Your veins pump blood from the heart throughout other areas of your body. The process completes itself as this blood is pumped back to the heart again. In order for the circulation of blood flow to reach extremities, such as your legs and feet, the muscles must contract and valves within the veins must open, allowing the blood to pass. In the case of people with varicose veins, these valves fail to work properly, causing the blood to pool in spots.

This can result in venous diseases such as varicose veins or spider veins, a milder and common variation. Varicose veins are typically large and dark purple or blue in color, often appearing right below the skin’s surface, while spider veins tend to be smaller and may appear as red, blue, or purple. You may notice either of these issues seem to appear suddenly, and unfortunately tend to increase over time. While they may be painless at first, varicose veins can eventually cause the following symptoms:

• Aching, pain, and heaviness in the legs and feet;
• Burning, throbbing, cramping, or swelling in the affected areas;
• Pain that worsens after sitting or standing for long periods;
• Hardening of the veins and skin ulcers, which indicate a more serious form of vascular disease, one that requires immediate medical attention.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, our staff and board certified Interventional Radiologists at Advanced Vein Therapy may be able to help. You may be a candidate for endovenous laser ablation treatment, a common, safe, and highly effective minimally-invasive procedure.

Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) is a minimally invasive procedure that can provide patients with relatively fast and highly effective relief from the painful symptoms and unsightly appearance of varicose veins.

At Advanced Vein Therapy, we can schedule you an initial consultation with our physicians to review your medical history and the symptoms you are currently experiencing. We can then discuss your diagnosis, the potential health ramifications, and all of the treatment options that may be available in your particular situation. Once you and your doctor decide on EVLT as the best course of action, we will create a customized treatment plan and set a date to schedule the procedure.

On the day of your treatment, our staff will warmly greet you and escort you to the procedure room, while helping you relax and answering any last-minute questions or concerns you have. At this point, they will also begin preparing your leg for the treatment. The following information explains exactly how EVLT works and what to expect on the day of the procedure:

• An ultrasound will be performed, with the radiologist marking the veins that will be treated;
• Your leg will be thoroughly cleaned to prevent the risk of infection at the treatment site and covered with surgical draping;
• Depending on where the unhealthy vein is located, you may be resting comfortably on your front or back side;
• Prior to treatment, you will be given a local anesthetic to alleviate any possible discomfort you may experience;
• During the procedure, the doctor will insert a thin fiber into the unhealthy vein;
• Once the laser is turned on, you will not feel pain but you may hear a buzzing sound and experience a slight burning smell or taste in your mouth;
• As the laser fiber emits a wave of light over the vein, it eventually closes and is absorbed into the body’s tissue.

The entire procedure generally takes between 60 to 90 minutes per leg. Once the varicose vein is closed, the blood will eventually reroute to another, healthier vein.