Your veins carry blood from the capillaries to the heart. In your leg, this means the blood has to flow upward, against gravity. Consequently, these veins have one-way valves to prevent the blood from backflowing. Over time these valves can fail to close tightly, allowing blood to pool and causing the bulging and twisting characteristic of varicose veins.
EVLT fixes this problem at the source by delivering just the right wavelength of laser energy to just the right tissue, causing the incompetent vein to close. Your body automatically routes the blood to other healthy veins.
Surgery involves considerable preparation, general anesthesia, the risk of infection, pain in the affected areas, and a lengthy recovery period. The medical laser technology used in EVLT eliminates all of that.
It’s “minimally invasive.” The entry point through which your physician gets the laser fiber to the target area is extremely small, not even requiring stitches.
There is really no “recovery” to speak of. In fact, you’ll be up and walking as soon as it’s over, able to return to normal activity quickly.
Simply put, a laser is a highly concentrated beam of light. Medical lasers work by delivering this light energy to the targeted tissue with extreme precision so as not to affect the surrounding tissue. They’ve proven their safety and effectiveness through years of use in all kinds of medical procedures, from ophthalmology to dermatology. In the hands of a skilled physician, lasers offer far less risk and complications than conventional surgery.
It takes about 45 minutes and requires just local anesthesia. Your physician then inserts a thin laser fiber into the vein through a sheath; the laser light is emitted through the fiber. While you might feel some unfamiliar sensation, it is not painful. And it's all done in an outpatient setting like your physician's office or a one-day surgery center.
The causes of spider veins are unclear; however, certain factors contribute to the development of spider veins, including heredity, pregnancy, hormonal factors, weight gain, and occupations or activities that require prolonged sitting or standing.
Sclerotherapy is a very popular method of eliminating spider veins in which a solution, called a sclerosing agent is injected into the veins. This causes an irritation to the inner lining of the vein, resulting in closure of the vein.
Recovery periods may differ from treatment to treatment. Following sclerotherapy support stockings are worn on each treated leg. Exercise is an important part of the healing process. A 20 minute walk or bike ride twice a day is best for the healing process.
