At Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center in Memphis, TN, your health and well being are our top priorities. We offer several treatment options for clients who are displeased with the appearance of their varicose veins. But for each of these treatment options, we get several questions. Today, we answer our most frequently asked questions about microphlebectomy, including what it means.

What Does Microphlebectomy Mean?

Microphlebectomy refers to the removal of a medium to large varicose vein through a tiny incision made in the affected area. Most commonly, this treatment is performed to remove varicose veins in the leg. However, varicose veins may also occur in other parts of the body, such as the abdomen, chest, hands, and arms.

How Large Are the Incisions?

The incisions made to perform this treatment are less than 1/4″ in length. The exact size of the incision made will depend on the length of the vein. Most of the incisions we make are only 1 to 3 mm in length.

However, you need not worry about visible scars after the treatment. The incision will only be perceptible for a few weeks. Then it will fade and you will be left with varicose vein-free legs.

What Happens When the Varicose Veins Are Removed?

Once the diseased veins are removed, the blood previously attempting to flow through those veins is rerouted to other deep veins within the legs. Few people realize that they don’t need every one of their veins. In fact, circulation is improved drastically once the diseased vein is removed because blood isn’t struggling to reach your heart anymore.

Will I Have to Spend the Night in a Hospital?

Absolutely not! This outpatient procedure is performed in our state-of-the-art office. You are free to go home as soon as we’re done and we’ve ensured you understand how to care for your treated region after the treatment.

How Long Does it Take?

Depending on the size, number, and locations of the varicose veins, you can expect this treatment to take around an hour. However, you may receive an ultrasound of the area before the procedure so we can see exactly what we are dealing with.

This will make the actual treatment go a lot faster and it also ensures it is more effective. It also ensures that the other deep veins in the area are healthy and not the cause of the varicose veins you need to be removed.

How Do I Prepare for This Treatment?

To prepare for this treatment, we will perform a physical examination of the area to determine where the dysfunctional valves are located. Besides using a handheld ultrasound device to see the veins and valves better, we may also order a duplex scan. This helps us to see the amount of blood flow through the affected veins. It also rules out thromboses in the veins.

It is extremely important that you tell us about any over-the-counter or prescription medications you are currently taking or have taken recently. You may need to stop taking certain types of medications or nutritional supplements, such as those that may thin the blood or prevent blood clotting.

What Are the Benefits of Treatment?

No Downtime

After treatment, you are immediately able to walk and continue with your daily routine. There is no serious downtime involved, and you’ll enjoy the new look of your legs very quickly.

Good for Nearly Anyone

If you are displeased with the appearance of varicose veins, there is a very good chance you are the perfect candidate for this treatment. The types of veins that this treatment corrects are varicose veins that are bulging, close to the surface of the skin (superficial), or twisted.

The best candidate will be in fairly good overall health and have a positive, but realistic, outlook regarding the treatment process and expectations. We will ensure during your initial consultation that you have a solid understanding of what to expect during and after treatment.

During your initial consultation, we will assess the size, number, and location of your varicose veins to determine if you should choose this treatment method for your varicose veins.

Immediate Relief

Most of our clients opt for this treatment method because the pain relief derived from removing the bulging, twisted veins is immediate. Moreover, there is no downtime or extensive recovery period. After an hour or less, they are free to go about their day. The only difference to your day is there will be no painful swelling, discomfort, itching, irritation, pressure, numbness, or tingling. Even better, your aesthetic will be improved immediately, as well.

Permanent Results

The results of this treatment, also known as ambulatory phlebectomy, are permanent. However, depending on the cause of your superficial varicose veins, you may need a follow-up treatment. If the reason you were developing varicose veins in the first place is not treated, there is nothing stopping other veins from bulging and twisting.

Other FAQ About Varicose Vein Treatment

Are Varicose Veins Dangerous?

Varicose veins have the potential to be dangerous. Because the blood in varicose veins pools, it can clot. This painful condition is known as superficial phlebitis and is not necessarily dangerous. When a blood clot forms outside the vein or you develop deep vein thrombosis, the clot can break off from the vein.

When a blood clot separates from a vein, it can travel all the way through your circulatory system and become lodged in one of your lungs. Such a condition is known as a pulmonary embolism and is potentially fatal.

