Endovenous Laser Ablation Therapy

Are you experiencing symptoms such as achy legs or the feeling that your legs are restless or heavy? Perhaps your legs start to swell or burn if you have been standing for long periods of time. Many people think that varicose veins–often the cause of these symptoms–are simply a cosmetic issue and believe that they just have to live with unsightly and often painful veins. Varicose vein disease, however, can be a serious medical condition and should not be left untreated, it can cause many different complications. If you are feeling the signs of vein disease, now is the time to get an effective EVLT treatment to help alleviate these symptoms.

With new technology comes great improvements in treating vein diseases and disorders, and endovenous laser ablation therapy is one such improvement. Minimally invasive, it’s an ultrasound-guided technique that uses lasers to help rid your body of painful varicose veins. Varicose veins are enlarged veins that protrude in a gnarled bunch caused by blood flow backing up in faulty or weak veins and can be extremely painful. Not just cosmetically unappealing, varicose veins can be signs that something more serious is going on in your body and proper diagnosis and treatment are of the utmost importance.

Early Treatments

At the Skin and Vein Center, we use a step-by-step process to treat the varicose vein. An initial exam is done to determine the venous insufficiencies and the extent of the vein problems. This is done through ultrasound mapping. Should a venous reflux be found, the vein can be ablated using Endovenous Laser Ablation Treatment.

EVLT treatment is an alternative to the prior method of stripping the vein through surgery. This is a relatively non-invasive procedure done under local anesthesia. A small laser fiber is inserted into the vein. Then, pulses of light are delivered which causes the vein to collapse and seal. EVLT eliminates the veins that were preventing the return of blood to the heart. The compression garments worn after the treatment will also help alleviate the symptoms.

The process will take about an hour and also has a nearly 100 percent success rate. Patients will start to experience improvements immediately, while some symptoms may take a couple of weeks to disappear. You will be able to return to your normal schedule almost immediately, and athletic activities can be undertaken within three to four days.

Sclerotherapy and/or ambulatory phlebectomy procedures are often done either at the same time as EVLT or within one to two weeks to treat other veins, such as branch varicose veins.

Earlier treatments for varicose veins were almost worse than the disease itself and involved cutting long incisions in the skin under general anesthesia and stripping the veins from the legs. Extended recovery periods were required, and the scars left behind, while not as unsightly as the gnarled veins, were still off-putting and undesirable. The negative factors of varicose vein treatment meant many people would put off treatment or avoid it altogether, thereby increasing their risks of the problem growing worse or even missing out on being diagnosed with a more serious condition. Today, however, with endovenous laser ablation, the procedure is minimally invasive and procrastination is no longer an issue.

Procedure

The endovenous laser ablation procedure is a simple process, done as an outpatient procedure with little to no pain. A local anesthetic is used to minimize the pain of the needle. No incision is made, just a small puncture near the knee, and the procedure has a short recovery time. During the procedure, a needle is injected into the vein with a tiny laser fiber that shoots pulses of light inside the vein. The vein then collapses and seals itself, eventually being absorbed into the body. After the endovenous laser ablation treatment is over, compression stockings are worn for a period of time to ensure faster healing. But even if not worn, healing will improve, just at a slower rate.

Benefits

Want to know what to expect after vein ablation? After the vein has collapsed, patients will notice an immediate improvement in blood flow and the afflicted areas will have a smoother, more attractive look, although multiple treatments may be needed to end the problem completely. After endovenous laser ablation therapy, there may be some slight bruising and swelling, but overall recovery is almost immediate and the patient will be able to resume normal activities upon walking out of the office. The success rate for this treatment is very high with patients reporting extreme satisfaction in the outcome.

Cost

Endovenous Laser Ablation actually costs less than other similar options. Also, because this procedure is used to correct a medical condition, it is often covered by insurance. Costs will vary from patient to patient.

If you are interested in EVLT treatment for your varicose veins, give us a call at the Skin and Vein Center. We will discuss your options, including EVLT and Sclerotherapy during a no-cost consultation. We also offer many other treatments and procedures that you may be interested in.