Vein issues can be one of the most troublesome and painful health issues that many people develop during their lifetime. While you can visit a general physician to get minor issues addressed, they’ll most likely refer you to a specialist who has studied how to treat venous issues if you’re suffering from a severe one. These specialists are commonly known as Phlebologists and they’re the domain experts in venous issues. There are some crucial differences between a vein specialist in Phoenix, a vascular surgeon, and a phlebologist that most people aren’t aware of.
It’s always good to know more about your doctors as you’re trusting them with your physical health. In this article, we’re going to take a look at the different issues that a phlebologist handles, when you should pay them a visit, and much more. So without any delay, let’s get to it and find out all you need to know about these vein doctors in detail.
1. When You Should See Them
Many people delay seeing a phlebologist or any other vein doctor because they assume that the issue will settle itself. However, this is a huge mistake that should be avoided at all costs. If you wait until your situation gets worse then you might develop chronic pain and even ulceration. You should try to see your doctor as soon as you notice any visible symptoms to be on the safe side. This is where your knowledge about vascular issues comes into play as you’ll be able to detect these issues earlier and consult a doctor before it gets worse. You shouldn’t only consult them when you have visible varicose veins but you should do so at any signs of discomfort, swelling, blood clots, and venous ulcers. Doing so will save you a lot of trouble and pain down the road.
2. What They Do
A phlebologist uses a combination of various techniques like physical examination, lab tests, reviewing your medical history, and more to identify and cure any vein issues you might be suffering from. People are often confused between vascular surgeons and phlebologists due to a poor understanding of vein doctors and what they do. A vascular surgeon is usually the last resort as they specialize in surgeries to resolve the issues identified by phlebologists. The most common reason why people see them is due to varicose veins and they help you decide your course of treatment by giving you expert medical advice. The vascular ultrasounds form an important part of their assessment and they utilize its results to decide how you should be treated further. If you’re in need of urgent surgery to correct your vein issues then they might even refer you to a vascular surgeon who’ll perform surgical procedures on you.
3. What You Should Expect When You See One
Most of us have negative thoughts when it comes to seeing doctors and when it comes to phlebologists, these fears take a larger form. Most people are familiar with varicose veins due to the frequency of their occurrence, but not all vascular issues are scary. The most likely course of action that these doctors take when you visit them is to diagnose you first. The various diagnosis methods like ultrasounds and physical examinations are rather painless and you shouldn’t be scared of them. If they detect any issue then they’ll try to treat it without any surgeries first. They might advise you to wear compression stockings or they might employ other techniques like sclerotherapy and EVLT (Endovenous Laser Ablation Therapy). Surgery is usually the last step, and that’s only advised if your issue isn’t treatable by other methods. Usually, you would be put under anesthesia before any surgical procedures are done, so you can rest assured that it’ll be relatively pain-free as well.
These are some of the things that you should know before you visit a phlebologist so that you have a better idea of what they do. Many people are afraid of seeing a doctor and they’re even more scared of the surgical procedures that they’ve heard so much of. However, surgeries aren’t all that common and most of the vein issues can be easily treated without needing one. Varicose veins are one of those issues that spread fear among the people who might not even be suffering from them. This is why it’s important to set aside any preconceived notions you might have about seeing a vein doctor, because if you don’t see them sooner then the issue might get out of hand. Other than that, they’re just normal doctors who’ve specialized in treating vascular issues and need not be feared.
