What Is a Vein Doctor Called?

What Is The Term For A Vein Doctor?

More than 20% of people will get varicose veins or spider veins in their lifetime, requiring them to visit a vein doctor. Of course, the term vein doctor is a bit broad since three different groups of physicians use this term, so what is a vein doctor called? A vein doctor can be a phlebologist, vascular surgeon, or vein specialist. 

They each have a particular specialty and training for venous diseases. While there are some significant differences, they all have their function in treating veins or arteries. Today, we will discuss what each one does and what their practice involves. 

Phlebologist – Venous Specialist

They are a medically able doctor who has undergone extra training to diagnose, treat and prevent some forms of venous diseases. They usually only work with veins and are focused on vein-related problems on the leg. The American Board of Phlebology was established in 2007 to set vein practice standards but is not ABMS Board Certification approved.

Let’s take a further look at the training and area of practice of a phlebologist.

Phlebologist Training 

They can get this specialization via a series of seminars or even online courses. To be a phlebologist, a doctor only must have a medical license, take a written test, and display specific venous treatment experience. That means that any doctor who has performed a residency in any 24 recognized ABMS specialties can be a phlebologist once they pass the written test and show that they have some experience dealing with venous disease.

Phlebologist Area of Practice 

The certification of being a phlebologist by itself doesn’t mean they are qualified as a surgeon. For the most part, a phlebologist can only perform simple procedures for varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis, and spider veins. If the patient has complications with their vein-related problem requiring invasive intervention, the phlebologist will need to send them to a qualified surgeon.

Now that we understand the first group of what we call a vein doctor let’s move on to the next one, vascular surgeon.

Find a Phlebologist Near Me

If you are looking for a phlebologist in your area, we have the most comprehensive list of phlebologist across the US. You can check it out here.

Vascular Surgeon – Vein and Artery Surgeon Specialist

A doctor for veins and arteries is what we call a vascular surgeon. 

A vascular surgeon is one of the three surgical specialties that have formal training in surgical procedures. They can also provide medical care for patients with diseases related to blood vessels.

Let’s take a closer look at the training and area of practice of a vascular surgeon.

Vascular Surgeon Training 

The training for a vascular surgeon is quite extensive when compared to other specialties. In total, the number of years a vascular surgeon must study ranges from 11 to 13 years (Four years in medical school, five or seven years in a residency program for surgery, and two years in a fellowship in vascular surgery). On top of that, they must complete a series of challenging, multi-day written and oral examinations and are benchmarked against a national database.

Only if they pass both examinations are they granted ABMS Board certification for vascular surgery. Even then, most join a group or hospital and work with other senior vascular surgeons. Every ten years, they’ll have to perform a re-test of the board examinations, and if they fail, they lose their status as a vascular surgeon.

Vascular Surgeon Area of Practice 

As you can imagine, a vascular surgeon is an expert with the entire vascular system, so they are experienced and qualified in treating all venous and arterial diseases. Their expertise is not limited to invasive surgery but also non-invasive ones. Some of the invasive surgeries they perform:

• Carotid artery surgery
• Angioplasty
• Aortic aneurysm surgery
• Vein and artery grafting

Of course, there are many more surgeries they perform, both invasive and non-invasive. Even though the difference between a phlebologist and a vascular surgeon may be evident, let’s discuss the main differences.

Phlebologist vs. Vascular Surgeon 

While both are a type of vein doctor, they both have their specialty and functions. For example, a phlebologist only treats basic venous disease symptoms. In contrast, a vascular surgeon can treat diseases related to veins or arteries and perform surgery if needed.

Additionally, to be board certified as a phlebologist, they only need to pass a written exam and prove with a case log that they’ve been involved in vein treatment. In sharp contrast, a vascular surgeon has undergone years of studies to become an expert in all things related to veins and arteries. So, what makes a vein specialist doctor different from the two mentioned already? 

Vein Specialist

Multiple medical subspecialties (Cardiologists, interventional radiologists, general surgeons, plastic surgeons, and dermatologists) can become vein specialists. They usually study to be a vein specialist to supplement their current practices. A vein specialist is board-certified in their corresponding fields but has specialized in treating varicose veins and chronic venous disease. 

In contrast to some phlebologists, a vein specialist has undergone extensive procedural and medical training in their respective area. Keep in mind that a vein specialist has not trained to perform invasive surgery as a vascular surgeon has in their field. Still, they often learn some aspects by attending courses. 

If you are researching a vein specialist, be sure to determine how long they’ve been treating veins. Also, be sure that the vein specialist has a medical degree or a Doctor’s degree and is licensed to practice medicine. 

So, What Is a Vein Doctor Called? It Depends.

Hopefully, we’ve answered the question, what is a vein doctor called, and you have a better understanding of vein doctors. As you can see, it depends on what kind of venous disease you have and the type of treatment you’ll need. As you may have noticed, a vascular surgeon should be the first practitioner you look for when searching for a vein specialist. If you aren’t sure to find the best vein specialist in your city, be sure to use our vein doctor directory! We can find the best vein specialist in over 20 cities across the US. So don’t hesitate any longer and find the best care for your veins today.