How to Choose a Varicose Veins Doctor

Varicose veins are hard to live with. When things are working properly, you probably don’t give your circulatory system a second thought. But when veins aren’t functioning correctly and varicose veins show up, the emotional and physical burdens can become heavy to carry.

Even if your varicose veins don’t present any physical symptoms, seeking treatment to have them removed is a major step in getting your confidence back. You may already have a vein doctor or visit a practice that has one, but that doesn’t mean you can’t shop around. It’s important to find an empathetic doctor who understands how personal your varicose vein concerns are to you.

With these helpful tips, you’ll be able to make a confident and informed decision in choosing the best varicose vein doctor for you.

Tips on How to Choose a Varicose Veins Doctor

‌Get Recommendations

Who do you trust the most when it comes to personal recommendations? Family and friends provide excellent guidance because they usually provide honest feedback about their experiences. 

If you have one, your primary care physician can also provide referrals to particular vein clinics or doctors. Most offices have lists of specialists that they frequently send patients to. Sometimes your primary care doctor even knows a specialty doctor personally.

Recommendations from family and friends combined with professional referrals will get you off to a good start on your list of vein doctors to consider.

Check Reviews

When it comes to reviews, 41% of consumers say physician ratings are very important when making decisions. If you don’t have any personal or professional recommendations, online reviews can be the next best thing. Search “varicose vein doctors near me” and browse for reviews.

• Reviews of the clinic: Check ratings on the clinic where the doctor practices.
• ‌Reviews of physicians: Check ratings on individual doctors. Don’t rule a clinic out for having mediocre reviews if a particular physician at that clinic has glowing reviews.

‌Some review platforms provide some information on the person giving the review. Look for a review by someone who resembles your age and situation. This will also give you an idea of the types of people this doctor has treated. 

If you want to find a doctor who has provided a lot of varicose vein treatments, reviews are also a good place to glean this information. If there are pages of reviews, the doctor likely performs these treatments regularly. If it is hard to find reviews, the doctor may perform a few treatments a year. That doesn’t mean the doctor isn’t trusted, but you may need to do some additional research to get the information you’re looking for.

Treatment Options

There are six available varicose vein treatment options. Which procedures does your potential clinic offer? It’s a smart idea to choose a clinic that has kept up with the latest technology. For example, you can feel confident if Varithena microfoam injection is offered. This trusted procedure uses new technology for a quick and virtually painless procedure. It allows you to resume activities on the same day. <–link to Varithena piece also in the works

The available varicose vein treatment options are:

• Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA): VenaCure EVLT
• Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): Venclose or ClosureFast
• Microfoam Injection: Varithena
• Cyanoacrylate: VenaSeal
• Endovenous Mechanochemical Ablation (MOCA): ClariVein
• Phlebectomy (Surgical removal of veins)

Insurance Coverage

Most health insurance providers cover varicose vein treatment. ClariVein is one brand/treatment that is not yet covered, so many practices don’t even offer it. It’s a good idea to confirm that your treatment will be covered under your insurance before scheduling.

Doctor’s Credentials

If you still are uncertain, you can check if your doctor’s credentials and experience match what you’re looking for in a provider. Make sure your doctor is board-certified and is a vein specialist.

You can also find a physician certified by the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. These doctors have passed the most comprehensive exam on venous disease.  

Test the Waters

Schedule to meet with a doctor in person. Many vein specialists offer free consultations or free vein screenings. Ask all the questions you need for clarity. Before and after pictures from previous patients who received the same treatment are a great thing to request.

Offering free consultations can show that doctors are serious and confident in their treatment capabilities. A no-obligation consultation can also mean the doctor genuinely cares about patients and finding the best solutions for them.

If a clinic does not offer free consultations, you don’t necessarily need to rule them out. If you feel confident about everything else you’ve researched, you may not need to meet in person to finalize your decision. 

Next steps

You should always seek the advice of a specialist if you’re concerned about the appearance of varicose veins. My Vein Treatment’s vein specialist locator tool can help you find doctors in your area. You can use this guide to help you compare and make an empowered and informed decision.