Did you know that a doctor can simply take a written exam in order to be allowed to perform vein treatments? While most physicians are extremely capable of providing excellent patient care, this is very different from the two years of dedicated fellowship training that the specialists at Alaska Vein Care have completed after residency.
Prior to the two years of heavily specialized fellowship, the Alaska Vein Care doctors have completed 4 years of medical school, and 5 years of profession-specific residency (this means they have seen thousands of vein cases just like yours.) These doctors spend 15 years in school under stringent oversight before practicing on their own.
Overview Of Our Interventional Radiologists Schooling:
In addition to training, many of the doctors at Alaska Vein Care are professors of Interventional Radiology and train other doctors in the very procedures that they perform here with us.
These highly trained specialists are not only able to effectively interpret medical imaging, but they perform surgical procedures that very few doctors are capable of. These minimally invasive procedures typically take place through a very small incision that reduces the amount of trauma placed on the patient's body. In the past, most surgeries carried higher risk and left the patient with big scars, and a long recovery period. Today, Interventional Radiology has pioneered many procedures that can have less than a 24 hour recovery period. The following list shows some of the real-world benefits that we can enjoy through interventional radiology:
Before having your varicose veins treated, we recommend asking about the specialist’s background. It’s important to consider their distinct training as it relates to vein treatment. Interventional Radiologists and Diagnostic Radiologists have a rigorous training period during their residency and fellowship years. Regardless of where you live, we typically advise caution when working with a specialist who does not have a dedicated background in treating cases similar to yours. It’s also a good idea to make sure that your vein specialist is not a medical provider that simply took a short training course to treat veins. This does not offer the same level of expertise as working directly under a surgeon in medical school for years.
Before you settle on a specialist to treat your varicose veins, or any other vein issue, make sure you feel comfortable with their ability to do the job with confidence. Ask about their fellowship training and their experience. A safe bet is to work with Interventional Radiologists or Diagnostic Radiologists, but always check reviews and the experience of others in your community.
If you have questions about vein treatment, please call us and we’ll try to guide you in the best direction for your situation.
Have questions about varicose veins? Call us any time. We'll be happy to help.