NAPERVILLE VEIN CENTER
The Naperville Vein Center was established
in 1993 by Dr. Greg Ward, who has been serving the Naperville
Community for close to 20 years, providing expertise in General
Surgery and Vein Treatment. He is a Board Certified General
Surgeon and active member of the American College of Phlebology. He
continually brings the very latest technology to the treatment
of veins and offers a full range of treatment options including
traditional surgery, sclerotherapy (injection therapy) and TIPP
(Transilluminated Powered Phlebectomy) for both men and women.
Your treatment through the Naperville Vein
Center will focus on healthier veins while meeting your needs
for improved cosmetic appearance, and/or reduced pain.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are superficial veins that
have become dilated (widened and filled with blood), and in which
the valves no longer work properly. To understand
varicose veins, it helps to understand how healthy leg veins
function. There are two types of leg veins- deep and superficial. The
deep veins primarily carry blood returning to the heart; the
superficial veins temporarily store blood before carrying blood
to the deep veins. Valves within these veins help prevent
blood from flowing back toward the feet.
What are Spider Veins?
Spider veins, known medically as telangiactasia,
are dilated skin capillaries. They do not have the large,
bulging appearance of varicose veins. Their color can range
from red to blue. They can develop along with varicose
veins, and for the same reasons. Spider veins can also
be associated with some of the same discomforts as varicose veins.
Who gets Varicose and Spider Veins?
Although men also suffer from varicose veins,
adult women are most often affected, with the incidence increasing
with age. Hormonal changes such as those that occur in
pregnancy can be a factor. Heredity is another factor ;
if your parents have or had varicose veins, you may be more likely
to develop them. Finally, conditions or situations that
increase pressure on veins, such as obesity, prolonged standing,
and injury to leg tissues are also associated with the development
of varicose veins.
What are the symptoms?
People may first notice the bulging, often
twisted appearance of these veins under the skin on their legs. The
legs can be swollen and achy and/or itchy. They may burn,
throb, or cramp, and may be accompanied by a feeling of heaviness
and fatigue. The feelings may worsen as the day progresses
and are usually somewhat relieved with walking and elevation
of the legs.
What can happen if the affected veins
are not treated?
Pain, tired legs, phlebitis (irritation of
veins), thrombosis(blood clots within the veins), and skin ulcers
are complications that can result from large varicose veins left
untreated. Smaller veins that are left untreated can progress
and become more severe. The development of varicose veins
is generally progressive, but treatment at an early stage may
prevent progression. Therefore, early treatment makes sense
from a preventive standpoint, and it is easier and less costly,
making sense economically as well.
What are the treatment
options?
Sometimes elevating the legs or wearing
special compression stockings (or both) will relieve the symptoms
from varicose veins, although it will not cure the problem. Depending
on the severity and nature of the problem, our physician will
recommend the appropriate course of treatment. Unlike
many physicians who treat veins, our physicians are trained
in both the latest surgical and non surgical treatment of veins. Your
options will include:
- Compression Stockings: A
three month trial period may help to alleviate symptoms.
- Sclerotherapy: A sclerosant
is injected into the veins. The sclerosant affects the lining
of the vein, causing it to collapse. This treatment option
involves a series of injections scheduled 1-2 weeks apart.
- TIPPs: This is a minimally
invasive surgical approach for the removal of veins, analogous
to liposuction for veins.
- Laser Ablation: Energy
from the laser is used to close the leaking veins that cause
discomfort and swelling.
Please discuss all of these options with our
physicians. They will customize a treatment plan to optimize
the resolution of your vein problems and the symptoms they cause.
What is Sclerotherapy?
It is estimated that at least half of
the adult female population is plagued with the common cosmetic
problem of spider veins. Sclerotherapy
is the most effective method used to eliminate these tiny clusters
of veins, as well as small varicose veins. Spider veins
may or may not be associated with bothersome symptoms such as
leg aching, burning, swelling, and night cramps. Many people
seek treatment for cosmetic reasons only.
In this procedure, veins are injected
with a sclerosing solution that causes them to collapse and
fade from view. The procedure
is relatively quick, lasting only about 15 minutes. The
needle used for the injections is so thin and the sclerosing
solution is so mild that the pain is usually minimal. You
will feel small needle sticks and possibly a mild burning sensation.
Sclerotherapy involves a series of injections
scheduled 1-2 weeks apart, and the number of sessions depends
on the severity of the problem. The treated vessels usually fade away over
a period of 2-6 weeks. Between treatments, patients are
free to carry on with normal activities and are encouraged to
walk immediately following treatment.
Most patients are very pleased with
the difference sclerotherapy makes. The skin of the legs
appears younger, clearer, and more healthy-looking. Although
sclerotherapy will eliminate the noticeable veins for good,
it is important to remember that the treatment will not prevent
new spider veins from emerging in the future.
Will my insurance company pay for
these treatments?
Every insurance company and benefit plan can
offer different levels of coverage for the treatment of varicose
veins. Some insurance companies provide full coverage and
others consider the treatments to be cosmetic except in the most
extreme cases. For this reason, we offer you the
following options for paying for your vein treatment:
- Before any treatment is provided, our office
will submit all of the necessary documentation to your insurance
company in order to request coverage for you. This includes
a Request for Coverage, Certificate of Medical
Necessity*, and Proposed Plan of Treatment. Many insurance
companies are also requesting pictures of the legs to be sent
in with the request for coverage. This is not mandatory, but
if you feel it would help your case, please provide pictures
that we could submit with the request for coverage. After
the insurance company has made a determination regarding your
coverage (this can take 2-3 months), we will notify you.
- You
can begin your treatments immediately by agreeing to pay for
the treatments yourself at the time of service. Our office
will still submit all of the documentation to your insurance
company to request coverage, and if we do receive payment from
your insurance company, you will be reimbursed.
*In making a determination on benefits,
insurance companies are looking for information on the severity
of your problem, and what conservative steps you may have taken
to help solve the problem before seeking treatment. The Vein History
Form will help us to provide your insurance company with accurate
information regarding your need for treatment. Please
be sure to fill this form out carefully.
Vein
History Form
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