Will I Have to Pay Out of Pocket for This Treatment?

That depends on your health insurance provider. Because varicose veins pose a health risk and often have already caused medical problems, most health insurance providers will cover this treatment. At Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center in Memphis, TN, we have proudly partnered with Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, AETNA, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare.

Talk to your health insurance provider about your interest in this treatment. If they cover it, you may have to pay a small amount out-of-pocket if you have not yet met your deductible for the year. Otherwise, the entire treatment, including anesthesia, will be covered depending on your plan.

What Causes Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are caused by increased venous blood pressure. In healthy leg veins, blood travels towards the heart via one-way valves. When these valves weaken or become damaged, blood pools in the veins. Some of the most common causes of varicose veins are excessive alcohol consumption, nicotine consumption, obesity, pregnancy, and a sedentary lifestyle.

How Can I Mitigate My Risk of Developing Varicose Veins in the Future?

To mitigate your risk of developing varicose veins in the future, get your overall health in check. If you are overweight or obese, reach a healthy weight. To manage your blood pressure, do not consume nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, or sodium in excess. If you are pregnant, wear prescription-strength compression stockings and keep your legs elevated while you rest.

What Other Treatment Options Do I Have?

There are several other treatment options for varicose veins. Another one of our most popular varicose vein treatment methods is VenaSeal therapy. VenaSeal is a revolutionary form of endovenous ablation that is unlike any other method of endovenous ablation on the market.

Rather than sealing a diseased vein with heat or radiofrequency energy, the diseased vein is healed with a medical adhesive. You are a good candidate for this treatment if you are looking for an alternative to closing veins with heat or energy therapy and have realistic expectations about the treatment and outcome.

What Can I Expect From VenaSeal Therapy?

VenaSeal therapy treatments are performed on an outpatient basis in our state-of-the-art office. Guided by ultrasound technology, we place a catheter into the damaged vein. Once the catheter is in place, we use a proprietary medical adhesive to seal and close the vein.

A bit of pressure is applied to the leg during the treatment. However, because it does not involve heat or energy, there is no pain or discomfort. Treatment is very short and you are free to return to your daily routine immediately after treatment. While the closure of the disordered vein is immediate, the results of your treatment will become more apparent over time.

Is Endovenous Laser Treatment Right for Me?

Endovenous laser treatment for varicose veins, also known as ELT, is an ultrasound-guided treatment method using laser energy. During this treatment, an optical fiber is inserted into the disordered vein and infrared laser light delivers light energy inside the vein. As the vein contracts, the optical fiber is slowly withdrawn.

This incredibly quick treatment may be right for you if you are at risk of complications from vein disease, you suffer from physical symptoms of varicose veins and you’re seeking a non-surgical, highly effective alternative to varicose vein treatment.

What Can I Expect Before ELT?

Before ELT, we will examine your condition and discuss your personal preference to create a tailored treatment plan for your unique case. We are more than happy to answer any and all questions you have about treatment and insurance benefits. If the extent of your vein disease is significant, we will map your veins with ultrasound technology.

This will give us a comprehensive venous flow map that helps us see details not visible from the surface of your skin. This makes the treatment much safer and more effective and efficient. It may also be used to diagnose the cause of your varicose veins, such as other diseased veins deeper within the region.

What Can I Expect After ELT?

After ELT, you are immediately able to return to most of your daily routine. However, you should avoid high-impact activities and wear compression garments for two weeks after treatment. While the treated veins will not open up and become varicose again, currently healthy veins may become varicose in the future.

If you are concerned with developing new varicose veins in the future, we strongly recommend coming in for a regular follow-up appointment to assess your veins and identify potential problems before they become an issue.

Discover How to Improve Your Health and Aesthetics Today

Are you sick and tired of hiding your legs due to gnarly varicose veins? Do you wish you had the self-confidence of your friends and family members? With the help of microphlebectomy, you can. To learn more about this revolutionary treatment, please contact us today at Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center in Memphis, TN to schedule your initial consultation.

At Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center in Memphis, TN, we believe strongly that each of our clients deserves to live a happy, healthy life. That is why we are proud to offer the safest, most effective diagnostic methods to identify illnesses and help you treat them. Today, we answer some of our most commonly asked questions about a vascular ultrasound.

