Myths Busted. Varicose Veins Get Fact-Checked

Some things about varicose veins are true. They do mostly occur in women, sometimes after pregnancy. And they are extremely common. Sixty percent of men and women in the U.S. over the age of 60 have them.

But there is a lot of information out there that is just not true. And we’re here to bust those myths wide open.

Myths: Busted

Once they disappear, they can still come back

If your varicose veins come back after they’ve been treated, that’s because the treatment wasn’t done properly in the first place. With the onset of Board Certification, modern treatment methods for varicose veins have become safer and more efficient. If a licensed and experienced physician treats varicose veins, they should only have a 5 percent return rate.

Treating them is merely for cosmetic reasons

If someone tells you they don’t actually hurt, they’re wrong. Many people who suffer from varicose veins will tell you that they’re extremely painful. And they should most certainly be treated by a professional sooner rather than later. These large, blue and purple, bumpy ropes hinder the efficient flow of blood from the heart to the rest of the body. You could get hypoxia or worse—nerve damage. Seeing a doctor is nothing to mess around with.

Insurance companies won’t treat them because it’s a cosmetic issue

But in this case, the so-called “cosmetic issue” is not just superficial. It goes beneath the surface, too. In fact, it dives in headfirst. Spider veins are typically considered “cosmetic” and are not covered by insurance, but the treatment of varicose veins are not a cosmetic issue and are almost always covered by insurance companies.