What Are My Options For Laser Vein Removal

What Are My Options For Laser Vein Removal

Varicose veins are present in 30 to 60 percent of adults. They are characterized by a dark red, blue, or purple coloration. The veins often appear twisted and raised. Initially, they may pose very little threat even though they look serious.

Under normal circumstances, the veins are not painful, but if you are at risk for developing blood clots or genetically predisposed to changes in your vascular structure; it may be wise to speak to a cardiologist about your options for laser vein removal.

Why ask about removal?

The sensation changes within the veins themselves may be assigned of deep vein thrombosis. A condition where clots form inside of the vein walls. It can cause vulnerable sections of vein to sting, burn, swell, and become painful or hard to the touch.

If left untreated, this condition can cause serious injury or death. The clots that form can use your vascular system as a pathway into your vital organs, which causes:

• heart attack
• stroke
• pulmonary embolism

It is important to know your options for laser vein removal so any interventional steps can be taken quickly to effectively address the problem.

What are my options?

There are three basic options for laser vein removal:

1. Endovenous Laser Treatment-a small laser fiber is inserted directly into the vein through a small incision. The heat from the fiber is delivered inside the vein to collapse it. There is minimal bleeding due to the cauterizing effect of the laser fiber. This is an outpatient procedure done under local anesthesia.
2. Radiofrequency Occlusion-similar to endovenous treatment; radiofrequency methodology uses a small catheter to deliver energy pulses directly into the vein wall. As a result, the vein seals shut and collapses. The procedure can be done in-office under local anesthesia.
3. Intense Pulsed Light-this method uses a light emitted by lasers to externally treat abnormal vein formations. There’s no need to use needles or inject any solutions into the vein, but some patients have reported discomfort such as blistering on the skin. Some discoloration is normal while the light works to collapse the vein. Unlike the other options listed; this treatment can take up to six weeks to work.

Surgical options are also available, but they are more invasive in nature. Get evaluated by a specialist and ask about insurance coverage before making your final decision.

In most cases, insurance covers deep vein removal procedures, including options for laser vein removal because it is viewed as a medical necessity, not a cosmetic or elective choice.

Consult a specialist.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site.  Call us at (212) 367-8000.

What Are The Benefits Of Laser Vein Removal

What Are The Benefits Of Laser Vein Removal

Many patients have asked about the benefits of laser vein removal. There is some concern that the procedure may be harmful or unhealthy. These concerns are unfounded. Every procedure has risks, but laser vein removal is a minimally invasive way to treat a condition before it becomes problematic.

A Progressive Problem

Varicose veins usually start out unsightly, but painless. They can be a result of anything that the stress on your skin or circulatory system.

This includes:

• Pregnancy
• Weight gain
• Hormonal changes
• Edema
• Hereditary conditions

These and other stressors can cause your veins to become enlarged, raised, and darkly colored.

As time goes on, it’s not uncommon for patients with varicose veins to start having circulatory problems, discomfort, and heaviness in the extremities. Changes to your vascular system, such as varicose veins can be the source of these symptoms. Laser vein removal is a relatively quick and painless way to relieve the symptoms.

Either a laser fiber or a small radio frequency catheter is inserted directly into the vein. This is called laser ablation. When the heat from the laser is applied directly to the vein wall, it shrinks, seals off, and collapses the vein.

Contrary to what many people believe, collapsing and unhealthy vein can actually improve circulation.

Restoring Healthy Blood Flow to the Body

Varicose veins are at an increased risk of clotting and also increase the possibility of developing stasis ulcers. Once they become painful, it is time to discuss treatment solutions with a specialist.

Insurance companies generally cover laser vein removal if it is for the negative symptoms associated with varicose veins, and not the cosmetic or elective treatment of spider veins. However, they may stipulate that you try conservative treatments like medication and compression stockings first.

Assuming that those treatments fail; laser vein removal can relieve the painful symptoms, improve bodily circulation, and greatly reduce the risk of developing other complications. All of this can be done in a quick and relatively efficient manner that doesn’t involve truncating, stripping, or surgically removing parts of the vein.

Once the vein is sealed off and they can no longer carry blood flow, your body naturally redistributes that blood flow into other veins in the surrounding area. That’s what makes this treatment a solution for deep vein thrombosis and persistent circulatory problems.

Of course, patients should always talk to a specialist before undergoing a procedure like this. The specialist will review the benefits and risks associated with laser vein removal and make sure that you’re fully prepared.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site.  Call us at (212) 367-8000.

What Does Laser Vein Removal Cost

What Does Laser Vein Removal Cost

There are several reasons a patient would look into laser vein removal cost. It is possible to get prolonged relief from the pain and discomfort of varicose veins using compression stockings and pain medication, but eventually removal may be the only effective means of full relief.

Is this is the case, once you know a few things about your procedural options, it will be easier to make the right decision for your individual case. This article will offer some insight into how the procedure is priced out.

