When Should You Get Treated for Varicose or Spider Veins?
Autumn is considered the best time to get vein treatments. This is because with the several treatments needed to get rid of these veins, you’ll have plenty of time to have your legs heal between now and next summer.
Autumn is the Best Season for Vein Treatments
There's likely a few items on your to-do list every fall as the temperatures get cooler and the days get shorter. You'll want to rake your leaves, inspect your home for any drafty spots and make sure your furnace is in good working order in advance of the cold winter. Another thing to put on your to-do list is to seek treatment for your varicose veins. With the temperatures getting cooler, the fall months make for an ideal time to more comfortably cover treated areas with pants and other cold weather clothing. In this post, we'll take a closer look at why the fall months are the ideal time to have those spider veins treated.
What Happens After a Vein Procedure?
As we mentioned above, fall is a great time to treat varicose veins because it's a convenient time to "cover up." Following a vein procedure, there's likely to be bruising - and wearing compression stockings helps alleviate this bruising and properly protect the treated area from both the sun and from any other elements during the recovery period. Being that most varicose veins are treated on the legs, you can more conveniently covered these bruised areas with compression stockings by wearing colder weather clothing that's more appropriate for the fall months. This allows you to stay comfortable, properly protect treated areas and better recover from treatment.
How Vein Doctors Diagnose Veins
Varicose veins can often be self-diagnosed by just observing any abnormal vein formation, which usually occurs in the lower body. While these spider veins can be unsightly, they can also prove uncomfortable and be a sign of a larger underlying vein issue. However, the only way to properly treat a varicose vein is to seek professional medical attention. When you seek a consultation with a vein specialist, they'll carefully examine the impacted area of the body and perhaps even conduct an ultrasound to better understand the full extent of the situation. From here, a treatment plan is suggested.
How To Best Prepare for a Vein Procedure
Today's varicose vein procedures are minimally invasive and more convenient than ever for patients. Unlike treatment methods used in the past, today's laser ablation, foam injection and other treatments are outpatient services, and most patients are able to resume normal activities the following day. To prepare for treatment, you'll be asked to wear loose fitting clothing, refrain from taking any anti-inflammatory medication prior to the procedure and shave the areas of the legs receiving treatment to make for easier access for the doctor. You should also bathe prior to the procedure, as you won't be able to shower for about a day following the treatment.
Our Vein Clinic in Anchorage, AK
For more information and to view our varicose vein treatment options, contact our practice today. We also invite you to meet Dr. Ives in our Anchorage, Alaska, practice, who has been exclusively treating vein disease since 2007. For more information on our practice, Dr. Ives, and why fall is such a great time to seek vein treatment, contact us today.