Stockings or Surgery? Choose either, but you must choose one to prevent blood clots, open sores, darkening, and scarring of the skin in your legs. Stockings are a valid alternative to surgery, and they are a great way to keep veins from recurring after you have had procedures. Most insurance companies mandate that you complete a six or three month trial of wearing prescription grade compression stockings before they will authorize coverage for any surgeries including sclerotherapy. Thigh high or

Now, you know the difference between a normal vein and a varicose vein on physical examination. Look at your legs. Are your veins varicose? This patient’s ultrasound confirmed exactly what we see on physical exam. The twisting vein is incompetent and the vein valves do not close properly and blood in that vein flows backwards. The straight vein has perfectly normal valves that close and blood goes back up to the heart just like it supposed to. Met your deductible? Then there is no time like the