There are several minimally-invasive treatments for varicose veins that remove them completely. One of the best treatments is laser vein ablation. Called endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), it is a new method of treating varicose veins without surgery.
Endovenous means inside the vein and ablation means destroying by heat. EVLA destroys the varicose vein from the inside. The vein is safely destroyed by the laser and becomes dead tissue that will be gradually absorbed by the body. Unlike surgery that requires an operating room, endovenous laser ablation can be carried out in the comfort of our office.
There are several proprietary names for the laser, but they all perform the same task. A tiny entry point is made in the skin at one end of the varicose vein and a slender fiber is inserted into the vein through which laser light is sent that delivers heat energy to coagulate the blood and damage the already weakened vein walls. The vein closes and seals and the blood naturally flows through healthy veins.
Laser vein ablation does not require general anesthesia. You may be asked to walk immediately after the treatment, and you may be asked to wear compression stockings for a set amount of time to keep the pressure on the leg to make sure the vein disappears.
Once the vein is gone, it will not return. If you developed varicose veins because of age or heredity, you may develop more in the future. However, if you developed varicose veins because of your lifestyle, you could develop more unless you make some lifestyle changes.
Pregnancy and obesity are two main causes of varicose veins because they both put pressure on the veins in the legs, making it more difficult for the heart to push the blood against gravity. Varicose veins from pregnancy could disappear naturally, but usually varicose veins need treatment to be removed.
Occupations that require long periods of standing or sitting can also lead to varicose veins. In both cases, the heart overworks, which weakens the leg veins. The tiny valves inside the veins become lax and fail to close, allowing the blood to flow backward. You can prevent this from happening if you sit all day by getting up and walking regularly. If you stand all day, you should make a point to sit with your feet raised regularly throughout the day.
There is no reason to suffer from painful and annoying varicose veins because you are hesitant to have surgery. Laser vein ablation is a minimally-invasive treatment available at South Texas Vein Institute that can completely remove your varicose veins. Contact us today to schedule a consultation at our office in Edinburg!
