Visiting a Vein Clinic for the First Time: What to Expect

For individuals who suspect that they might have abnormal veins, consulting a vascular surgeon at a local vein clinic might be the best option in order to acquire a clear diagnosis and to arrange for a treatment. There are several options for treating vascular conditions such as varicose veins and spider veins in North Miami Beach, so individuals need not worry that they will risk having their vein condition go untreated. However, the experience of visiting a vein clinic might be foreign to those who have never done so. Here are a few things to expect from the initial visit.

Examination and Medical History

As with any legitimate medical practice, the doctor or staff member will likely collect some information about the patient’s medical history. Patients will advise their doctor on what vein-related symptoms they have noticed and how long they have been experiencing them. Typical symptoms include throbbing, pain, cramping, tingling, burning, and skin ulceration. Normally, these symptoms come about from varicose veins developing on an individual’s legs.

Next, the doctor will examine the affected area. Normally, vascular conditions affect an individual’s chest, legs, face, or hands. It’s advised that patients wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing that would allow the doctor to easily examine the area in question. Additionally, patients are advised to abstain from applying skin cream or makeup before the examination.

Diagnosis and Treatment Breakdown

After the doctor has collected the patient’s medical history and conducted an initial examination, he or she will offer the patient a diagnosis of their condition. Once the condition is assessed, the doctor will go through the various treatment options available to the patient. These include: sclerotherapy, ambulatory phlebectomy, transdermal laser treatment, and endovenous laser treatment. These treatment methods each offer their own distinct advantages to the patient, and are typically applied for a variety of purposes. While the doctor knows full well which treatment option will work best for the patient, it’s possible that the patient can choose from 2 or more possible treatment methods that they prefer, depending on how invasive an intervention they’re willing to undergo. While the surgical methods vary in invasiveness, they each come with a relatively impressive success rate. With non-invasive procedures, patients can actually get right back to their regular daily activities immediately following the procedure, with no discernible side effects. In fact, the patient will likely feel an immediate sense of relief following the procedure, particularly if the doctor recommends wearing compression socks to ease blood circulation. During the several weeks following the procedure, the damaged vein tissue will be absorbed by the patient’s body and new, healthier tissue will take its place.