Why Fall is the Best Time to Get Varicose and Spider Vein Treatment

As the weather gets cooler, you may be itching to cover your bulging varicose veins or visible spider veins with longer pants or stockings, concealing the problem until the sunshine returns in spring. You may be surprised to learn that fall is the ideal time to invest in your legs, as they remain largely unseen until the temperature rises. Read on to find out why fall is the best time for your varicose vein and spider vein treatments, so you can make the most of your summer!

Why Now? Why Fall?

No two pairs of legs are alike, so no two patients will receive exactly the same care plan when seeking vein treatment. Vein disease is a very common, progressive condition that varies from person to person based on a multitude of factors. Genetics, lifestyle choices, gender, age, and whether or not a patient has promptly seen a board-certified vein doctor to treat their unique symptoms all impact the severity of a person’s vein disease. Because of this, vein treatment options likewise vary. Patients report seeing and feeling meaningful relief after as little as one treatment, but full results usually require a series of treatments as part of an individual vein care plan. One patient may need two appointments, another may need several more to fully resolve the physical symptoms and visible signs of their venous insufficiency. Fortunately, treatments are quick and covered by most insurance.

Planning Your Treatment Timeline

Each vein treatment focuses on a specific area of one of your legs. The vein treatments we offer at our state-of-the-art clinics are minimally invasive and designed to keep you active and engaged in your typical day-to-day activities with little to no downtime. Gone are the days of outdated, invasive, and painful vein stripping! Today’s vein treatments are targeted and gentle! By focusing on a targeted area, your doctor can carefully treat unhealthy veins while enabling rapid healing and recovery between appointments. Some medicines used in vein treatments, such as Varithena and Asclera, are designed to be administered in small, localized doses for optimal results. Though full results may take time, incremental improvements are seen and felt after each individual treatment.

Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy, for example, offers noticeable improvement to both visible and invisible symptoms of vein disease after only one treatment, but full and permanent results will be achieved after one or more follow-up appointments with your vein doctor. The same goes for endovenous laser treatment, radiofrequency ablation, microphlebectomy/ambulatory phlebectomy, and other types of vein treatment. Veins begin to fade between and after treatments as the body heals, permanently reabsorbing the veins until they are no longer visible. At Metro Vein Centers, we treat one leg at a time to keep our patients as mobile and free of discomfort as possible, so if one leg requires a spider vein treatment and the other requires varicose vein removal, or if one leg requires more than one treatment, multiple sessions will be scheduled.

The Benefits of Fall Vein Treatment

Vein treatment is often marketed as a “one and done” medical or cosmetic option, leaving patients surprised should their doctor recommend multiple treatments. Starting your vein treatments in fall gives you and your vein doctor the longest runway to achieve maximum results and follow-up as necessary, well in time for the summer sun.

Most people ignore their symptoms until they want to show off their legs, and they are then disappointed that complete results take a little time. Starting in fall will have you leaping this hurdle without any more effort than it takes to get to your nearest vein clinic! The number of treatments and recommended treatments vary from patient to patient, but patients typically see results within one to four sessions of vein treatment.

Insurance Deductibles

Another major reason that fall is the best possible time to receive vein care relates to insurance plans. Most coverage plans renew at the beginning of the new year, rolling your deductible back to zero. If your deductible resets on January 1st, there’s a stronger chance that you’ve met your deductible by the time the leaves change color in autumn.

If a patient pursues vein treatment with their deductible met, they are more likely to receive full coverage benefits, meaning little-to-no additional fees. We are determined to help our patients access best-in-class treatment at the lowest possible cost to them. Nobody should have to live with the pain or shame of vein disease when there are multiple FDA-approved treatments available and covered by the vast majority of insurance providers. We coordinate coverage with over 200 insurance plans to ensure care for patients suffering from the painful, visible symptoms of vein disease. Call us this fall to schedule your free evaluation at a Metro Vein Centers vein clinic near you, and we will work directly with your insurance provider on your behalf.

