| Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins |
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When you suffer from varicose veins, you can pick the treatment option that would normally suit you. This could either be laser treatment or surgery. A laser can be said to be a highly focused beam of light that your doctor may use to treat your varicose veins. The logic is simple: damage the vein, scar tissue forms, closing the vein. Closed veins die due to loss of blood source and after a year, your vein disappears. However, conservative surgeons do still go for surgery but you can opt otherwise, considering what the latest medical technology has on offer for your trouble-some varicose veins. It is advised that you go for laser treatment for varicose veins rather than surgery that has side effects that you’ll have to put up with like deep vein thrombosis, wound complications and also infections, as well as causing pulmonary embolism, though not the major cause. Laser treatment has fewer complications and you recover speedily.
Endovenous Laser Treatment
Today, there are a couple of minimally invasive but nonetheless advanced techniques that allow fast recovery of the treated areas, usually a day. Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) is one such procedure. it is used mainly in place of traditional surgery and other treatments. In this procedure, an aesthetic is administered in the region affected by varicose veins before a needle is inserted into the greater saphenous vein that is located near your knee. The doctor then proceeds, guided by ultrasound to insert a guide wire right through the needle making sure it goes all the way to your groin to pave way for laser and catheter placement in the targeted vein. The surgeon takes the next step to turn on the laser which slowly removes laser fiber making it collapse the vein as it is being forced to retract. The result is that blood contained in the vein is vaporized and the collapse of the inner vein lining is no longer able to allow blood flow through it.
Advantages of this method laser treatment method are several. One, EVLT does not ‘care’ the diameter of your veins unlike other technologies that may require a minimum diameter of 12 millimeters. Recovery is very short unlike in traditional vein stripping and litigation with no scars left as the patient goes back to normal activities. The procedure is short – an hour or shorter. you’re then observed for 6 hours before being allowed to go home and resume your daily activities. A small bandage on the treated area and/or an elastic wrap will also stay for up to seven days. With a 98% success rating, this may just be the laser treatment for your varicose veins!
Simple Laser Treatment
Simple laser treatment is what has been the answer until the arrival of Endovenous Laser Treatment. However, this form of treatment has often been limited to tiny varicose and spider veins that are located just beneath the skin surface. It is a cumbersome method for more than one sessions is needed for results that is to be held every 6 to 12 weeks or as your doctor prescribes. Poor blood circulation is first of all treated and then you wait for the larger veins to be treated through surgery, endovenous laser or sclerotherapy. It is being abandoned now its place taken by endovenus laser treatment.
Is Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins Effective?
Studies indicate laser treatment is safe. Endovenous laser treatment achieves excellent results in 98% of cases where it is used. There is no much pain involved and you recover after a very short period. Simple laser treatment on the other hand has been proven to very safe and effective, though limited in its use. Over twenty four years of use shows very good results.
Risks Associated with Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins
There’s likelihood of sustaining skin burns from the laser beam as are discolorations on your skin. There’s also a likelihood that you’ll feel some sharp, burning pains or prickling after recovery as some nerves are damaged during treatment. You may also have to live for some time with a small or large blood clot in the vein or a deep vein. |
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