Endovenous Laser Ablation Is A Treatment For Varicose Veins You May Want To Discuss With Your Doctor

If you've decided to seek treatment for your varicose veins, talk to your doctor about endovenous laser ablation. Your doctor has a few options for treating varicose veins, so they'll choose the most suitable treatment while taking the location and size of your veins into account. Endovenous laser ablation is an effective treatment for larger veins that are relatively straight and not twisted. Below is an overview of the procedure and what you can expect.

A Laser Is Used To Heat The Vein

When you have an endovenous laser ablation treatment, the doctor makes a small incision on your leg so they can thread a small catheter into your vein. The catheter contains a laser fiber that applies heat to the interior wall of your vein. The heat causes the vein to close, and after a few weeks, the vein disappears due to lack of blood flow.

An Ultrasound Helps Guide The Catheter

When a varicose vein is deep or under thick skin, the doctor has difficulty seeing it. This problem is solved through the use of an ultrasound. The sound waves emitted from the device create a video on a monitor the doctor can watch as they guide the catheter into a vein.

Endovenous Laser Ablation Is An Office Procedure

This laser treatment is minimally invasive. The incision is so small that it probably won't need stitches to close it. However, a bandage will be applied followed by a compression stocking. The procedure only requires a local anesthetic, so you'll be awake, and you'll be able to leave once the procedure is over.

You Can Resume Your Usual Routine Quickly

The effects from the anesthetic last for several hours, so you should be free of pain after the procedure. You may be advised to take over-the-counter pain relievers to control pain and swelling. Your doctor may advise you to walk as often as you can to stimulate circulation.

You'll be told when you can resume strenuous activity, remove your compression stocking, and sit or stand for extended periods of time so your recovery goes well. You might be able to resume your normal routine the next day as long as it doesn't involve heavy lifting or strenuous activity. It may take a week or two before you can resume all activity.

Endovenous laser ablation is usually done on larger varicose veins. If you also have spider veins you want removed, the doctor can remove those too with a different type of treatment. The treatments might even be done on the same visit.

If you would like more info about this, contact a vein clinic near you.


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