Endovenous laser ablation treatment focuses on the large veins that cause unsightly, bulging varicose veins, usually on your legs. “Endovenous” refers to the inside of your veins, as the laser directs amplified light energy inside your veins. “Vein ablation” means the laser destroys a vein in a way that causes it to shrivel away.

To put it all together, endovenous laser ablation refers to the process that uses lasers placed in your vein to destroy it from the inside. Since venous ablation, also called EVLA or EVLT treatment, is minimally invasive, the procedure can be done in your NYC vein center.

Endovenous Laser Ablation Procedure

This is a completely safe procedure. If you have concerns regarding the consequences of destroying a vein, you do not need to worry. When deep-seated veins become enlarged enough to cause varicose veins, they are no longer healthy and may even be hindering healthy circulation. In fact, it’s safer than vein ligation, which is the surgical removal of varicose veins.

Removing a vein also relieves the symptoms associated with varicose veins, such as ankle swelling, tired legs, venous eczema, skin discoloration at your ankles and venous leg ulcers. The minimally invasive venous ablation procedure follows certain steps:

1. After sterilizing and prepping the incision site, the area is numbed with a topical anesthetic.
2. A small incision is made and your doctor inserts hollow needle called a cannula, through which laser is inserted into the faulty vein.
3. An ultrasound is used to verify its position in the correct vein.
4. The laser slowly heats so that enough energy flows into the lining of the vein, damaging the walls and causing them to eventually shrink and close off the vein.
5. After several minutes, your doctor removes the probe and applies a small dressing.
6. You should keep the prescribed compression bandage in place for one week after the procedure as part of your endovenous laser ablation recovery.

Benefits and Results of Endovenous Laser Ablation of Varicose Veins

Most patients prefer endovenous laser ablation to vein ligation because of the positive characteristics and so few endovenous laser ablation side effects. Benefits of an endovenous laser ablation procedure include:

• Reduced chance of developing stasis ulcers
• Better blood circulation
• A minimally invasive, quick and easy treatment
• A 98% success rate
• Minimal to no scarring when you follow endovenous laser ablation post-operative instructions
• Minimal post-operative pain
• Quick endovenous laser ablation recovery
• Almost immediate, significant relief from varicose veins symptoms

You are encouraged to walk and resume your normal activities immediately afterward as part of the endovenous laser ablation post-operative instructions to enhance the procedure’s positive outcome. Your Manhattan vein doctor schedules a follow-up visit one week after treatment to ensure your safe and continued recovery.

Endovenous Laser Ablation Complications and Risks

While safe, some endovenous laser ablation side effects can occur, as with any medical procedure. In rare situations, you may notice:

• Mild numbness around your thigh area
• A pulling sensation that may last up to a week
• Phlebitis — redness and tenderness of the blood vessel and overlying skin that are easily controlled by over-the-counter pain relievers — resolving in three to seven days
• Deep vein thrombosis, one of the rare endovenous laser ablation complications that can be prevented by adhering to endovenous laser ablation post-operative instructions
• Infection at the incision site
• Bruising that is more common, but is usually mild and resolves on its own

Alternatives to the Endovenous Laser Ablation Procedure

There are alternative treatments to vein ablation. Each addresses unique conditions and carries its own risks. These alternatives include:

• Sclerotherapy. This vascular treatment can only be used for smaller veins, not for the larger, deep-seated veins the endovenous laser ablation procedure can target.
• Ambulatory phlebotomy. This minimally invasive procedure is used when faulty veins are dissolved through small punctures in your skin. It’s best suited to smaller veins and those close to the skin surface.

The high success rate of endovenous laser ablation makes this an oft-chosen option. If you have some of the painful symptoms, many insurance companies will pay for this treatment. Close consultation with your New York City doctor ensures the highest rate of success and a welcome return to a pain-free lifestyle.