Last week the discussion was all about the causes of venous problems that occur in over half the population. This week the discussion will be about treating the problem and some of the common hurdles faced when attempting to encourage payment from our wonderful insurance carriers. The good thing is that if criteria are met, insurance will usually pay for treatment. What are the criteria?? Well, they are somewhat variable. First, there must be symptoms. Pain, swelling, skin discoloration, aching, restless legs, and at the worst, ulceration and chronic changes. Second, there must be ultrasound documentation of the problem. This includes dilation of the veins or vein, and reflux of blood which demonstrates the absence of proper valve function. Third, many require failure of conservative therapy with compression stockings for varied lengths of time....in some cases for up to six months. Of course, treatment of spider veins is NOT covered as it is considered cosmetic. A great deal of the time, however, these pesky spider veins are caused by an underlying bigger problem with the larger veins and this is covered. The reason that's good is that after treating the larger veins, getting rid of the spider veins usually is much more permanent and they don't come back!!
The way it works at Total Body Surgical, we see you for a consultation and examine the problem. If it is obviously a venous issue, I will give you stockings to start your time requirement, if present, and schedule an ultrasound. At the ultrasound, we will discover what the extent of the problem is and how many veins are involved. At that point we will figure out the treatment plan. The important part of the ultrasound is measuring how much and where the reflux is located and document this. Once all of your insurance criteria are met, your procedure, or procedures are scheduled. At the procedure we use sedation for your comfort. We use the cooltouch laser and tumescent local. The laser fiber is inserted into the vein, the tumescent local is injected around the vein and the fiber is activated and pulled back the length of the vein to heat seal it. This redirects the flow of venous blood to the deeper system where it is supposed to go anyway. Sometimes, depending on how many veins are diseased, this may require more than one treatment.
Pictured above is the laser fiber itself and a rendition of what happens inside the vein when it is inserted, activated and retrieved.
Next week we will talk about removing the large varicosities that branch off of the veins that are closed by the laser. This is known as European microphlebectomy.
We are approaching the final week of the breast augmentation special and don't forget our lap band introductory offer.
New special for fall to be announced next week!!!
Thank you for visiting!