Vericose Vein Disease and Treatment Myths
Myth: Varicose vein disease affects only old people
Fact: Varicose vein disease can be genetic, and many younger
people – some in their late 20s – may be affected. Heredity
may be the most important factor, so if your parents and
grandparents have the problem you are at increased risk. Other
factors include gender, age, pregnancy, weight gain, physical
trauma, frequently standing too long over a period of years.
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Myth: Varicose vein disease affects only women
Fact: Women have a higher incidence of vein reflux disease
due in part to the female hormones affecting the vein walls
especially during pregnancy. But 15–25 percent of men may
also develop varicose vein disease.
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Myth: Spider veins = varicose veins
Fact: Though often lumped together, spider veins are very
different from varicose vein disease in terms of cause,
appearance and medical implications. Spider veins are tiny,
dilated blood vessels that appear just below the skin’s surface,
typically on the face, neck, chest and legs. Spider veins are
very common, but are mostly a cosmetic, not a health issue.
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Myth: People seek cures for varicose vein disease merely
because of vanity
Fact: Varicose vein disease can cause swelling and cramps
that result in patients feeling tiredness, heaviness in the leg, as
well as pain, aching or burning sensations. This is a real disease,
involving reflux of the greater saphenous vein, that can have longterm
consequences if not treated, including eczema,
pigmentation, skin ulcerations and bleeding.
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Myth: The only treatment for varicose vein disease is
painful and puts people out of commission for two weeks
Fact: EVLT™ (Endovenous Laser Treatment) has been proven
to be safe, effective and relatively pain free, with patients
experiencing only minimal discomfort after the procedure and
quick recovery times. It is an outpatient or in-office procedure
that is completed in under an hour and allows the patient to walk
out and resume normal activity the same or following day.
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Myth: All laser-based veins treatments are the same
Fact: External lasers are used to treat spider veins for cosmetic
purposes, but cannot treat and cure the cause of varicose vein
disease. EVLT™ has been shown to offers 98 percent success
at one month follow-up for its patients and 93.4 percent at twoyear
follow-up. These results are comparable or superior to
those reported by radio frequency technologies; in fact, followup
studies for radio frequency electrosurgey found 10-14 percent
of patients showed some level of post treatment reflux (the
original cause of varicose veins) and 7-10 percent had recurrent
symptoms and/or varicosities.
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Myth: There are going to be marks after undergoing the
procedure
Fact: EVLT™ patients are less likely to suffer short-term bruising
or long-term scarring compared to surgical ligation and stripping
or other invasive treatments.
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Myth: Closing off a major vein can cause circulatory
problems later on
Fact: Treating the cause of varicose vein disease can entail
closing off the faulty vein. There are many veins in the leg and
after treatment the blood in the faulty veins will be diverted to
healthy veins in order to make its way back to the heart.
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Myth: There are other treatments that are as quick and
effective as EVLT™ in dealing with varicose vein disease
Fact: None of the alternative procedures are as effective in
treating the greater saphenous vein.
Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy, which involves an irritant
chemical injected into the vein and tight compression, is excellent
for cosmetic treatment in the lower leg but has not proven as
effective as EVLT™ for treating the greater saphenous vein.
Sclerotherapy also may require yearly monitoring and more than
one treatment. Additionally, the size of the vein that can be treated
is limited, which means that many patients are not suitable
candidates for this technique.
Radio Frequency Electrosurgery uses heat generated from
a radio frequency electric current to close the greater saphenous
vein from inside, much the way microwave ovens heat food.
Radio frequency procedures can take 90 minutes to two hours
to complete, double the time needed for ELVT. With EVLT™,
the actual vein sealing takes approximately three minutes, while
the time needed during radio frequency procedures is 25 – 45
minutes. Electrosurgey is also limited in the number of patients
it can treat; it is not recommended for treatment of veins larger
than 12mm in diameter. EVLT™ has no restrictions regarding
veins size.
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Myth: EVLT™ is not covered by health insurance
Fact: Many insurance companies will cover and reimburse for
EVLT™. However, because minimally invasive treatments for
varicose vein disease are relatively new, some insurance
companies are still in the process of determining their payment
policies and may be waiting for additional “long-term”
information. While some insurance carriers consider treatment
for varicose veins a cosmetic procedure and won’t cover it, other
insurers do provide coverage. Medicare often covers EVLT™
treatment. Check with your doctor and insurance company.
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