Endovenous Laser Treatment

Elective vein surgery used to be the only reliable treatment for varicose vein removal, but advancements in Sclerotherapy and lasers have changed the way specialists are treating varicose and spider veins today. Larger varicose veins in your legs can now be successfully removed by non-surgical methods. One of the biggest breakthroughs in vein removal is Endovenous Laser Treatment, also know as Endovenous Laser Ablation, Varicose Vein Laser Surgery, or or simply ELT or EVLT®. This less invasive vein removal treatment is the best option for removing larger leg veins that other treatments like Sclerotherapy or Laser Vein Removal cannot affect. EVLT® results are on par with vein removal surgeries like vein stripping, however, Endovenous Laser Treatments are less invasive with less downtime—patients can return home the same day as an EVLT® surgery and resume regular activities the following day. Additionally, you can expect little to no scarring.

Endovenous Laser Ablation is a catheter-assisted procedure. This means a catheter with a laser fiber is inserted into the great saphenous vein or small saphenous vein. These veins in your thigh are superficial, but can cause a network of varicose veins to form. When inserted into the vein, the laser applies heat to the tip of the catheter tube, and as the catheter is removed the laser’s heat causes the vein to collapse. With the unhealthy vein gone, your body reroutes the blood to healthier veins, and your varicose veins slowly shrink and dissipate. Besides lasers, radio frequency ablation can also be used in catheter-assisted vein removal procedures. The results are nearly identical and the choice simply depends on which procedure, laser or radio frequency ablation, is available at your vein clinic.

EVLT®’s lasers only affect varicose veins and your deep working veins are untouched by the laser and will continue working properly, carrying blood to and from your leg. At this time, Endovenous Laser Treatment is only used in the upper leg and cannot be used on smaller veins such as spider veins. EVLT®’s side effects are minor and include redness, bruising, and soreness. However, these complications from Endovenous Laser Treatment should clear up in less than a week.

Since EVLT® cannot treat spider veins, due to the catheter’s size, Endovenous Laser Ablation is often combined with Sclerotherapy. An Endovenous Laser/Sclerotherapy combination ensures that all your unwanted veins, large or small, are efficiently eliminated in the safest, most convenient manner possible.

EVLT® is a registered Trademark of AngioDynamics Inc