Who Should I See to Treat Spider Veins?
Are you ready to get rid of those pesky little spider veins on your face or legs? Do you know who you should see to have them treated? There are specialists available who can help you bring back smoother, even-toned skin by eliminating those spidery reddish or purplish lines.
Some of the medical specialists who can treat spider veins are vascular surgeons, dermatologists, dermatologic surgeons, interventional radiologists, and phlebologists.
Looking at that list may not make it easy to pick which type of specialist you should see to treat your spider veins, so we’ll go over each type of specialist and what they can do to help you.
How Do You Pick a Specialist to Treat Your Spider Veins?
Some people may first schedule a visit with their primary care physician for some advice on how to manage their spider veins. Your doctor would be able to refer you to the specialist they think would be most appropriate for your case. But you don’t necessarily need to see your primary care doctor first unless it’s required by your health insurance company to secure coverage for visits and any related treatments.
If you’re not getting a referral to a specialist for spider vein treatment, you’ll need to do some homework to figure out which specialist is best for you. Let’s look more in-depth at each type of specialist that can treat spider veins.
Vascular Surgeons
As the name suggests, vascular surgeons specialize in treating vascular conditions which include spider veins.
Vascular surgeons deal with vascular system disorders and can treat conditions that involve the following:
- Veins
- Arteries
- Capillaries
- Lymphatic system
Education and Training Required for Vascular Surgeons
One of the differences between the specialists we’ll be covering is their education and training.
Here’s what requirements a vascular surgeon would need to fulfill to practice:
- General surgical certification
- Specialty training
- Vascular surgery certification (combining the two above into one program)
Methods Used by Vascular Surgeons
Vascular surgeons are specially trained to use non-invasive methods to help diagnose your condition.
Some of the techniques a vascular surgeon is trained to use for diagnosis are:
- Angiography
- CT scanning
- Duplex ultrasound
- MRI
Using one of the above methods, a vascular surgeon can determine what vascular condition you may be suffering from and how advanced it is. They can also tell you which treatment would be recommended for you and they’re trained to perform both minimally invasive treatments as well as more invasive surgeries to address your vein problems.
Vascular surgeons are trained to perform a range of vascular procedures including:
- Sclerotherapy
- Endovenous laser ablation
- Ambulatory phlebectomy
- Endoscopic vein surgery
- Vein stripping and ligation
After treatment, you can continue to see your vascular surgeon for regular appointments to manage your vascular condition as needed.
Dermatologists and Dermatologic Surgeons
You’re probably already know that dermatologists specialize in skin conditions. But did you know that can include spider veins?
Dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons can treat conditions that involve the following:
- Hair
- Skin
- Nails
- Veins
Education and Training Required for Dermatologist and Dermatologic Surgeons
One of the main differences between dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons is the amount of education and training.
Here’s what requirements a dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon would need to fulfill to practice:
- General medical training
- Specialty training
- Additional three years of training for dermatologic surgeon
Methods Used by Dermatologists and Dermatologic Surgeons
Dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons are specially trained to use a variety of methods to help treat your condition.
Some of the techniques a dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon are trained to use for treatment are:
- IPL (intense pulse light therapy)
- Sclerotherapy
- Endovenous laser dermablasion (varicose veins)
- Ambulatory microphlebectomy (varicose veins)
After a visual exam, your dermatology specialist can tell you which of the above treatments would be most fitting for your condition.
Interventional Radiologists
Interventional radiologists specialize in treating a large range of conditions involving the organs and tissue systems.
Interventional radiologists deal with most organs and tissues in the body and can treat conditions that involve the following:
- Metastatic disease from cancer
- Tumors
- Veins
- Bones
- Joints
Education and Training Required for Interventional Radiologists
One of the differences between the specialists we’ll be covering is their education and training.
Here’s what requirements an interventional radiologist would need to fulfill to practice:
- General medical training
- Specialty training
- Additional year of training in performing minimally invasive procedures using imaging
- Diagnostic and interventional surgery certification (combining the two above into one program)
Methods Used by Interventional Radiologists
Interventional radiologists are specially trained to use minimally invasive methods to help diagnose your condition.
Some of the techniques an interventional radiologist is trained to use for diagnosis are:
- X-rays
- MRI
- Ultrasound
- CT scans
Using one of the above methods, an interventional radiologist can diagnose your vein condition. They can also tell you which treatment would be recommended for you based on the severity of your spider veins. Interventional radiologists can use imaging techniques in conjunction with spider vein treatment which makes them highly effective at treating vascular conditions.
Interventional radiologists are trained to perform several vascular procedures including:
- Sclerotherapy
- Endovenous laser ablation (varicose veins)
After treatment, you’ll generally follow up with your primary care physician for regular appointments to manage your vascular condition as needed.
Phlebologists
Phlebologists are vein disorder specialists and have a background in another medical field, most often vascular, dermatology, and hematology.
Phlebologists deal with vascular system disorders and can treat conditions that involve the following:
- Veins
- Arteries
- Capillaries
Education and Training Required for Phlebologists
Phlebologists are doctors who have earned their phlebology certification.
Here’s what requirements a phlebologist would need to fulfill to practice:
- General medical training
- Specialty training in their field
- Venous disorder experience
- Passing a phlebology exam
Methods Used by Phlebologists
Phlebologists are specially trained to use imaging tools to diagnose and treat venous conditions.
Some of the techniques a phlebologist is trained to use for diagnosis are:
- Angiography
- Ultrasound
Using one of the above methods, a phlebologist can diagnose your vein condition. They can also tell you which treatment would be recommended for you.
Phlebologists are trained to perform several vascular procedures including:
- Sclerotherapy
- Endovenous laser ablation (varicose veins)
- Radiofrequency ablations (varicose veins)
- VenaSeal (varicose veins)
After treatment, you’ll generally follow up with your primary care physician for regular appointments to manage your vascular condition as needed.
Summary
Now you know what types of medical specialists can treat your spider veins. Knowing more about the different specialists available for treatment can help you to make the decision as to which one might be best for you. If you also suffer from varicose veins, you may wish to consult a specialist who can treat those along with your spider veins. The type of treatment you would prefer to use can also dictate which specialist would be right for you.
If you’re still unsure of how to choose the appropriate specialist for spider vein treatment, you may wish to ask your primary care physician for a recommendation. If you’re looking for assistance to find the right treatment for your spider veins, contact us today to book an appointment.
