What is the Difference Between Varicose Veins and Spider Veins?

Varicose veins and spider veins are both visible surface symptoms of venous insufficiency, the inability of diseased leg veins to push blood back up towards the heart. The surface veins become distended and prominent because blood that should normally circulate through the body is instead accumulating in the legs.

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are a medical condition, larger and more serious manifestations of venous reflux disease. The swollen vessels can protrude several millimeters beyond the skin surface and can become knotted and tangled. Varicose veins are frequently accompanied by clinical symptoms such as pain, throbbing, burning sensations, muscle cramps and fatigue, and can progress to leg ulcers, blood clots and other health-endangering conditions.

Spider Veins

Spider veins are thin surface veins that turn blue or red under the strain of the venous reflux and affect the appearance of the location where they occur. Spider veins are considered a cosmetic problem, rarely causing physical discomfort, and can be addressed with a variety of non-invasive, techniques.

What is the difference between cosmetic surgery and medical necessity?

Physicians have been debating the treatment of varicose veins for well over two thousand years – the legendary Hippocrates himself wrote about them in the fifth century BC – but today both medical necessity and health insurance are major factors in determining the course of treatment for the condition.

When varicose or spider veins are treated for the exclusive purpose of improving the patient’s appearance, it is considered cosmetic surgery and will not be covered by the patient’s health insurance or Medicare. Virtually all procedures addressing spider veins will fall into this category.

If, however, the varicose veins are causing symptoms like pain, swelling, fatigue or other symptoms that affect the patient’s ability to work or function normally, or if the underlying venous reflux disease is producing complications like skin ulcers or blood clots, a physician can determine that treatment is required to restore or preserve the patient’s health and well-being, and is therefore considered a medical necessity. Under those circumstances, most health insurance and Medicare plans will cover the procedure.

All VNUS Closure^® procedures are performed as medical necessities – as diagnosed by a trained vein specialist – and are covered to the extent of the patient’s health coverage policy. The Closure procedure is not designed to address spider veins and is rarely performed for primarily cosmetic reasons. However, the successful treatment of venous reflux with the Closure procedure frequently produces significant cosmetic improvements.