Frequently Asked Questions about Vein Treatments

Your initial consultation should take about 30-45 minutes. During your appointment, you'll meet one of our physicians (Dr. Fox, Dr. Hardee, Dr. Valenson or Dr. Carlson.)Then, the doctor will discuss your current symptoms and health history. At this point, we will know if you need a diagnostic ultrasound of your legs.

The ultrasound appointment takes about an hour. One of our registered vascular technologists (RVT)  performs the exam. Then, one of our doctors will discuss your results.

Yes, you will see Dr. Fox if your appointment is at the Houston office. You will see Dr. Hardee at the Katy office. And Dr. Valenson now accepts patients at our Webster office. Dr. Carlson is now at our Dallas office.

Please bring your insurance cards and your driver’s license. It's also helpful to bring a list of your current medications, previous records and tests (if applicable).

There are no major preparations for the ultrasound. We recommend drinking plenty of fluids the night before the appointment. There are no restrictions prior to your appointment. You can keep taking your prescribed medications. Also, you can eat and drink before the appointment.

We accept most major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid.

We'll be happy to to see if your insurance plan covers vein treatments.

Dr. Hardee has practiced radiology and interventional radiology in the Houston and Dallas area for 13 years. He graduated with honors from Louisiana State University and Baylor College of Medicine, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Then, he completed his internship and residency in radiology at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, and was elected chief resident. After proudly completing his nine years of service as a U.S. Navy officer, Dr. Hardee received fellowship training in vascular and interventional radiology at the Dotter Interventional Institute at Oregon Health Sciences University.

Dr. Fox earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch. After graduation, he relocated to Richmond, Virginia. There, Dr. Fox completed his internship, residency, and fellowship in vascular and interventional radiology at the prestigious Medical College of Virginia. Next, he  joined the faculty at the Medical College of Virginia as an assistant professor and director of resident and fellow education in the department of vascular and interventional radiology. During his tenure, Dr. Fox completed thousands of endovascular procedures, concentrating on advanced techniques for treating arterial disease, uterine fibroid embolization, and venous insufficiency. He also cared for patients at VCU Vein Care, and served as one of the co-founders of the Baird Vascular Institute.

Dr. Valenson graduated with Honors from the University of Houston, before going to Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. There Dr. Valenson was a proud volunteer, working with under-served communities, as well as engaging in cancer and orthopedic research. He then completed a surgical internship at Cook County Hospital and Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, before returning to Yale to complete residency training in diagnostic radiology. Dr. Valenson then returned to Chicago,  receiving advanced fellowship training in Interventional Radiology at Rush University Medical Center.

Dr. Carlson is deeply invested in the well-being of his patients, from the initial consultation through post-procedure care. He has proven his patient-first philosophy here in DFW during his decade-long tenure as a physician at the Dallas Veterans Administration Medical Center and beyond. His first concern is always the health and safety of the patient, with an emphasis on building a relationship over the course of treatment where his patients feel seen and valued. His medical career includes training at Loma Linda University Medical School, where he earned his M.D., University of California San Francisco – Fresno Campus, where he completed his internship in Internal Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he completed his training in Diagnostic Radiology and Baylor Medical Center, where he completed his fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology. He has worked in private practice as well as caring for Veterans. He spent many years training other physicians how to perform Interventional Radiology procedures during their residency at UT Southwestern while on their VA rotations.

Vascular interventional radiologists are board-certified physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments. They offer the most in-depth knowledge of the least invasive treatments available. That experience couples with diagnostic and clinical experience across all specialties. They use ultrasound, X-rays, MRI, CT scans and other imaging to advance a catheter into your body, usually in a vein or an artery. That way, our experts can treat you at the source of the disease internally. Today many conditions that once required surgery can be treated less invasively thanks to interventional radiology. Our treatments offer less risk, less pain, and less recovery time compared to open surgery.

We offer medical grade (20-30mmHg) knee high and thigh compression stockings at our offices. Our clinical staff will measure your legs to ensure a custom fit for the compression stockings.

Most insurance plans do not require a referral to schedule a consultation. There are some insurance plans (mainly HMO) that require a referral from your primary care physician.

Healthy leg veins have valves that keep blood flowing to the heart. Venous reflux disease, also known as chronic venous disease, develops when the valves stop working properly. That allows blood to flow backward (reflux). And when that happens, it pools in the lower leg veins. Left untreated, venous reflux disease symptoms get worse over time.

As a result, vein valves will not close properly, leading to symptoms such as:

• Varicose veins
• Leg pain, aching or cramping
• Leg or ankle swelling
• Leg heaviness and fatigue
• Skin changes or rashes
• Ulcers

• Venous reflux disease, also known as chronic venous insufficiency, affects more than 30 million Americans.
• Varicose veins, a common symptom of venous reflux disease, can affect up to 40 percent of adults.
• Varicose veins are more common in those who are overweight, and in women who have had more than two pregnancies.
• Women usually have multiple risk factors for  varicose veins. In fact, varicose veins are most common in women (75 percent of those diagnosed) than in men (25 percent of those diagnosed).
• Up to 55 percent of American women may be affected by varicose veins in their lifetime.
• It is common for varicose veins to become more prominent during pregnancy and worsen with successive pregnancies.

Venous reflux disease treatment aims to reduce or stop the backward flow of blood. Treating the diseased vein improves overall blood flow and relieves symptoms. For some patients, compression stockings alone may improve blood flow. For others, closing or removing the diseased vein may be necessary to improve blood flow. Closing or removing the diseased vein directs blood to nearby healthy veins.