Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs we hear from patients…about Varicose & Spider Vein Treatments, Dr. Golan & North Shore Vascular – and our answers

Please contact us, though, if you have additional questions

Dr. John Golan & North Shore Vascular

Q. Why would I choose Dr. Golan and North Shore Vascular for my vein treatment?

Q. Do you provide second opinions if I need one?

Q. Where are you located?

Q. Does Dr. Golan perform arterial vascular surgery procedures as well as vein procedures?

Treatment for Varicose Veins

Q. What exactly are varicose veins compared to spider veins?

Q. Can I have both varicose veins and spider veins?

Q. Does Dr. Golan perform vein procedures on men as well as women?

Q. How does Dr. Golan treat varicose veins?

Q. How does endovenous laser therapy work?

Q. Is the laser vein procedure painful?

Q. What will my recovery time be?

Q. Do you use any herbal supplements as part of your vein treatments?

Q. Will there be scars on my legs after my laser surgery?

Q. How long until my legs will look great again?

Q. Will my insurance cover laser varicose vein treatment?

Treatment for Spider Veins

Q. How do you treat spider veins versus varicose veins?

Q. Does the sclerotherapy procedure hurt?

Q. Will my spider veins disappear right away?

Q. Will my spider veins come back?

Q. Will my insurance cover sclerotherapy for spider veins?

 

Dr. John Golan & North Shore Vascular

Q. Why would I choose Dr. Golan and North Shore Vascular for my vein treatment?
A. Dr. Golan is Board Certified in Vascular Surgery and has 26 years of vascular surgery experience. He was the first physician in the Chicago area to perform endovenous laser treatments (EVLT) for the treatment of varicose veins and has supervised or performed over 2500 laser vein procedures and 10,000 sclerotherapy procedures for the treatment of spider veins. Dr. Golan has been named one of Chicago’s “Top Docs” for over 15 years, including the January 2010 issue of Chicago Magazine which listed only 5 top vascular surgeons. He has a top notch staff to help you at every step of your vein treatment. There are many more reasons to get your veins treated by Dr. Golan, but also hear what our patients have to say about their experience at NSV.

Q. Do you provide second opinions if I need one?
A. Dr. Golan gives second opinions on a regular basis, and many of those people become patients of NSV. If you have visited another provider and are not 100% certain that it’s your best choice, you should definitely get a second opinion.

Q. Where are you located?
A. North Shore Vascular is conveniently located in Northfield, in the middle of Chicago’s North Shore suburbs. See a map and get directions from where you live or work.

Q. Does Dr. Golan perform arterial vascular surgery procedures as well as vein procedures?
A. Yes, Dr. Golan maintains an active arterial practice and is an attending physician Evanston Hospital, Highland Park Hospital and Glenbrook Hospital of NorthShore University HealthSystem – where he performs most arterial procedures on an inpatient basis.

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Treatment for Varicose Veins

Q. What exactly are varicose veins compared to spider veins?
A. Actually, they are very different vein conditions although people, understandably, sometimes get them confused. Varicose veins are enlarged, bulging, often twisted, purple or blue colored veins most commonly on legs or feet – and caused by poorly functioning valves. Typical symptoms often include “ropey” cord-like veins that are swollen above the surface of the skin, pain, heaviness or tiredness in legs, swelling of ankles or lower legs, skin discoloration and dryness around ankles. Spider veins are a less serious medical condition than varicose veins. Spider veins are tiny purple or red blood vessels located in the skin of the leg near the surface.  They appear as tiny branching lines that, at times, can resemble a spider’s web; hence the name. Please see several examples of varicose and spider veins in our Before & After Legs Gallery

Q. Can I have both varicose veins and spider veins?
A. Indeed, you may have both medical conditions at the same time, but spider veins are not varicose veins – and one does not lead to the other. Again, please see several examples of varicose and spider veins in our Before & After Legs Gallery.

