Venous thromboembolism affects as many as 900,000 people in the US each year. Of the people who have this condition, one-third to one-half experience long-term complications. Instead of living with a problem, why not consider visiting a vein specialist?

Before you schedule your first appointment, you want to make sure you choose the best doctor around.

Here are the seven questions you should ask a varicose vein specialist before your first appointment. By asking these questions, you can make sure you find the best treatment for varicose veins in your area.

Start your search with these tips!

1. How Long Have You Worked in the Field?

People learn through experience. As you study different specialists in the Florida area, make sure to ask each doctor how long they’ve worked as a vein specialist.

Some doctors work as general physicians before choosing a specialty. If you want to find the best treatment for varicose veins in the area, you want to find an experienced specialist. Speak with each doctor about how long they’ve worked in this medical track.

Did they train under another vein specialist in the area?

Determining how much hands-on experience they have in this medical field can give you peace of mind. You’ll know they’ve seen it all. If any unexpected problems pop up during your treatment, they’ll likely have the experience to offer a solution.

An inexperienced doctor, on the other hand, will likely need to consult someone else. This could cause delays in your treatment or lead to health issues.

By choosing someone with experience, you can feel reassured you’re in good hands.

2. What Certifications Do You Have?

Even with experience, a doctor might not have the proper training. In fact, many under qualified doctors join specialty fields. If you want the best varicose vein treatment in the area, look for a doctor with certifications.

While this isn’t a necessity, it can help you feel reassured that you’re choosing the best vein specialist around.

Try to look for a doctor who:

  • Meets Continuing Medical Education requirements
  • Is a member of the American College of Phlebotomy
  • Is Certified by the American College of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine
  • Completed the necessary requisite training
  • Achieved a high score on their certification exam

Ask about their training as well. Did they undergo supervised specialty training under another vein specialist? If not, you might want to continue your search.

3. What Are My Treatment Options?

During your initial consultation, your doctor might suggest a number of treatment options. These can include:

  • Sclerotherapy
  • Endovenous laser ablation
  • Radiofrequency ablation
  • Compression stockings

Make sure to discuss each option with your doctor. Which is the best treatment for your varicose veins? Does your treatment center offer multiple different options to suit each patient as an individual?

Of course, the treatment you need depends on your condition. For example, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) affects nearly 5% of all adults. Meanwhile, varicose veins affect as much as 30% of the population.

Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), on the other hand, leads to more than 2 million lost workdays annually. Meanwhile, deep vein thrombosis affects over 250,000 patients in the country.

What minimally-invasive treatment options do they have available? How long will the procedure take? Make sure to discuss your treatment options in-depth before deciding which is best for your situation.

4. How Often Do You Perform This Treatment?

Once your doctor determines the type of treatment you need, you want to make sure they have experience with that treatment option. Ask how often they’ve performed that type of treatment.

Doctors often complete a range of procedures. However, some doctors choose to specialize in a specific treatment. Choosing a doctor who has hands-on experience performing your treatment will have a greater chance of success with your procedure.

After all, practice makes perfect!

Ask how often they perform this treatment or procedure. How do they handle challenges that pop up? What problems have the experienced in the past, and how did they navigate those problems?

Choosing someone with hands-on experience with your type of treatment will help you trust their abilities. This vein specialist will likely feel confident as they complete your treatment, too. A doctor who lacks experience, however, might feel unsure about the treatment they offer, which could lead to mistakes.

5. What’s Your Success Rate With This Treatment?

Even if a doctor has completed a specific course of treatment numerous times, that doesn’t speak to their success. Ask the vein doctor about their success rate with the course of treatment you need.

If they’re not very successful with that type of treatment, ask if they have any alternative options they can suggest.

You want to choose a vein doctor who can offer the highest level of care. If they don’t sound confident or lack a strong track record, look for another doctor. They might know other veins specialists who are better qualified to perform the procedure you need.

6. What Side Effects Should I Expect?

Before undergoing a procedure or treatment, make sure you fully understand the side effects you’ll experience. Often, your side effects depend on your specific vein problem and the course of treatment. In a best-case situation, your pain and side effects should remain minimal.

In fact, advancements in technology have improved many vein treatments over the years. As a result, most treatments are easy to recover from. However, you’ll still want to review the potential side effects with your vein specialist.

That way, you can call your doctor if you experience any additional pain or unexpected side effects. If you do experience additional pain, it could indicate a problem.

7. Is the Treatment Covered by Insurance?

Before scheduling your procedure it’s important to make sure it suits your budget.

Most spider veins and varicose veins are the result of an underlying condition. Make sure the treatment is covered by your insurance plan. Speak with your doctor about the cost of the treatment before scheduling our appointment.

Don’t Search in Vain: 7 Questions to Ask the Best Vein Specialist in Florida

Don’t choose a vein specialist at random. Instead, discover the best treatment for varicose veins in Florida! With these seven questions, you’ll know you found the best vein specialists in the area.

Want to discuss your treatment options? Contact our vein specialists today to schedule a consultation.