What Can I Expect From a Vascular Ultrasound?

Before your vascular ultrasound, we will ask you to change into a gown and lie down on the examination table. Your specially trained ultrasound tech will ensure your comfort and then conduct your examination. To ensure the ultrasound equipment maintains good contact with your skin, a gel is applied. Then the transducer, which is a small handheld device, is applied to the area.

High-frequency sound waves transmit through your body during a vascular ultrasound. The transducer aggregates data from the sound waves that bounce back. The ultrasound device translates this data into images that appear on a screen in the room. Once your ultrasound technician has collected all the images she needs, she will send them to a radiologist to interpret them and create a full report.

How Long Will the Exam Take?

Because there is no need for anesthesia, you will not have to spend too long in our office. Depending on what we are looking for and where we are looking, your exam will only take between 30 and 45 minutes. Once we have all the images we need, we will remove the ultrasound gel and you are free to get dressed and enjoy the rest of your day.

What Can I Expect From the Results?

There are many reasons why this examination may be performed. For instance, it may be used to detect aneurysms, blockages or blood clots in deep veins. It may be performed to assess how successful a prior procedure was or whether a particular blood vessel is a good candidate for grafting.

If you have heart disease, your physician may request this examination to see the extent of plaque buildup. This imaging test also allows radiologists to monitor blood flow to internal tissues and organs. Finally, it may be used to determine the location and extent of varicose veins and identify candidacy for angioplasty.

What Side Effects Can I Expect?

Ultrasounds have been used safely and effectively for 64 years. In all this time, there have been no reports of harmful side effects from the examination. More importantly, because it is non-invasive, there is no self-care afterward. You may take all your regular medications and drink and eat as normal.

What Preparation Requirements Can I Expect?

During your initial consultation, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of everything you need to do in preparation for your vascular imaging test. The preparation required depends on the area of your body being tested and the goal of the examination.

For aortic, renal artery stenosis or iliac vena cava vascular imaging test, you should not eat or drink for six hours beforehand. You may take a sip of water with medication if absolutely necessary.

Abdominal Vascular Imaging Preparation

Preparation vascular imaging tests are used to test the kidneys, pancreas, liver, spleen, gallbladder, abdominal aorta or biliary system. This exam takes only half an hour, but the preparation requirements are a little more rigid. Adults should not eat or drink for eight hours prior to the exam.

Children should skip a meal or avoid eating and drinking during the four hours leading up to the examination. Diabetics should take insulin as normal. However, any other medication should only be taken with a sip of water if absolutely necessary.

Should I Consider a Vascular Imaging Test?

During your initial consultation, we will help you determine if this imaging test will be beneficial for you. Because it can be used to capture images virtually anywhere, there is an excellent chance this imaging test can help you. Here are some cases when we recommend this type of test:

You May Have Deep Vein Thrombosis

If you have been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or you think you may suffer from deep vein thrombosis, you can benefit from a vascular imaging test. This will tell us exactly where the blood clot is, how large it is and how severely it is narrowing your veins.

You Have Varicose Veins

If you suffer from varicose veins or spider veins, you can also benefit from this diagnostic imaging test. Primarily, it tells us exactly where the affected veins are, the extent of their effect, how many veins are affected and if there are any blood clots attached to the affected veins.

Moreover, ultrasound technology can be used to help us treat varicose veins. We proudly offer ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy to provide the safest, most comfortable, most effective varicose vein treatments. Among other things, this tells us if there are venous or arterial vascular problems.

You Have Spider Veins

Vascular imaging can also benefit you if you suffer from spider veins. But it doesn’t just help us identify and assess the affected veins. It also helps us inject treatment exactly where it will be the most effective.

You Have Kidney Problems

The problem with most imaging tests is they require special dyes that are damaging to the kidneys. If one of your kidneys is already damaged, you are not a good candidate for that type of imaging test. This is not the case with vascular imaging. Moreover, this type of imaging test can create accurate pictures of the kidneys to identify problems quickly.