Q. Does Dr. Golan perform vein procedures on men as well as women?
A. Yes, on a regular basis. While the vast majority of people suffering from vein conditions are women, many men also experience varicose vein and spider vein problems. Dr. Golan has performed vein treatments on thousands of women and men over his 26 year career as a vascular surgeon in the Chicago area.

Q. How does Dr. Golan treat varicose veins?
A. Most typically with a laser. Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT which is also called Endovenous Laser Ablation) is a highly effective, safe, and proven treatment for varicose veins. It is FDA approved, relatively pain-free, requires a short recovery time and causes minimal discomfort, bruising and swelling – and can be done in the office versus a hospital. In a small minority of cases Dr. Golan will treat varicose veins with other procedures: Microphlebectomy, Ligation & Stripping or Sclerotherapy (which is most typically used to treat spider veins).

Q. How does endovenous laser therapy work?
A. A laser fiber is inserted into the varicose vein through a tiny puncture in the skin.  The laser does not actually remove the affected vein but seals it, permanently closed – and prevents blood from pooling in it – which effectively eliminates it.

Q. Is the laser vein procedure painful?
A. The procedure itself is pain free.  Afterwards, patients may experience mild discomfort in the thigh of the affected leg which can last about a week. Typically, patients need only an anti-inflammatory which is prescribed to minimize the discomfort – with Tylenol – and no other medications. The post- procedure recovery is usually uneventful, with patients experiencing minimal discomfort, bruising or swelling.

Q. What will my recovery time be?
A. You can resume normal activity in 24 hours, but vigorous exercise should be avoided for 1-2 weeks.

Q. Do you use any herbal supplements as part of your vein treatments?
A. We offer Arnica Montana to patients as a homeopathic supplement.  In our experience, Arnica helps decrease bruising and swelling after the laser procedure.

Q. Will there be scars on my legs after my laser surgery?
A. No – the incisions are very small, no stitches are required, and the bleeding is minimal.

Q. How long until my legs will look great again?
A. Usually, after a laser vein procedure by Dr. Golan, your legs will look great once more – without the telltale varicose vein(s) – in just a couple weeks. But that timeframe can vary some depending on the severity of the original varicose veins.

Q. Will my insurance cover laser varicose vein treatment?
A. Usually, yes – if specific criteria are met.  Some insurance plans do require “conservative treatment” which consists of wearing compression stockings, elevating the legs and taking oral anti-inflammatory medication for a period of time. Then, if symptoms are not relieved, most insurance carriers will approve the procedure.  At North Shore Vascular, we do our very best to comply with the guidelines given by all insurance carriers.

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Treatment for Spider Veins

Q. How do you treat spider veins versus varicose veins?
A. With a treatment called Sclerotherapy which has been the accepted standard for many years. A liquid “sclerosing” agent is injected into the small varicose or spider vein.  It irritates the vein wall causing it to close.  At North Shore Vascular, we use Sotradecol®, the only FDA-approved drug for sclerotherapy.  We purchase Sotradecol® from the only approved manufacturer in the U.S. unlike some other facilities that purchase the product from compounding pharmacies.  At NSV, patient safety is never compromised.

Q. Does the HYPERLINK "http://www.idesigninc.net/nsv/treatments_spider_sclerotherapy.php" sclerotherapy procedure hurt?
A. Not really – some patients describe an itching sensation which lasts for a few minutes, but that’s usually it.

Q. Will my spider veins disappear right away?
A. No – the discoloration fades over time – with optimal results being seen in 3-6 months.

Q. Will my spider veins come back?
A. Treated spider veins will not return, but new ones can form at any time.

Q. Will my insurance cover sclerotherapy for spider veins?
A. When very specific, strict criteria are met, some insurance carriers may pay for sclerotherapy.  But in the vast majority of the cases, it is considered a cosmetic procedure…and therefore not a covered benefit in most health plans.

Please contact North Shore Vascular if you have any other questions or would like to schedule an appointment.