Endovenous laser ablation is a minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins that uses a laser to collapse the affected vein. It can improve symptoms without damaging the skin, but there are potential risks such as bruising, infection, and blood clots. Post-treatment restrictions include avoiding air travel for at least one week. Other treatments include phlebectomy, coil embolization, sclerotherapy, and surgical vein stripping.
Laser ablation for varicose veins is a procedure also known as endovenous laser ablation. Like any medical procedure, this treatment can have potential benefits as well as possible negative effects. Laser ablation can help reduce or eliminate varicose vein symptoms, and the procedure is a minimally invasive treatment with no sutures or scars in the skin. There are potential risks associated with intravenous ablation, including bruising or discoloration of the skin and a slight risk of infection or blood clots. Individuals undergoing this procedure must comply with post-treatment restrictions, including a ban on air travel for at least one week.
Varicose veins are also known as a condition called venous insufficiency. Leaky valves in affected veins cause blood to pool in certain areas, causing veins to appear visually enlarged, discolored, and sometimes painful. Endovenous laser ablation is a medical procedure in which heat from a laser inserted into the vein causes the vein to collapse without damaging the skin. The laser is inserted using a thin catheter. Once the vein is ablated, scarring prevents blood from re-entering the collapsed vein.
Endovenous laser ablation for varicose veins has many potential benefits. This procedure generally improves symptoms such as swelling, pain, and inflammation without causing any external damage to the skin. It is a minimally invasive treatment that is often performed in an outpatient office visit, allowing the individual to quickly return to normal activity. Patients will be required to wear a compression bandage for 72 hours and avoid certain activities for several days, including air travel, hot baths and heavy lifting. Laser ablation for varicose veins is generally considered an appropriate procedure for treating small veins.
Laser ablation has potential risks. Some possible side effects include discoloration, bruising, or blisters at the treatment area. There is a rare risk of blood clots which could lead to a pulmonary embolism, as well as a risk of infection. Laser ablation for varicose veins is not considered appropriate for pregnant women, those with severely twisted varicose veins, or any individual who is in poor general health or is bedridden. This procedure is considered a little less effective with some types of varicose veins than an alternative procedure called sclerotherapy.
In addition to laser ablation for varicose veins, other types of treatment are available depending on the surgeon’s recommendations. Outpatient phlebectomy uses a series of skin punctures to remove larger veins in the leg. Coil embolization involves injecting alcohol into a vein to cause scarring and collapse. Sclerotherapy and microsclerotherapy also involve injecting a solution into your veins. The traditional treatment for varicose veins has been a procedure called surgical vein stripping, or the removal of a vein through multiple surgical incisions in the leg.
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