You Suffer From Peripheral Arterial Disease

Particularly if you will receive an endovascular procedure to treat peripheral arterial disease, you should strongly consider diagnostic vascular imaging. Peripheral arterial disease is a medical condition that leads the arteries in your lower extremities to become so clogged or narrowed that circulation is impeded. Eventually, your leg muscles can’t receive enough oxygen to function.

Angioplasty and stenting are the most common endovascular procedure recommended to treat peripheral arterial disease. This procedure is also used to treat angina caused by blocked arteries to the heart. In the case of peripheral arterial disease affecting your legs, bypass may be recommended to prevent you from losing a foot or leg due to extreme arterial narrowing.

You Have Emboli

You may know that thrombi are clots of blood that are commonly associated with varicose veins. But did you know that emboli are just as dangerous as thrombi? These are clots that form inside blood vessels. They are most commonly comprised of clusters of bacteria, fat globules or air.

However, they may also be made up of foreign matter, such as shrapnel. Vascular imaging allows us to remove whatever type of clot you have safely and effectively. Removal of thrombi is particularly important because thrombi can break off, travel through your circulatory system, lodge into your lungs and prove fatal.

You Have Venous Inflammation

Ultrasound can also be used to treat internal venous inflammation. Venous inflammation may occur due to trauma, infection or an autoimmune disorder. Examples of trauma include chemical trauma, like from the injection of an irritant, or physical trauma, like from a fall. Autoimmune disorder examples include aortic arch syndrome, Raynaud’s disease and polyarteritis.

Is a Vascular Ultrasound the Same Thing As a Doppler Ultrasound?

A Doppler ultrasound is often performed concurrently with a vascular ultrasound memphis. They are not the same thing. A Doppler ultrasound is used to measure blood flow and create color images to indicate the speed and direction of blood flow through the vascular system. This examination is usually conducted on the veins and arteries of the neck, legs, arms and abdomen.

What Can I Expect Before a Doppler Ultrasound?

During your initial consultation, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of instructions so you can prepare for your Doppler ultrasound. Neither sedation nor fasting will be required. However, you should avoid smoking and drinking caffeine for two hours before the exam.

What Can I Expect During a Doppler Exam?

At the start of your exam, you must remove any jewelry or accessories that may interfere with the exam. However, you are free to wear dentures, spectacles or hearing aids. If your exam requires you to remove clothing, you will put on a gown. Then, you will lie down on the exam bed. Your ultrasound tech will apply the gel to the area she wants to hear a pulse from.

Your ultrasound tech will apply a blood pressure cuff in three different locations in the area. For instance, in the case of the legs, cuffs will be placed around the thigh, calf and ankle. The cuff on the thigh will be inflated first. The Doppler transducer placed just below the cuff will determine the blood pressure. Next, the calf cuff will be inflated. Blood pressure is measured. Last, the ankle cuff is inflated and blood pressure measured.

What Can I Expect After a Doppler Exam?

After a Doppler exam, you are free to go about your day. There is no special after-care or restrictions. Once the radiologist analyzes the images and makes a diagnosis, you will schedule a follow-up appointment. During this appointment, we will create a customized treatment plan to address whatever medical concerns you have.

How Can I Keep My Veins Healthy?

While vascular imaging can be used to help treat your veins, it is important to keep your veins healthy once they are healed. Here are some actionable steps you can take to protect your venous health:

Eat Right

The health of your vein walls depends largely on a healthy diet. Consume your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of nutrients by trying to eat fruits and vegetables with every meal. Consuming no more than three grams of sodium daily will also protect venous health by not impeding circulation.

Use Compression

If you have suffered from venous insufficiency in the past, you are at risk of developing it again in the future. An excellent preventative measure you can take is wearing a prescription compression garment. These help your body move blood from the extremities back to your heart.

Seek Treatment

Venous insufficiency rarely gets better on its own. The best thing you can do to keep your veins healthy is to seek treatment if you start to notice signs of a vein condition. The sooner you are diagnosed with vascular imaging and treated, the better off you will be.

Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today

For the best organ care you can receive in Memphis, we strongly urge you to call us today at Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center in Memphis, TN to schedule your initial consultation. With the help of vascular ultrasound equipment, we can quickly and accurately diagnose what ails you so we can get you on the best possible treatment plan for your needs.