Spider Veins

Spider veins usually bring no pain or discomfort. Visual symptoms include bluish lines beneath the skin’s surface, resembling spider webs or tree branches.

Since non-painful varicose veins can often appear as spider veins, our team will assess your veins through ultrasound mapping first, revealing the shape and size of the veins in your legs and allowing our physicians to accurately locate the unhealthy veins for treatment. If your ultrasound reveals no vein disease, then we’ll treat your spider veins cosmetically through cosmetic Sclerotherapy. If vein disease is present, EVLT is the standard of care to treat the underlying problem. We’ll send documentation to your insurance provider and request maximum coverage for your upcoming procedures. EVLT is generally covered by insurance, along with follow-up medical Sclerotherapy.

Sclerotherapy is performed in one of our Vein Centers. Patients remain awake, and no anesthetic is necessary – there is minimal discomfort during the procedure. You’ll be able to drive and resume regular activities after the treatment. Medical compression stockings will be applied post-procedure and must be worn for about a week. Patients are encouraged to walk immediately following the treatment to encourage blood flow. Side effects include hard, knotty areas, along with tenderness, bruising and swelling. You can immediately resume normal daily activities, but avoid sun exposure, heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, etc. for 3 days.

Please let us know if you are taking antibiotics 7-10 days before or after sclerotherapy, or if you take aspirin daily. Prior to the procedure, you will be required to purchase prescription-strength compression stockings (do this a week prior to ensure you have them in time!). Shower using antibacterial soap on the day of your procedure. Do not shave your legs the day of the treatment or apply lotion, cream or oils to your legs. Eat a light meal or drink juice one hour before the procedure. For your comfort, you may bring a pair of shorts to wear during the procedure. Please arrive 15 minutes early.

• SouthPark Vein Center
• Lake Norman Vein Center

While medical Sclerotherapy is generally covered by insurance as a follow-up treatment to EVLT, cosmetic Sclerotherapy is a cosmetic procedure that is not covered. Patients assume responsibility for out-of-pocket expenses.

Your insurance card must be presented at your appointment, and payment is expected at the time of service. Estimates for services are provided ahead of time, and patient financing options may be available. Charlotte Radiology will verify insurance coverage and benefits; however, specific questions regarding your policy and coverage should be directed to your insurance carrier, as insurance plans and benefits vary widely. Please check the list below to see if we accept your insurance, but also clarify with your provider regarding your specific plan.

Charlotte Radiology accepts the following insurance plans, but is not limited to:

Aetna
American PPO
Beech Street
Blue Cross Blue Shield (excluding Blue Value plan)
CCN
Choice Care Network /Humana
CIGNA Healthcare (excluding Healthspring)
Coventry Healthcare HMO and POS
First Carolina Care(First Plan)
First Health
Great West Healthcare
H.H.C. Group
MAMSI (All products)
Medcost
Medicaid (excluding SC Medicaid HMO and MCO plans)
Medical Claims Resource (MCR)
Medicare
Railroad
Humana
Partners

UHC Medicare Complete
ChoiceCare
National Care Network
New Healthcare Mgmt Group
Perdue Inc.
Preferred Medical Claim Solutions, LLC (PMCS)
Premier Health Systems
Primary Physician's Care (PPC)
Provider Select, Inc. (PSI)
QTC Medical Group
Rutherford Health Plan
SouthCare
State Employees Health Plan (SHP)
Three Rivers Provider Network (TRPN)
Tricare
Tyson Foods Provider Network (TPN)
United Healthcare (excluding Compass Plan)
United Healthcare Medicare
Wellpath
Western Regional PHO

This is the area we get the most questions on via phone, contact us page, etc. given this, we would prefer to over communicate billing info. Procedure specifics (eg cash pay like calcium scoring, breast ultrasound, etc) should be included in general billing and procedure specific.