How do I get started?

Call Visconti Imaging & Vein Institute and schedule your appointment.  At your first appointment, you will meet with Dr. Visconti and he will he will determine if an ultrasound is recommended.

Do I need a referral from my doctor?

Patients do not need to have a referral from their primary care physician to receive treatment for varicose veins.

I just want my spider veins injected.  What do I need to do?

Before you undergo sclerotherapy of your spider veins, we will need to perform an ultrasound first.  Oftentimes, spider veins can be the result of problematic superficial veins.  If we were to treat your spider veins without addressing the reflux in your superficial veins, then your spider veins would not respond well to treatment.

If one of my veins is closed or removed, how does the blood get back to my heart?

We have two types of veins; deep veins and superficial veins.  The deep veins are in the muscles and tissues; they carry 90% of the blood back to the heart.  The superficial veins are close to the skin and only carry 10% of the blood back to the heart.  Varicose veins occur in the superficial veins so if these veins are closed, the deep veins continue to do most of the work.

What do I need to do to prepare for my procedure?

You will be provided with a folder which contains all of the pre-procedure instructions.  It is very important that you always bring a driver with you and that you have your compression stockings with you.  Please make sure that you are not taking any blood thinners or aspirin 1 week prior to your procedure.  If you have misplaced your form and have a question, you can download the form here.

Will my insurance cover these procedures?

Most insurance companies will cover the procedures if they are considered medically necessary.  For this reason, you will have an ultrasound done in the office to determine if you have venous insufficiency.  All insurance companies have different policies and some require that patients undergo conservative treatment before they will cover a procedure.  If you have any questions regarding your insurance coverage, please contact Visconti Imaging & Vein Institute.

I was informed that I will need to undergo conservative treatment; what does this entail?

The length of conservative treatment is determined by your particular insurance carrier, which will be determined at your first appointment.  You will need to wear your compression stockings daily for the specified amount of time.  Other recommendations include frequent exercise, weight loss (if appropriate), elevation, and taking analgesics.