Endovenous Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins

Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) is an alternative to surgical stripping for those under the skin veins which are responsible for creating varicose veins on the skin's surface.

As you may know, varicose veins are caused by a condition called "venous insufficiency" which means, basically, that the veins in your legs are not able to effectively funnel blood back to the heart. Circulating blood starts to pool in the leg veins, causing them to become enlarged and twisted.

It's estimated that 50-50% of American women and 40-45% of American men have some problem related to vein functioning. In people over 50, varicose veins can impact 1 out of every 2 people. Severe varicose veins can become a significant health hazard; if so much blood is pooling in the lower body, there will be decreased flow to the rest of the body, including the heart and brain.

The EVLT technique involves the insertion of a very thin laser fiber into the damaged vein. The laser fiber heats up the inside of the vein, leading it to close up and disappear. The doctor uses an ultrasound machine to find the damaged veins. Local anesthesia is used to numb the area.

The endovenous laser procedure is a widely accepted treatment for varicose veins. It has a very good success rate and a low rate of complications. The FDA has approved several lasers for treatment of varicose veins, including the 810, 940, and 980 lasers. Each of these numbers refers to the wavelength of the laser. Currently, most of the available research focuses on the 910 diode laser.

Possible side effects of EVLT include slight swelling or bruising, which typically disappears in just a few days, skin numbness, and possible inflammation of the vein. Treatment usually takes about 15-30 minutes and can be completed in the doctor's office.

EVLT is a very good option for treatment of varicose veins.