Varicose Veins And Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Varicose vein symptoms include enlarged, twisted, rope-like veins that appear near the surface of the skin. While they can develop anywhere in the body, they are most commonly found in the legs and ankles because standing and walking increase pressure in the lower extremities. In normally functioning veins, tiny one-way valves open as blood flows toward the heart and close to prevent blood from flowing backward. When these valves malfunction, blood pools in the veins, resulting in a buildup of pressure that weakens their walls causing them to bulge. The way we treat most patients with varicose veins is with our endovenous laser treatment (EVLT). This state-of-the-art procedure allows us to effectively remove varicose veins without the traditional method of “vein stripping,” and no recovery time required.
Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT)
EVLT Treatment is a revolutionary, nonsurgical treatment for the removal of unwanted varicose veins. It is also effective in the treatment of chronic leg pain, leg swelling, venous ulcers, and restless leg syndrome.
How Does It Work?
Varicose veins are caused by blood going the wrong way into veins which are just under the skin. By inserting a small laser into the abnormal vein, we are able to stop this backward flow of blood and redirect it into the healthy veins. This cuts the blood flow to the abnormal veins and they shrivel up and disappear.
Is It Covered By Insurance?
EVLT Treatment is currently covered by Medicare and most insurance plans. We will verify with your insurance company that it is covered in your plan prior to proceeding. If you do not have insurance or have an extremely high deductible, we can discuss affordable payment options with you.
How Long Does The Procedure Take?
On average EVLT Treatment takes approximately 10 minutes.
Does It Hurt, And What Is The Recovery Time?
It is normal to have some minor discomfort during the procedure. We have performed over 3,000 procedures and have never had to discontinue the procedure because of patient discomfort. Your comfort is our 1st priority. We will do everything that we can to make this as relaxing and comfortable of an experience as possible. There is no recovery time needed. The procedure can be performed during your lunch break with immediate return to work. We encourage you to walk after the procedure.
What Are The Side Effects?
The most common side effects are minor bruising or discomfort in the area of the treated vein. Also, occasionally patients will experience tingling or “pins and needles.” This normally resolves in 3-4 weeks.
How Successful Is EVLT?
It is successful approximately 98% of the time. The vein will actually stay open about 2% of the time. If this occurs, we simply will re-treat the vein.
Are There Alternative Treatments?
The traditional treatment, vein stripping and ligation, requires general anesthesia, pain and a long recovery. We do not recommend this. All other forms of treatment including foam sclerotherapy, phlebectomy, Vein Gogh, and sclerotherapy are also performed in our vein centers. This may be an adjunct to your treatment plan.