In the past, people who wanted treatment for venous insufficiency had to undergo vein stripping. The procedure had some significant downsides, causing people to look for successful alternatives. Now, people choose endovenous laser ablation (EVLT) to treat vein issues. EVLT has some significant advantages over surgical vein stripping. Take a closer look to see why patients are primarily choosing EVLT to treat venous insufficiency.
Surgical vein stripping is a serious and invasive procedure where the surgeon actually removes the problematic veins. Because it’s major surgery, it takes longer to recover from surgical vein stripping. You’ll be dealing with surgical incisions and dressings and will likely be out of work for over a week. Getting back to normal activity and work will definitely take longer and may at times require physical therapy. There will be increased risks of infection, bleeding and areas of numbness, that will take longer to heal and recover from.
EVLT is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure, making it much easier for patients. Your vein specialist will use an ultrasound to locate the problematic vein. Then, he or she will use a laser fiber to heat the vein from the inside and close it off. This procedure only requires a tiny puncture site, and you can go home right after the procedure. You will wear your prescribed graduated compression stockings and go for a couple of short walks everyday for a week. Most people can resume work and normal activities the same day or the next day. There may be findings of pulling, tightness, focal tenderness, and swelling over the first week. These sensations are usually relieved with ibuprofen or tylenol. Most patients will start to notice benefits from the treatment within the first few weeks after treatment.
When you undergo a procedure for your varicose veins, you want results to be long-lasting. Unfortunately, the results of surgical vein stripping usually only last a few years. Surgery and incisions can lead to surgical neovascularization and possible recurrent varicose veins (REVAS). On the other hand, EVLT provides long-lasting results with closure rates of 96% and higher and no risk of neovascularization. The recurrence rate is very low, and your vein specialist can give you tips on how to maintain all the benefits.
Endovenous laser ablation (EVLT) is superior to surgical vein stripping. This minimally invasive procedure has a shorter recovery time and longer-lasting results with minimal to no downtime. The Center for Varicose Veins offers endovenous laser ablation treatment under the care of Dr. Vinay Madan. Contact the Center for Varicose Veins to schedule a consultation and learn can if EVLT is a good treatment option for you.
