Although varicose veins are commonly asymptomatic, many who suffer from them consider varicose veins to be undesirable and wish for them to be removed. If you have similar varicose vein issues, you may be seeking treatment options. Endovenous Laser Ablation is an early form of thermal treatment for varicose veins found on the legs. 

The medical staff of RejuVeination prefers radiofrequency ablation for thermal treatments.  Other treatment options include ambulatory phlebectomy, ultrasound guided foam and sclerotherapy  

What is Varicose Vein Treatment

Varicose Vein treatments are procedures that patients may need to eliminate unnecessary varicose veins. It is important to understand that varicose veins may lead to health concerns. Vein disease, or Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) can be detrimental to an individual’s health and/or quality of life if proper action is not taken. 

There are many forms of varicose vein treatment. Some include ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy, ambulatory phlebectomy, and thermal ablation. The two forms of creating the heat needed for thermal ablation  are laser or radio frequency.  Laser is an older technology for this process.

The heat of an ablation procedure closes a varicose vein, which then causes scar tissue to form within the vein’s vessel. As a result, the vein is sealed shut. Blood that pools within the initial varicose vein then flows through other veins, which creates healthy blood flow throughout the rest of the body. 

What are some common uses of the Procedure?

 Many symptoms that require the need for varicose veins thermal ablation include:

• Swelling/bulging of the veins
• Swelling of legs and ankles
• Fatigue in legs 
• Aching and throbbing pain around the legs 
• Skin ulcer formation around legs
• Skin irritation and discoloration around legs

If you experience any of the symptoms above, contact our office for further evaluation. Taking the right actions during the early stages of vein disease can prevent many from long term issues in the future. 

Taking action when identifying the signs of vein disease is important for properly eliminating long term health complications. Those who receive endovenous thermal ablation treatment can benefit from removing varicose veins. 

Endovenous Thermal Ablation creates little scarring in patients post-procedure, and veins may look nearly invisible one year after treatment. Those who have endovenous laser treatment completed may find that their symptoms of vein disease are relieved quickly after the procedure. 

What Does Radio Frequency (RFA)Equipment Look Like?

Endovenous Ablation treatment uses a catheter, console, radiofrequency electrode, and an ultrasound machine to perform the ablation on patients. 

The ultrasound scanner has a console, video display, and a transducer attached together. Many treatments will use different transducers during the treatment period. This transducer sends high-frequency sound waves into the patient and listens for echoes. The sound waves are inaudible to the human ear, making the process similar to how sonar functions. 

Your doctor will apply gel that allows sound waves to travel between the examined area and the transducer. The video display will create an image based on the ultrasound signal, showing body structure and tissue that the sound waves travel through. 

How Does the Procedure Work?

Endovenous Laser Therapy is a modern technique for treating spider and varicose veins. The procedure involves the use of a medical laser that causes the vein walls to collapse. Once treated, the vein will eventually be absorbed into your body, and the blood will be redirected to more healthy veins in the leg. 

The patient’s doctor will perform an ultrasound on their leg to visualize where the affected vein is located. A small incision is then made to send a catheter into the vein, where a fiber electrode is moved into location. 

Anesthesia is then injected into the surrounding leg area to collapse the vein. The energy from the electrode then heats the vein vessel, causing the vessel to close in shape. After the procedure, the vein will eventually shrink in size, sending blood to flow through to other veins in the leg. 

After your Endovenous Laser Ablation treatment, begin walking for a minimum of thirty minutes each day. It is important to avoid undergoing any strenuous exercise such as heavy weight lifting, high-impact aerobics, or other intensive sports. Follow proper guidelines to enhance blood circulation and lower the risk of developing any more clotting of blood within the leg veins. You may continue to work and are encouraged to keep moving and maintaining a normal level of activity. 

How is the Procedure Performed?

A trained doctor known as an interventional radiologist will perform the endovenous laser ablation treatment. The treatment is performed with local anesthesia, as well as mild sedation for outpatients. While the entire procedure usually lasts 45 minutes to an hour, the laser portion takes significantly less time overall. 

Patients begin by laying down on a procedure table that has been sterilized. The leg is then numbed with a local anesthetic, while the doctor will use an ultrasound to survey the leg area for affected varicose veins. Once the area has been numbed and surveyed, the doctor will create a small incision in the skin to insert a catheter. 

This catheter will contain the laser fiber required to heat the laser. Then, the laser is activated, slowly being pulled back through the vein in order to close off the vein’s vessels. The heat permanently closes the vein vessel, which causes the vein to disappear. The patient’s body will reroute blood flow from the varicose vein to healthier veins. This will ensure healthy blood flow throughout the body. 

Once the heat closes off the varicose vein, the catheter is then slowly removed from the point of incision. Blood will flow through from the treat veins to other veins. This promotes healthy blood flow. The doctor will then apply pressure and cover the leg area in bandages to prevent any bleeding or opening of the vein. 

What Will I Experience During the Procedure?

Usually, there is little discomfort for patients during an endovenous laser ablation procedure. Fortunately, the recovery process is quick and simple. Patients will usually be instructed to wear protective glasses during laser use as well. 

Patients should note that they’ll probably feel slight pressure from the insertion of the cather, and slight pricking pain from the injected anesthesia. This injection may even be the most uncomfortable part for many patients. This is because the doctor may have to make a few injections around the area of the vein to properly numb the patient for treatment. 

Will I Need Further Treatments?

The recovery process for an endovenous ablation is fairly quick. A compression stocking will be recommended for about a week after the procedure is completed. The majority of individuals who have completed endovenous ablation treatment are able to return to work the next day. In addition, many individuals are able to return back to normal activities in about a week.

Fortunately, the minimally invasive thermal ablation will successfully shrink any varicose vein that requires attention. However, that does not mean all veins are treated and cured. Spider veins and varicose veins may still form around other leg and ankle areas, and may need to be treated in the future. Ask your doctor about other treatments if varicose veins form and persist post treatment. 

To learn more about varicose veins treatment options, or to schedule a consultation, contact the professionals at Rejuveination located in Cincinnati, OH, today to begin the process of improving your appearance with varicose vein removal. 

People Also Ask

How long does it take to heal from vein ablation?

The recovery process for thermal ablation is fairly quick. A compression stocking will be recommended for about a week after the procedure is completed. The majority of individuals who have completed endovenous ablation treatment are able to return to work the next day. In addition, many individuals are able to return back to normal activities in about a week. 

Is vein ablation painful?

Since endovenous ablation treatment is minimally invasive, there is little to no pain during the procedure. The only discomfort patients may encounter is the injection of anesthesia at the beginning of the procedure. Fortunately, patients can return back to normal activities within a week from the procedure.