Several Options, but the Price May Vary

Laser vein removal cost ranges between $150 and $1,000. The difference in price depends on the type of laser removal you choose and how complex the procedure is.

Some of the methods may need to be repeated multiple times over 6 to 8 weeks before the final results are visible; this affects the overall price of getting the procedure done. There are also other factors that can affect the price.

Including:

• The number of veins being treated
• The size of the veins
• Whether multiple areas are being treated
• The experience level of the specialist
• How long the procedure takes

Laser vein removal is often preferred to other injectable or surgical methods because it can be done quickly, often within 30 minutes.

It is more expensive than the injectable option; starting at $400 per session. Most likely, multiple sessions will be needed and you can’t count on your vein treatment fitting into the 30 minute window. The number of sessions and length of the sessions varies.

More about Insurance Coverage

It is wise to expect that the bill for the entire treatment will start in the $2,500.00 range. Insurance will usually cover the laser vein removal cost based on a couple of conditions:

1. You have tried more conservative deep vein treatments like medication and compression stockings first. You can show evidence that these methods didn’t work sufficiently and surgery is the best option in your case.
2. The procedure you’ve chosen is for a matter of medical necessity, not a cosmetic or elective issue. The presence of varicose veins poses a threat to your health and circulation.

There are internal laser treatments that are delivered directly into the vein wall through a small incision, and there are external laser treatments, which use the heat emitted from the laser to collapse and break up the vein.

All methods have been deemed safe for use and they can restore healthy circulation to the body. Consultations are available.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site.  Call us at (212) 367-8000.

What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of An Atrial Fibrillation

What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of An Atrial Fibrillation

Patients often ask how they can get rid of an atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation (or a fib) is an abnormal rhythm within the heart. It can cause:

Palpitations

Profuse sweating

Shortness of breath

If left untreated for a long period of time, this condition can raise your risk of heart-related complications and stroke.

The best way to get rid of an atrial fibrillation is to seek treatment from a cardiologist. The question then becomes: what treatment is best?

Two Approaches to Treatment

Cardiologists have several different approaches to treating cardiac arrhythmia, but these offshoots usually come from one of two main methods.

Method #1: Rhythm-control-ultimately, the goal is to get your heart back into a normal rhythm and keep it there. It sounds deceptively simple, but for someone with a fib, it can be a challenge. This approach is primarily therapy and lifestyle based.

A heart specialist will look at triggers of a fib in your daily life, such as:

• Stress
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Anxiety
• Diet
• Smoking

Once those factors have been evaluated, your specialist will help you adjust the factors in your life that could be responsible for a fib. Sometimes learning skills like stress management and a few nutritional guidelines is all it takes to get rid of atrial fibrillation.

The problem with the first approach is that it may set an unrealistic or unachievable goal for certain patients suffering from arrhythmia. If this is the case, they may benefit more from a secondary approach.

More than a Lifestyle Modification

Simple changes may work for some a fib patients, but for others it’s more about getting the symptoms of the condition under control as quickly as possible to reduce the dangerous secondary health risks that can develop.

Method #2: Rate-control – for patients suffering from prolonged a fib, there needs to be an alternative approach to therapy and lifestyle changes. It’s usually more effective to allow the symptoms to persist until they can be safely reduced and eliminated.

Using this approach you slowly return the heart to a normal rate while addressing risk factors. It’s not uncommon for the second method to be supported by medications like blood thinners and anticoagulants. These medicinal boosts reduce your risk of stroke.

Which treatment is the right treatment to get rid of atrial fibrillation? Some patients have arrhythmia caused by external environmental influences, while others have secondary conditions like heart failure or CAD that contribute to their rhythm problems.

A cardiovascular evaluation will determine the correct approach.

& Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site.   Call us at (212) 367-8000.

Where Do I Find The Best Heart Attack Treatment

Where Do I Find The Best Heart Attack Treatment

The answer to the question of where to find the best heart attack treatment begins with your very own medicine cabinet.

A heart attack is a difficult occurrence to predict. The biggest reason for this is that the blood flow to your heart can be restricted or partially blocked without showing any outward signs or symptoms. It’s only when the blockage reaches 90 to 100 percent that you began to have physical responses. You have to act quickly to preserve your cardiac function and save your life.

This article will focus on a few key steps you can take to increase your chances of survival and access the best heart attack treatment available.

The Countdown

Patients don’t often realize how small the window to access heart attack treatment actually is. In fact, they tend to avoid the information until it’s absolutely necessary to know. Don’t avoid this information. The knowledge can save your life, but you have to have it ahead of time.

Cardiologists estimate that from the time an infarction begins they have 90 minutes to unblock the heart and resort of the blood flow before too much heart muscle has died for your heart to function. As scary as that is, there are things you can do to keep time on your side.

1.    The moment you start having chest pains chew an uncoated aspirin. Aspirin is a blood thinner an anticoagulant. It will stop blood clots from forming (also beneficial during a stroke).

