While an ultrasound is helpful to determine your vein anatomy, it is not always necessary if you have mostly spider veins. In my office, I perform the full range of vein procedures-- including endovenous ablation, microphlebectomy, and sclerotherapy. While I always do an ultrasound on patients I suspect with larger vein issues, I do not perform ultrasound on all my patients with just spider veins. A thorough clinical exam and history will tell me whether an ultrasound is necessary. For the most part, scattered spider veins (without any signs of larger vein disease) can be treated with sclerotherapy alone. On the other hand, if my patient has significant symptoms, prominent spider veins around the ankles, or have had previous unsuccessful treatment with sclerotherapy, I may recommend an ultrasound even if they only have spider veins on exam. Bottomline is you should seek an experienced vein specialist who can determine if an ultrasound is necessary. Good luck! -Dr Mann
otherwise how will the treating physician really know the true story behind your veins? duplex ultrasound is very simple to do and yields a great amount of information. i know it can be expensive depending on where you live but i use it on every patient who walks in the door for vein treatments and i am regularly treated to much more information than i would have otherwise seen from observation alone. Cheers
