VEIN TREATMENTS

EVLT (Endovenous Laser Treatment or Endovenous Ablation)

This revolutionary new treatment for large varicose veins was pioneered at Cornell University in New York. Originally performed in Spain, the EndoVenous Laser Ablation is performed in the office, takes less than an hour and accomplishes the same thing as a major surgical vein stripping. Using ultrasound guidance and local anesthesia, a thin laser fiber in a catheter is threaded up the vein. As the catheter is slowly withdrawn, the laser shrinks and seals the large vein that causes varicose veins in most patients. There is little or no visible scarring. In those patients who are candidates for the procedure, it is 97% successful.

Is the Procedure Painful?

You will feel the prick of the needle used to inject the anesthetic, but you will be completely numb for the remaining part of the procedure. Many people describe a feeling of pressure as the anesthetic is injected into the tissue, but this only lasts for a few seconds until the medication takes effect. Since the entire area around the vein is numb, you will feel nothing as the laser is fired. After the procedure, the anesthetic lasts a few hours. We then recommend that you take the prescription-strength ibuprofen at regular intervals for at least 3-4 days. This decreases inflammation and pain. After this, you may take extra-strength Tylenol or Motrin. Most people find the pain-relief we recommend to be more than sufficient. Very rarely will patients require a stronger pain-reliever, but if they do, we are happy to prescribe something.

Recover Time

Recovery involves resuming normal daily activities the next day and wearing a support stocking for about a week. Strenuous exercise may be resumed in two weeks.

Risks of Procedure

Potential side effects from EVLT include possible bruising.

Video Clips

The following are video clips about the procedure, provided by VenaCure™ Laser Vein Treatment.

In order to view the videos you must have the QuickTime plugin installed on your computer. Click here to to download the free player now.

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Full video (12.3 MB / 30 min)

Introduction/Patient Interviews (2.4 MB / 6 min)

How VenaCure™ Works (6.5 MB / 16 min)

Conclusion/Patient Interviews (3.4 MB / 8 min)

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Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy involves the injection, via a very fine needle, of a solution into small to medium varicose veins and spider veins. The solution causes the veins to shrink, close off and gradually disappear. A session usually lasts approximately 15 minutes. There are few reported allergic reactions to the solution used. Depending on the number of veins, multiple sessions may be required, which will be decided after the initial consultation and evaluation. Sclerotherapy is sometime used alone but in the instance of very small spider veins laser treatment is also used.

Is the Procedure Painful?

Most patients describe minimal itching and burning for 5-15 minutes following sclerotherapy, but you will leave the office free of discomfort. You will feel the prick of the needle being inserted into the skin. However, we use the tiniest needles possible to reduce the discomfort felt by our patients.

Recovery Time

Normal activities may be resumed immediately. After healing, stockings are recommended for long trips, prolonged standing, or when legs ache.

Risks of Procedure

Serious medical complications from sclerotherapy are extremely rare when the procedure is performed by a qualified practitioner. However, they may occur. Risks include the formation of blood clots in the veins, severe inflammation, adverse allergic reactions to the sclerosing solution and skin injury that could leave a small but permanent scar.

A common cosmetic complication is pigmentation irregularity - brownish splotches on the affected skin that may take months to fade, sometimes up to a year. Another problem that can occur is "telangiectatic matting," in which fine reddish blood vessels appear around the treated area, requiring further injections.

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Microphlebectomy / Phlebectomy

Varicose veins are micro-surgically removed through tiny punctures about the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen. The word "phlebectomy" literally means removing the vein. The day of the procedure, the doctor or nurse will mark your leg where the veins bulge out. Then, a special local anesthetic (numbing medication) called "tumescent" is injected into the area surrounding your vein. The doctor will make tiny incisions or "stabs" of about 2-3mm - the size of a ball-point pen tip - and use a crochet-type hook to "grab" the vein and remove it. This interrupts the vein, causes any remaining portions of the vein to "clot off", and gets rid of those unsightly bulgy areas!

Is the Procedure Painful?

Most patients say that the procedure does not hurt at all. You will feel the pin prick of the needle as we inject the anesthetic, but then the area is instantly numb. You will not feel any of the "stabs". You will not feel pain from the veins being removed. We will write a prescription for some prescription-strength ibuprofen to help you for the first day or two, but the vast majority of patients require only extra-strength Tylenol or Motrin to keep them comfortable. Rarely will patients require a stronger pain-killer post-operatively.

Recovery Time

The "down" time for this procedure is negligible. You will need to take it easy for the first 48 hours, but walking is encouraged to promote healing - you will walk out of the office! After the first two days, normal activities are resumed. Only strenuous exercise is discouraged for the first week to ten days, as are swimming and hot tubs. After that, it is business as usual!

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