2.    Immediately tell a friend or loved one that you think you’re having a heart attack. Ask them to call 911 and inform the operator that it’s a possible heart attack. That information will be relayed to the paramedics who will in turn relay it to the hospital while you are en route. That means, by the time the ambulance pulls into the hospital, the staff will be fully prepared for heart attack treatment.

3.    They will move as quickly as possible to unblock the heart and restore healthy blood flow. Some treatment centers and hospitals can unblock a heart in as little as 50 minutes, but the average is 90.

4.    During your recovery, find out about the best local cardiac rehab program available. When you are released from the hospital, enroll in that program. You are not out of the woods just because you survived one heart attack. Without rehab, you are 4 to 6 times more likely to have second one within six months.

This is how to get the best heart attack treatment possible.

 Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site.  Call us at (212) 367-8000.

Is A Cardiologist Visit Without Insurance Very Expensive

Is A Cardiologist Visit Without Insurance Very Expensive

Insurance questions come up all the time when patients confront the realities of seeing heart specialist, but what about facing the reality of a cardiologist visit without insurance?

Many Americans are unemployed and uninsured, or simply cannot afford health insurance. It’s a gamble more and more patients are having to take. What happens when you lose? A cardiologist visit without insurance can be very expensive. However, it depends on the type of treatment you need.

This article will give you some guidelines, so you know the kind of out-of-pocket expenses you may need cover.

Phase One: The Evaluation

Generally, you don’t start out seeing a cardiologist for invasive testing right away. Your journey starts at a walk-in or urgent care clinic.

Primary care physician or NP appointments run between $50 and $150. This doesn’t include the cost of any lab work or additional testing that might be necessary. If after being evaluated by a PCP you are referred to a cardiologist, there will be different fees for the different services performed by the specialist.

A cardiologist visit without insurance starts in the $200 to $400 range.

This covers:

• The office visit
• Physical exam
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)

It covers the basics of what a heart specialist looks for. Beyond that, you are entering phase two.

Phase Two: Additional Testing

The final amount you pay out-of-pocket depends on how much more information your cardiologist may need to diagnose and treat your heart problem.

Assuming that the EKG either didn’t show enough or indicated that there was a more serious problem; it’s likely you’re looking at covering the cost of more tests. The list could include an echocardiogram to check your heart function and the stress test to check for blocked arteries.

An echocardiogram cost about $300 and the stress test can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000. These costs do not include any prescribed medications, repeat visits, or hospital stays.

If your PCP believes that your symptoms warrant a cardiologist visit without insurance, ask for referrals to government and university hospitals; they are usually cheaper than private clinics.

You also have the option of working out a payment plan with private clinics.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site. & Call us at (212) 367-8000.

What Are My Options For Getting My Heart Checked

What Are My Options For Getting My Heart Checked

What Happens After I Experience Heart Failure

What Happens After I Experience Heart Failure

In a healthy heart, there is a life-sustaining balance between the heart and lungs. The oxygen that you breathe in through your lungs is used to oxygenate your body

Are Most Heart Failures Treatable

Are Most Heart Failures Treatable

The first thing to understand about heart failure is the difference between the words “curable

Who Are The Best Arrhythmias Doctors In New York

Who Are The Best Arrhythmias Doctors In New York

When you have a heart problem, what kind of doctor do you see? Most people would automatically answer with a cardiologist, of course. What a lot of patients fail to realize until they have a heart problem is the type of cardiologist you see depends on the origin of your heart condition.

The Arrhythmia Doctor is in

An arrhythmia is a relatively common heart condition, but the causes behind the condition are what draw a cardiologist to become an arrhythmias doctor.

A simpler explanation of cardiac arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. The irregularity comes from a malfunction in the electrical impulses of your heart. The palpitations and other symptoms associated with the condition can come from something as simple as stress or as complicated as an incorrect electrical pathway in the heart muscle itself.

The diagnostic mystery requires the expertise of an arrhythmias doctor in order to solve the problem. Your arrhythmia specialist will start with a list of obvious suspects first.

From Usual Suspects to the Unusual Ones

You will be asked some basic questions about the type of symptoms you’re experiencing and how long those symptoms have been present.

It’s not abnormal for patients to initially ignore the signs and symptoms of an irregular heartbeat. Your heart rate is designed to increase under stress, physical exertion, and the release of adrenaline into the body. However, these rate increases should be of a short duration.

If you feel heart flutters in combination with decreased exercise capacity, fatigue, or chest pains; it is time to get referred to in arrhythmias doctor.

Simple lifestyle changes might be enough to curb the underlying stressors that are causing the condition. Stress management is particularly valuable if you’re struggling with heart palpitations. In addition, you may be advised to reduce or eliminate the following substances:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Nicotine
• Chocolate

These are common stimulants that can contribute to heart palpitations and other symptoms that commonly present with arrhythmias.

The more serious possibility is that your arrhythmia is caused by atrial fibrillation, or more rarely, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).

There is a chance that atrial fibrillation can be corrected through chemical cardioversion. In other words, using a combination of certain heart medicines to chemically reset the heart