Frequently asked questions about varicose & spider veins

Will insurance cover varicose and spider vein treatment?
Most insurance companies will pay for varicose vein treatment. However, each insurance plan is different so your insurance company will determine if they deem it medically necessary. Our office staff will work with your insurance company to provide them the information they need to make a well-informed decision.  With only a few exceptions, all insurance companies will require a documented period (2 weeks to 3 months depending on the insurer) of conservative treatment, prior to considering the authorization of the recommended venous treatment. The treatment of spider veins is considered to be cosmetic by the insurance companies, therefore is not covered.
How much does it cost to treat spider veins on the legs?
We offer 30-minute appointments with approximately 20 minutes of treatment time with sclerotherapy and/or Cutera® Excel V™. For spider veins on the legs, each session is $350, however if several sessions are needed, we offer packages to offset some of the cost. At the screening appointment, our experienced staff will tell you approximately how many sessions are needed to address your spider veins. Treating spider veins on other parts of the body will vary in cost.
What is the difference between varicose and spider veins?
With varicose veins, the valves are causing the blood to reflux and not allowing the blood to flow properly through the body. Due to the reflux, blood is being pulled from good veins. Spider veins are broken veins on the surface whereas the varicose veins are deep within the leg.  Spider veins can be a system of varicose veins. Treating spider veins without knowing if there is an underlying issue or varicose vein causing them, will not deliver the desired results.
How do I know if I have varicose veins?
Typically varicose veins will have various symptoms with them such as pain, throbbing, cramping, tiredness, fatigue, itching burning, heaviness, restlessness, swelling or edema of the ankles and legs.  Our office also offers a complimentary screening with an ultrasound to determine if the underlying veins have reflux. If reflux is present, you might have varicose veins.
How do you treat varicose veins?
Varicose veins, depending on the severity and location, can be treated with endovenous thermal ablation treatment and/or ultrasound guided sclerotherapy.
How do you treat spider veins?
Tennessee Vein Center offers a comprehensive approach to treating spider veins. We are able to treat them with the Cutera® Excel V™ Laser, and/or sclerotherapy injections. Depending on your specific need, we can use either of these of both during your treatment.
What happens to the treated veins?
Once the vein has been shut down by either injections or laser treatment, the body will absorb the vein naturally. We do not remove it. Removing the vein has a tendency to damage other veins.
How long does it take to complete treatment?
If you have varicose vein disease, you should allow between 45 minutes to 1½ hour for each appointment.  It normally will take several visits over a period of a year to complete treatment. Then, yearly follow-up appointments are recommended to determine if you have developed new varicose veins.
Will the treated veins come back?
The treated veins have been shutdown. Those will not come back however you might develop new ones. Having varicose veins is a disease. Once you have had them, you are prone to develop others.
What causes varicose and spider veins?
The following may contribute to the cause varicose and spider veins: genetics, occupation (prolonged standing or sitting), gender, age, pregnancy, trauma, and congenital disease.
Will spider and varicose veins go away on their own?
Spider and varicose veins will not go away on their own. Typically, with time, they get worse.
Where are the treatments performed?
All of the treatments offered by Tennessee Vein Center are performed within the comfort of our office at 431 Marilyn Lane in Alcoa. We are conveniently located just past the airport.
What is the downtime for varicose vein treatment?
Once you have received treatment by Tennessee Vein Center, we encourage you return to normal activity. You are able to drive yourself home as only local anesthesia is used during the procedures.
What is a phlebectomy?
A phlebectomy is sometimes called ambulatory phlebectomy or stab phlebectomy. To perform this procedure tiny slits are made in the skin and a hook removes the vein at various places in the bad vein. Rather than performing a phlebotomy, at Tennessee Vein Center, we inject a sclerosant solution into the vein to close it down and then your body naturally absorbs the bad vein.           

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