Endovenous Laser Ablation
-
- Tweet
Center for Varicose Veins
Board Certified Vascular and Interventional Radiologist & Diagnostic Radiologist located in Wilton, CT & Fairfield, CT
Endovenous laser ablation is an effective method of treating varicose veins that permanently eliminates these disfiguring, unhealthy blood vessels. If you have varicose veins, Board-Certified Vascular and Interventional Radiologist Vinay Madan, MD, and his team at Center for Varicose Veins in Wilton, and Fairfield, Connecticut, can help. They’re experts in using endovenous laser ablation to treat vein disease and restore health to your legs. Call Center for Varicose Veins today to find out more or use the online form to schedule an appointment.
Endovenous Laser Ablation Q & A
What is endovenous laser ablation? 
Endovenous laser ablation (ELA) is a procedure Dr. Madan performs at Center for Varicose Veins to resolve venous problems like varicose veins.
Ablation means using a heat source to safely and precisely damage specific tissues in your body. When used on varicose veins, ablation causes the vein walls to contract, collapse, and close. Blood can't travel along the ablated vein, so over time, it breaks down and disappears.
Endovenous laser ablation causes treated veins to collapse just as they do with radiofrequency ablation — another treatment available at Center for Varicose Veins. The difference is that instead of radio wave energy, ELA uses laser light energy to create heat.
Endovenous laser ablation is a treatment of varicose veins which uses light energy to generate heat. The heat generated from the laser results in damage to the inside lining of the vein. This causes the vein to close and get resorbed by the body over the following weeks and months. Patients start to notice improvement in their symptoms soon after the treatment. The blood flow returning to the heart is rerouted from the abnormal veins into the normal healthy veins.
To ensure endovenous laser ablation is accurate and safe, Dr. Madan performs the procedure using ultrasound guidance, which provides him with live images of your veins.
Why would I need endovenous laser ablation?
You might need endovenous laser ablation if you have varicose veins due to venous insufficiency.
Venous insufficiency is a condition where your blood vessels don't work properly. It develops when the valves in your veins weaken, which means that instead of all the blood from your legs traveling back to your heart, some trickles back down your veins.
This blood forms pools that cause varicose veins — unsightly, lumpy, bulging veins that can be blue, red, or purple. Varicose veins can also cause symptoms such as:
- Itching
- Fatigue
- Burning
- Leg pain
- Tingling
- Heaviness
- Soreness
- Throbbing
- Cramping
- Night cramps
- Restless legs
- Swollen legs
- Discoloration of the skin around the veins
Having venous insufficiency and varicose veins increases your risk of developing more serious conditions like blood clots in your veins and venous leg ulcers.
Endovenous laser ablation is one of several cutting-edge treatment options available at Center for Varicose Veins to effectively eliminate varicose veins.
What happens during an endovenous laser ablation session?
At your endovenous laser ablation session, Dr. Madan gives you a local anesthetic or a mild sedative to keep you comfortable. He inserts a slim tube called a catheter into your vein using ultrasound imaging to guide him.
When the catheter is in position, Dr. Madan delivers precisely targeted laser energy at a consistent heat until the treated vein collapses. Endovenous laser ablation is an in-office procedure that requires only minimal downtime afterward.
For optimal results, you need to wear compression stockings for a week after endovenous laser ablation. You might also need a duplex ultrasound scan at your follow-up appointment to make sure the veins are fully closed.
If you have unsightly or painful varicose veins, call Center for Varicose Veins today to find out more about endovenous laser ablation, or book an appointment online.
