San Francisco Vein Center Vein Health Discussions

What Is Sclerotherapy? Sclerotherapy treats spider veins by injecting a medication (called a sclerosing agent) directly into the veins using very small needles. The solution irritates the vein, lining causing it to close. This can cause a brief stinging sensation, but...

Many of our patients avoid vein treatment in the Summer. Why? Post-procedure instructions often include avoiding sun exposure and wearing compression stockings—two things that don’t pair well with summer outfits. But with a little planning, summer can still be a great...

Did you know that if you have recently had a vein ablation for treatment of varicose veins or venous insufficiency, then you are at a slightly increased risk of DVT when travelling on long flights? Here in the Bay Area, we see many patients who travel very frequently...

Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution directly into diseased spider veins, which causes them to collapse and fade from view. While it is generally safe and effective, many women who are breastfeeding may wonder whether it is safe for their babies. The short...

For many, visible veins in the arms and hands are undesirable and do not look good. It is understandable when patients seek treatment to remove bulging veins in these parts of the body. There are effective treatments for this condition. However, in most cases, it is...

There are different medical specialists that treat veins. The most qualified tend to be vascular surgeons because they specialize in the entire circulatory system of veins and arteries. There are also phlebologists who focus only on the venous system. However,...

There are two facts about insurance some patients are surprised to learn. Your doctor does not determine what you pay. It is your insurance company that sets the prices you pay. Your insurance company tells your doctor what to bill by way of a legally binding...

There are many ways to treat varicose veins. One option is mechanochemical ablation (MOCA), more commonly known as ‘ClariVein’. Other established methods are endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and cyanoacrylate glue or "VenaSeal"....

"After I get my spider veins treated, how often will I have to return and will the veins inevitably come back?" This is a popular question for patients who get sclerotherapy to treat their spider veins. Like treatment questions for many medical conditions, the answer...

Doctors bill for their services using a coding system called Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10). Everything in the medical industry is represented by one of these codes. Procedures, exams, diagnostic studies,...

Different medical professionals can treat veins. But they do not all carry the same qualifications, capability, and experience. Many patients come to our office asking about a relatively new specialty called phlebology. A phlebologist is someone who treats a specific...

Patients sometimes ask about the various visits and tests they will need to go through to treat varicose veins. If you are a new patient looking for a doctor to evaluate your legs, here is the process. Most vein doctors will roughly follow the same procedure. INITIAL...

One of the most frequently asked questions by my patients is if they can exercise after their vein procedure. The truth is, we don’t know if it’s okay to exercise after radiofrequency ablation (RFA), endovenous laser ablatoin (EVLT), or sclerotherapy (spider veins treatment) because no study has been done comparing the two. The short answer (or suggestion) to exercising after a vein procedure is the following:

Does diet and health affect varicose veins? There are many different factors that can cause varicose veins such as heredity, pregnancy, gender, age, injury, trauma to the veins, and prolonged standing. While it can be difficult to impossible to control these factors,...

Sometimes patients ask me if a cosmetic med spa is a good place to go to treat their spider veins and varicose veins. Is a medical spa as safe…

Is exercise for varicose veins a good idea? This is an interesting question as some think that exercise can cause varicose veins and some think it can prevent them. Both answers are correct. There are many different factors that can cause varicose veins such as...

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) finds that 1 in every 3 Americans is obese or overweight. Obesity contributes to major diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Excess body fat is also a leading factor in developing varicose veins....

Patients often ask me which of the two vein ablation procedures are better: radiofrequency ablation (RFA) vs. endovenous laser ablation or endovenous laser therapy (EVLA or EVLT). It’s a good question but the answer depends. Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLT or EVLA)...

I often get questions from pregnant patients asking about the best approach for treating varicose veins and spider veins. Varicose veins often get worse during pregnancy and patients want to know…

Many patients come to my office after already having researched sclerotherapy on the internet. There is a lot of mention about different solutions for sclerotherapy. There are many different names and it can get confusing. One of the questions patients often ask me...

If you have checked out the San Francisco Vein Center’s website, you may already know the full range of surgical treatments for vein disease.  You may also have learned about the non-surgical option of compression stockings or varicose vein socks, which are an...