What Is the Cost of Varicose Vein Stripping Surgery?
There is not one set cost of varicose vein stripping surgery. There are several variables that determine your total price. For instance, some patients need to stay in the hospital for several days after the procedure, while others are released the same day. Some patients need general anesthesia, but others have spinal or local anesthesia. In addition, some patients have insurance policies that cover their procedure, while others don’t.
Our Harvard-trained vein doctors offer non-surgical alternatives at a fraction of the price of surgery, so book affordable vein removal at our California vein centers today! We accept all major insurance carriers and guarantee coverage before your procedure. Here are some cost variables to consider if you choose to pursue vein stripping surgery instead.
Cost Variables of Vein Stripping Surgery:
- Pre-procedural tests (lab work, MRIs, Ultrasounds)
- Doctor’s fees
- General anesthesia
- Hospital fees
- Post-procedural pain medicine and possibly antibiotics
- Compression stockings
- Wound care supplies
- Follow-up appointments
- Downtime from work
Does General Anesthesia Affect the Price of Vein Stripping?
One of the reasons vein stripping surgery is more expensive than minimally invasive vein treatments is that it often requires general anesthesia. Anesthesia is typically priced by the type of anesthetic and the amount of time it is used (as well as the city and facility it’s administered in). Average prices fall between $200 and $2,500 per procedure.
So, if your anesthesiologist charges $1,000 per hour, and your vein stripping surgery takes two hours, that’s an additional $2,000 on your bill. Does insurance cover anesthesia? Typically only in medically necessary procedures. So, if your procedure is deemed elective, you’ll be responsible for the anesthesia. This is one reason why non-surgical solutions for veins are more affordable. They never require general anesthesia.
Is Ambulatory Phlebectomy Cheaper Than Vein Stripping?
Ambulatory phlebectomy is a newer surgical procedure for stripping veins. It employs small punctures, rather than large incisions, and the patient remains awake for the procedure. In these surgeries, the patient is given local or spinal anesthetics, which are less expensive than general anesthesia. Ambulatory phlebectomy doesn’t typically require hospitalization or quite as much post-procedural care.
So, overall, ambulatory phlebectomy is potentially more affordable than traditional vein stripping surgery. One important caveat though– since it’s a newer procedure, it’s less likely to be covered by some insurance companies than traditional vein stripping. So, ask our CA vein doctors whether this is an affordable choice for you. There’s a good chance a minimally invasive procedure is the better solution.
Is Surgical Varicose Vein Removal the Only Option?
Surgery can be costly. Fortunately, it’s far from the only option for varicose vein removal. In fact, it’s no longer considered a first line of treatment. Most patients are better suited to less invasive measures like sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser therapy, vein adhesives, or mechanochemical ablation. These minimally invasive tactics are quicker, gentler, safer, and more affordable than surgery for the vast majority of people.
Is There a Less Expensive Way to Remove Varicose Veins?
Yes! There are several inexpensive ways to remove varicose veins. It starts with choosing the right doctor. When you choose board certified vein specialists, many of their procedures are covered by insurance, since they’re medically sound. Insurance plans are more likely to cover FDA-approved medical treatments for veins than treatments administered by an esthetician, dermatologist, or cosmetic surgeon. Next, choose non-surgical treatments for veins, since they eliminate several unnecessary costs. Here are the benefits of choosing non-surgical vein removal.
Cost Reductions of Non-Surgical Vein Treatment:
- Less pre-procedural testing
- No general anesthesia
- No spinal anesthesia
- No hospitalization
- No prescription pain medicines
- No wound care
- Fewer follow-up appointments
- No downtime from work
What Is the Most Affordable Varicose Vein Treatment in CA?
The most affordable varicose vein treatment in CA depends on your unique condition. For instance, sclerotherapy is routinely covered by insurance and inexpensive since it doesn’t use local anesthetics. However, your veins might not be amenable to a sclerosant, in which case that would be a waste of money. The cheapest vein treatment is the one that will work for you, so you don’t have to seek additional care. In general, the treatments that are the most time-tested and least invasive are the most affordable, including sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, and endovenous laser ablation.
Are There Any Vein Treatments Insurance Plans Will Cover?
Yes, insurance plans cover many vein treatments, including the minimally invasive ones we mentioned above. In some cases, insurance plans require proof that you need treatment, and they do this by asking you to try compression stockings or provide a letter from your doctor, for example. Our team is trained to help you acquire the coverage you need, and we do so before your procedure, so you always know how much treatment will cost.
Is Laser Treatment Covered by Insurance in California?
One important distinction is that there are several types of laser treatments for veins. Dermatologists, estheticians, and cosmetic surgeons often use pulsed-dye lasers at the surface of your skin to treat things like age spots and facial spider veins that result from sun damage or skin injuries. These are cosmetic, elective procedures that are rarely covered by insurance.
In contrast, our vein doctors use endovenous laser procedures that are inserted through the skin to deliver treatment directly to the vein’s walls. These are not cosmetic in nature; they are therapeutic in that they close off broken valves and defective veins that stem from vein disease. Our endovenous laser treatments are routinely covered by insurance, unlike the superficial laser treatments administered at clinics run by specialists who aren’t vein doctors.
Can I Just Wear Compression Stockings to Save Money?
Some patients wonder whether they can skip treatment costs altogether and just wear compression stockings. The answer is that compression stockings don’t work for everyone, in fact, they’re dangerous for some patients. In order to work, they must be correctly fitted by your vein doctor. Then, they might temporarily reduce symptoms like swelling and blood pooling in the vein. But they don’t actually remove the varicose vein.
Varicose veins often stem from an underlying disease called Chronic Venous Insufficiency. If you ignore it, your symptoms are likely to progress, and you’re also likely to develop additional varicose veins and spider veins. Treating veins early saves you the expense of treating advanced symptoms of vein disease down the road.
Is the Doctor’s Fee Worth It for Vein Treatment?
So, how much does it cost to get your veins stripped? The answer varies, but the better question is, do you actually need vein stripping surgery? When you choose a minimally invasive vein specialist, the doctor’s fee is 100% worth the outcome. These non-surgical methods are far less expensive than surgery and often covered completely by insurance. What’s more, you don’t need any downtime to recover from minimally invasive procedures, so you won’t lose income while you heal. Call our caring team today to plan your affordable path to healthy veins!