procedures and specializations such as endovenous laser therapy, vascular surgery, interventional cardiology, interventional radiology, spider vein treatments, and varicose vein treatment.
What Type of Vein Doctor Do I Need?
If you are experiencing issues with varicose or spider veins, leg pain or swelling, or other vein-related symptoms, it may be time to seek out a vein doctor. Knowing how to find relief through the right doctor is essential in crafting the perfect treatment plan to get you back on your feet.
Generally speaking, vein specialists typically fall into two main categories: Vascular surgeons and Vein Specialists. While both can treat vein disease symptoms, they each specialize in different areas, therefore making it especially important to choose the correct type of vein doctor.
Vascular Surgeons
You will want to reach out to a vascular surgeon, who possess a formal training background in the management of vascular diseases (both arterial and venous) when you are dealing with varicose vein disease.
Vascular surgeons are required to complete five years of training in general surgery before they undergo a rigorous two-year sub-specialty training course for vascular medicine. During this time, they become experts in the diagnosis and management of vein disease treated by endovascular, minimally invasive techniques.
Upon completing the required training program, vascular surgery fellows will be tested to qualify for board certification by the American Board of Medicine Specialties (ABMS).
Vein Specialist
“Vein Specialist” is a title used by various practicing vein doctors of different backgrounds such as internal medicine, radiology, family medicine and ER medicine. These specialists are trained medical professionals who are equipped to diagnose and treat vein disease.
When Should I Go to a Vein Clinic?
Early diagnosis of venous diseases is crucial, as prompt treatment can help prevent future complications. So, how do you know when it is time to see a vein specialist?
Venous diseases have certain symptoms and characteristics which help to alert you that something is wrong. For example, patients experiencing the following symptoms should seek out a vein specialist to help address the issues:
- Swollen and achy legs
- Throbbing, burning and itching legs
- Leg pain and heaviness
- Restless legs or leg cramps at night
- Skin discoloration especially around the ankles
- Open sores or ulcers.
Anyone can suffer from venous diseases, but here are some risk factors that increase your chances:
- Female gender
- Advanced age
- Lack of exercise or physical activity
- Genetics- family history
- Multiple pregnancy
- Past leg trauma or injury
- Prolonged sitting or standing
If you have any of the symptoms or risk factors listed above, it may be time to contact a vein doctor, and look into minimally invasive treatments for venous disease.
Top Attributes to Look for When Choosing Between Vein Doctors
There are many factors to consider when searching for the best vein doctor to help you take control of your vascular health care. Actually, you can start by searching for the “best vein specialist centers near me” on Google.
Once you identify a list of nearby vein treatment clinics, you can narrow it down to the best by checking their certifications, educational backgrounds, specializations, and patient testimonials.
Certifications
Did you know that board certification isn’t actually necessary for vein specialists? With that said, this can be a huge indicator that helps determine which vein doctors are the best of the bunch.
Getting board certified requires tireless effort, hard work, a stellar education from a reputable medical school, and the completion of many challenging milestones, including but not limited to fellowships and residencies.
Specialists are required to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in vein treatment to retain certifications and ensure their patients are receiving the highest quality care possible.
Choose a Vein Clinic that is State-of-the-Art
Generally speaking, the best vein doctors are either affiliated with or at least have access to a state-of-the-art vein center.
What does this mean? No matter how impressive a vein specialist’s resume and background are, they still need access to the advanced technology only found at state-of-the-art vein clinics.
In order to enforce a minimally invasive vein treatment plan, they must have access to cutting-edge technology which assist in the latest treatment options.
General Diagnosis and Treatment Plans
One of the best ways to determine if a vein doctor is suitable for your unique needs is to go through their general diagnosis and treatment process.
Today’s minimally invasive varicose vein treatments can easily be simple, in-office, outpatient procedures that are completed within an hour. If the vein center in question requires downtime, hospitalization, extensive surgeries, or multiple sessions, then it may not be the right choice for you.
Finding the Green Flags
Keep your eyes and ears open for red flags during your consultation. The best vein doctors will have a straightforward, streamlined diagnosis and treatment plan. Here are some green flags to look out for:
- During your initial visit, the vein doctor should thoroughly examine the veins on your legs to check for signs of venous disease.
- The doctor should use vascular imaging tests to search for any underlying venous insufficiencies.
- If it is determined that you do have venous insufficiency, the doctor should recommend radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser ablation, or VenaSeal. These procedures close the diseased saphenous vein to restore efficient circulation of blood to the heart.
- If you don’t have venous insufficiency, the specialist should treat the superficial spider and varicose veins using sclerotherapy.
- Post-treatment, the doctor should discuss the details of your expected recovery process.
- Your doctor should be upfront about all details surrounding your treatments – including insurance coverage.
Insurance Coverage Details
Speaking of insurance coverage, it is crucial to find a vein clinic that accepts all major insurance plans and will actively discuss all your treatment options and the insurance coverage/out-of-pocket costs you can expect. Without this transparency about the financial burdens of health care, it is difficult to make the ideal decision for your treatment plans.
Cutting-edge, minimally invasive varicose vein treatment can be quite costly. Many folks may not be able to afford it, which may lead them to choose a more invasive surgical route that will be covered.
A great vein clinic will actively help you gain the best insurance coverage for your treatment, to ensure the entire treatment process goes off without a hitch.
Choosing the Ideal Vein Clinic Near Me
So, you have done all the work to narrow down your list to the top vein specialists in your area. Now what? Make a pros and cons list for each of your top choices, and consider scheduling a consultation with the clinic that comes out on top.
If you reside in the New York area, contact the New York Vein Treatment Center to start your journey of healing. Our exceptional team of NY’s most trusted vein specialists at our state-of-the-art vein centers is ready to help you find the right treatment path to take control of your vascular health.
Our cutting-edge vein clinics have been serving the greater Manhattan and Brooklyn area since 2007, treating patients with the utmost care, compassion, and expertise. The team at the New York Vein Treatment Center has been rigorously trained to treat the underlying causes of varicose veins, spider veins, and venous insufficiency.
After a detailed assessment of your symptoms, our clinical team will provide a clinical diagnosis and a comprehensive, patient-focused, thoroughly personalized treatment plan to elevate your quality of life. Let’s make healthy changes together for a brighter, healthier future.