EVLT - Harnessing Laser Power

Pain in the Vein

Varicose veins can be painful and are truly considered unsightly. Over the years a variety of methods have evolved to treat this common affliction in an effort to remove or reduce the appearance of gnarled, thickened, blue veins which occur mostly in the upper legs, knees and thighs. For many people, varicose veins are only a cosmetic concern - for others, they can cause aching and pain.

There is no cure for varicose veins. However, with new and improved methods of treating varicose veins, there are more and more success stories of people experiencing freedom from pain and the unsightly bulges. Currently, laser solutions are providing up to 98 percent initial success rates with long term results with a process called Endovenous Laser Treatment, or EVLT.

EVLT -Non-Invasive, Fast and Easy

EVLT can be performed in either a clinic or practitioner's officer. It does not require invasive surgery; there are no incisions and no hospital stay. After the administration of a local anesthesia, a small hole in the skin is created to receive a laser fiber which goes into the vein which runs along the inner thigh. Slowly, as the laser is heated, the vein collapses and quickly shrinks until it disappears. In this way, large varicose veins in the thigh can be treated in less than 30 minutes. What is so great about the procedure is that patients can resume normal activities very soon afterward.

How It Works

In EVLT, the power or energy source of the laser irritates the walls of the vein, causing them to shrink. Consequently, the vein can no longer carry blood. However, since they are superficial veins they do not carry blood to the heart. The fact that the saphenous vein - the large vein that goes from the groin to the ankle - is unhealthy and dysfunctional when it is varicose makes it of little use to the body, makes its loss not a problem. The deep veins which are responsible for carrying blood away from the legs are not touched. Healthy saphenous veins should be left alone, especially since they may be required in the event of open heart surgery.

Where It Works Best

This technique is not used to treat spider veins nor varicose veins in the lower leg. With such an emphasis on the preservation of veins for possible use in future coronary or vascular surgeries, the EVLT method is at a disadvantage since it makes the vein unusable for future use. Otherwise, the EVLT process is a very safe and effective procedure with a very high success rate. It is relatively painless, has minimal complications and does not require invasion by incision.