If you’ve been on the planet long enough, it’s likely you’ve heard horror stories from women who had their varicose veins treated many years ago. However, while modern advances in medicine have made these horror stories a thing of the past, the stories have lived on to become myths that discourage people from seeking treatment. The following 4 myths are the likely cause. Read on to learn why they’re no longer true.

Myth #1: Varicose Vein Treatment Is Major Surgery

In the past, the only method doctors had for treating varicose veins was to perform vein stripping surgery. Stripping is the process of removing damaged veins. It was highly invasive, painful, and required long recovery times. However, modern medicine has made stripping a procedure from the past—it is rarely used by doctor’s today for treating venous disorders.

Procedures used to treat varicose veins today are non-invasive, more effective, and can be performed right in your doctor’s office without sedation. The recovery process is as simple as wearing compression stockings for a week after treatment, and most people go back to work and resume their normal activities immediately after the procedure is performed.

Myth #2: Varicose Veins Will Just Return After Treatment

Beyond being highly invasive, vein stripping was not always effective. Women would have their veins treated and suffer though weeks or months of painful recovery only to have problem veins return. Advances in technology have also made the problem of veins returning a thing of the past. Doctors use a special ultrasound to discover problem veins and the source of the issues to make sure all issues are resolved. This makes treatment more effective and issues less likely to return.

Myth #3: Varicose Veins Are Only Treated for Cosmetic Reasons

Some people believe that having their varicose veins treated is just an extravagance that’s undertaken for cosmetic reasons. However, varicose veins are not just cosmetic issues—if left untreated, they can lead to poor health. Varicose veins can cause swelling, fatigue, aching, and insomnia, and in severe cases can ulcer or bleed externally. For these reasons, varicose veins can impact your quality of life, and treatment is not at all cosmetic—it’s a new beginning that allows you to enjoy better overall health.

Myth #4: Insurance Doesn’t Cover Treatment

Because people think of varicose veins as cosmetic issues, they assume that insurance won’t cover treatment. And in some cases, they’re right—health insurance typically doesn’t cover minor vein damage like spider veins. However, in instances where varicose veins are impacting your overall health and quality of life, it’s possible that your health insurance will cover treatment. At the very least, insurance may cover compression stockings to minimize pain and swelling.

You can call your insurance company or visit your doctor to find out if your coverage will pay for treating your varicose veins. However, if you want to get an idea of how much the procedure may cost before you seek more information, you can use our treatment cost calculator to get an estimate—both with and without insurance coverage.