Written By: Emma Squillace
If your mother or grandmother had varicose veins treated decades ago, they likely had an invasive surgical procedure that included a lengthy and painful recovery. Today, the experience of treating visible veins is much less invasive and much more comfortable. We can get rid of bulging, twisted, weakened veins without surgery or incisions, and patients can walk out of our office after the treatment. One of the reasons we have been able to take such strides in treating veins is because of today’s laser technology.
What is a laser?
A laser is a device that can emit an intense, focused beam of light. This beam of light can be incredibly powerful in industries such as electronics, engraving, and especially medical procedures. The reasons lasers are so important to our procedures is their ability to target something as specific as a tiny portion of a vein. Lasers are precise, effective, and safe when used by a highly trained medical professional.
How is a laser used on veins?
There is a very popular vein treatment procedure called Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT). West Medical uses a particular laser called the 1320 Nm CoolTouch® CTEV system. We chose this laser because of its track record in treating veins with less bruising, less discomfort, and a shorter recovery. During EVLT, a thin fiber is placed into the vein we are going to treat. We numb the vein, and then this fiber delivers a beam of laser light right to the part of the affected vein that we are targeting. This light heats the vein from within, which causes it to slowly collapse over the next few weeks. The vein is no longer swollen, twisted, visible, or uncomfortable.
What are the benefits of EVLT on veins?
EVLT is a procedure that many of our patients choose for several reasons. First, the incision we make to insert the laser is so small that you don’t even need stitches. A small bandage is all that’s needed after the procedure. This procedure is incredibly minimally invasive, and you can walk out of our office the same day. Patients report minimal recovery, with an ability to return to normal activities within 2 days to a week. Little to no time off work is needed, depending on your job, and discomfort is minimal.
Is it safe to get laser treatment?
Yes. Laser treatment is safe as long as it is performed by a highly trained expert like the vein specialists at West Medical. Some people worry that it may be harmful to the circulatory system to “lose” a vein. However, we can assure you that treating a vein with a laser will not cause damage to your vein system overall. Your blood will naturally be rerouted around that vein, restoring normal circulation.
Will my visible veins return after laser treatment?
Laser treatment has a very high success rate for treating veins. That is one factor that has made it so popular. In fact, studies show that 3 years after laser treatment, 90 – 95% of visible veins did not come back.
Varicose veins, spider veins, and reticular veins, can interfere with your life. Visible veins can cause symptoms such as pain, itching, and heaviness – or they may make you self conscious about wearing summer clothes and enjoying warm weather activities. There are many options for treating veins at West Medical, including laser treatment which is one of our most popular options. If you’d like to learn more about veins and vein treatments, please call our offices at (855) 690-0565.