Avoiding Sun Exposure After Treatment

Another vital factor to weigh when considering vein treatment is healing time and post-care protocols patients must follow to achieve the best results. Most vein treatments will require the use of compression stockings (sometimes referred to as “compression therapy”) for a limited amount of time following a procedure. These tight garments promote healthy blood circulation, but are less than ideal to wear in the warmer months, acting like heat magnets for your sensitive legs. In fall, however, heat is not a concern for New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Texas, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut residents. As colder months roll in and the temperature drops, compression socks can actually work to your benefit in multiple ways. A hidden layer of long stockings beneath the fabric of your pants or skirt will keep you warmer without any unflattering bulk. In fact, many members of our medical staff style their compression stockings with their autumn and winter wardrobe! Maybe there’s more to these aftercare products than just swelling reduction and improvement to circulation?! Put a little spring in your step this fall with the complimentary compression stockings you’ll receive after your first vein treatment at Metro Vein Centers.

Also with the changing seasons comes a reduction in UV exposure. Direct sun exposure can be damaging to just-treated legs. Cutera’s excel-V+ laser, a 100% non-invasive and very popular treatment for removing spider veins, requires patients to avoid direct sunlight for a while following treatment. If you’re already planning to wear longer pants, tights, or leggings to keep warm in the windy fall chill, sun exposure concerns take care of themselves. Your closet can actually collaborate with essential aftercare restrictions. Seeking vein treatment in the height of summer may interfere with your beach time, as you’ll need to protect your legs from harmful UV rays. Don’t wait until you’re trying on last year’s bathing suit to invest in next summer’s legs. Remember that full results take time, require multiple appointments with your vein doctor, and are negatively affected by exposure to the sun. So there’s no better time to embrace the nip in the air and let it keep you on top of protecting your post-treatment legs.

If you have any minor bruising following injection therapies, such as sclerotherapy or Varithena, or are wearing any small bandages after radiofrequency ablation or microphlebectomy, all will be concealed by full-coverage clothing options. If you are feeling insecure about how your legs look pre- or post-treatment, fall is the perfect time to treat yourself to some easily hidden vein care.

Safety Comes First

Waiting for spring or summer to tackle uncomfortable or painful symptoms, thinking you will be beach-ready after a single appointment is a mistake we see often in our vein clinics. It’s ill-advised to ignore any medical symptoms that arise at anytime of year, especially if they interrupt your sleep (such as with restless legs, a common varicose vein and chronic venous insufficiency side effect), negatively impact your mobility (like experiencing chronic pain when standing), or cause you any pain (like the burning sensations commonly caused by varicose veins). Summer is only one season, but your legs need and deserve proper care year-round. Vein disease is progressive, meaning it will only get worse if your symptoms are neglected. Ignoring your body’s warning signs or postponing medical care when dealing with chronic venous insufficiency can lead to worsening symptoms, further loss of mobility, new or worsening pain, and can even prove fatal, in the case of DVTs. The beach can wait, but your body will not — investing in your health when you first notice symptoms is the safest option.

Progressive diseases must be tackled head-on to prevent far more serious complications. Regardless of the weather, if you notice a telltale bulging, twisted vein, it’s time to call your vein doctor and discuss varicose vein treatments or removal. Don’t wait until you want to show off your legs to deal with a medical issue. Vein care is far more than cosmetic, which is why it is covered by insurance. Take your health into your own hands. Healthy legs don’t just look better, they feel better, too! Be beach-ready by summer with happier, healthier legs by scheduling a free evaluation at your nearest Metro Vein Centers clinic this fall.

Taking Action This Fall

Don’t delay when it comes to chronic vein disease. Don’t regret putting off the treatment you need and deserve. Let our vein and vascular specialists at Metro Vein Centers look at your unique symptoms. Call 866-831-9522 today. We’re here to help.