Varicose and spider veins are usually visible, but the severity of the underlying venous insufficiency can only be diagnosed with a Venous Ultrasound.
It is inappropriate to initiate any kind of treatment before your vascular surgeon rules in or rules out venous insufficiency and its severity, to formulate a complete treatment plan, targeted to the specific problem.
Be sure to let your vascular surgeon know if you have had any symptoms, such as those listed above (Symptoms of Venous Insufficiency). Depending on your medical history, your vascular surgeon will perform a thorough physical examination and order a Venous Ultrasound.
Venous Ultrasound (Duplex or Triplex) is simple, fast, non-invasive and accurate in the diagnosis of venous insufficiency of the legs.
The veins of the leg can be mapped and the malfunctioning valves can be identified.
Venous ultrasound will also be used during treatment with endovenous laser or radiofrequency ablation or during foam sclerotherapy.
Rarely your doctor may suggest a CT or MRI scan of your abdomen or pelvis if there is suspicion of obstruction of the central veins.