Can laser treatment remove varicose veins?
If you’re dealing with varicose veins, you may be wondering if laser treatment can help. The short answer is yes – endovenous laser ablation is a minimally-invasive treatment that can effectively remove varicose veins.
Endovenous laser ablation is a treatment for chronic venous insufficiency, which is the root cause of varicose veins. In this condition, the valves in the veins that are responsible for keeping blood flowing in the right direction become damaged or weakened. This causes blood to pool in the veins, leading to the formation of varicose veins.
Endovenous laser ablation involves using a laser fiber to channel laser energy into the diseased saphenous vein responsible for your vein problems. The laser energy destroys the diseased vein and reroutes blood into healthier leg veins. This procedure doesn’t remove varicose veins directly, but it addresses the root cause of the problem.
Endovenous laser ablation is a safe and effective treatment for varicose veins. It’s minimally invasive, so there’s no need for surgery. And because the affected veins are sealed shut, there’s no risk of them reopening. If you’re considering laser therapy for varicose veins, be sure to consult with a board-certified vascular doctor.
Long Island Vein Centers is led by some of the best board-certified vein doctors in Long Island. Our team is led by Harvard-trained vein doctors with specialized training in vascular imaging and minimally invasive spider vein and varicose vein treatments. Instead of simply removing superficial varicose veins, our vein doctors identify and treat the root cause of the problem.
You can find our board-certified vein doctors in West Islip, Jericho, or Hampton Bays. If you’re in or around West Islip, you may drive over to our vein center, located 5 minutes from the southern state parkway. Our vein center is right beside the Bergen Point Golf Course. You can also visit our vein doctors in Jericho or the Hamptons.
Please schedule an appointment to explore your varicose vein treatment options.
How does laser ablation work?
If you suffer from chronic venous insufficiency or varicose veins, you may be a candidate for endovenous laser ablation. This minimally-invasive procedure uses laser energy to heat and seal the affected veins.
During the procedure, your doctor will numb the area with the diseased veins and insert a laser fiber into the saphenous vein. The vein doctor drives the endovenous laser fiber into the diseased vein under ultrasound guidance to ensure optimal comfort. The laser energy is then delivered through the fiber, heating the vein and causing it to collapse. This seals the vein and prevents blood from flowing through it. Once the diseased vein is sealed shut, the accumulated blood reroutes into healthier leg veins to restore optimal blood circulation to the heart.
What is the success rate of laser treatment for varicose veins?
The success rate of laser treatment for varicose veins is very high, with most patients seeing a significant improvement in the appearance of their veins after just one treatment. The reported success rate of endovenous laser ablation exceeds 90%. The endovenous laser ablation procedure is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home the same day. Recovery time is usually short, with most people being able to return to their normal activities within a few days.
How long does it take for varicose veins to disappear after laser treatment?
There are a few factors that will affect how long it takes for your varicose veins to disappear after laser treatment. The first is the severity of your condition. If you have only a few small varicose veins, it will likely take less time for them to disappear than if you have larger, more widespread veins.
How well you follow the post-treatment instructions will also play a role in the results of your treatment. It is important to avoid strenuous activity and to keep your legs elevated as much as possible in the days and weeks following your treatment. By following these simple instructions, you can ensure that your varicose veins will disappear quickly.
Generally speaking, it can take several weeks or months for all of your varicose veins to disappear. That’s because endovenous laser ablation treats underlying vein disease, and the associated varicose veins disappear gradually. But if you want more immediate results, your vein doctor can also offer an ambulatory phlebectomy procedure.
Ambulatory phlebectomy is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that involves using a phlebectomy hook to manually extract the unwanted varicose veins. The vein doctor makes small incisions on the skin’s surface to extract the varicose veins. The incisions are closed and allowed to heal. This procedure ensures instant results.
Is it worth getting varicose veins removed?
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that usually occur on the legs. They’re caused by valves in the veins that don’t work properly, which causes blood to pool in the veins, leading to enlarged and dilated veins. If you have varicose veins, you may experience symptoms such as pain, swelling, cramping, fatigue, and itching. In some cases, varicose veins can also lead to more serious problems, such as blood clots, ulcers, and skin infections.
You must undergo varicose vein treatments for cosmetic and medical reasons. Varicose veins can be fairly ugly, which can lead to self-consciousness and social anxiety. And they’re usually caused by underlying chronic venous insufficiency, a dangerous medical condition that can eventually lead to leg ulcers, skin discoloration, and deep vein thrombosis. The longer you delay your varicose vein treatment, the worse your condition will become.
As such, yes, it’s definitely worth getting varicose veins removed.