Exploring the EVLT Procedure for Varicose Veins: What To Expect

Varicose veins are bluish-purple, bulging veins that appear on the legs. They develop when damaged valves in the vein allow blood to pool inside damaged or weak veins. They can cause pain, discomfort, and other problems if left untreated.¹

To effectively remove varicose veins to relieve painful symptoms, your vein specialist might recommend Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT). EVLT, also known as Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA), is an advanced method that removes damaged veins through a minimally invasive treatment.²

What Is EVLT?

EVLT is the gold standard for varicose vein treatment and is offered under the brand name VenaCure EVLT. It is a minimally invasive procedure, which is safer and more effective than painful varicose vein removal surgery.³

EVLT involves treating the affected problematic veins using laser energy. The laser’s beam heats up or burns the vein walls, causing the vein to shrink, collapse, and seal shut. Once the varicose vein is sealed, the blood flows into surrounding, healthy veins. The body gradually absorbs the closed vein till it completely disappears.⁴

Benefits of EVLT

EVLT has the following benefits:⁵

Minimally invasive and requires one small incision
Safe, effective, and less painful than vein removal surgery
A fast, simple procedure that takes only an hour
Quick recovery, allowing you to resume daily activities immediately
Little to no bruising and scarring

Who it’s for

EVLT is used to treat large, superficial, and painful varicose veins. ‌If you have these varicose vein signs and symptoms, your vein specialist may use EVLT for treatment:⁶

Pain and discomfort
Swelling and throbbing
‌Tiredness or heaviness in legs
‌Skin discoloration
‌Itching or irritation
Cramping

EVLT is also used to fade varicose veins for cosmetic reasons.

EVLT Procedure for Varicose Veins

EVLT is a simple, outpatient procedure done in the vein specialist’s office instead of an operating room. If your vein specialist recommends EVLT for your varicose veins, here’s what to expect over the treatment course.

Before treatment

Talk to your vein specialist about your varicose vein symptoms.
Let them know about any other health conditions or allergies you have.
Tell them about the medications and supplements you take. They may ask you to stop taking medicines that can interfere with your treatment.⁷
Wear loose, comfortable clothes for the procedure.
Avoid carrying accessories as you’ll have to take them off before the procedure.

During treatment

Before EVLT, the vein specialist or nurse will clean and numb the area around your varicose veins or the treatment site. Once it is numb, the vein specialist will make a small cut or incision in the affected vein. Through it, they’ll insert a catheter and position it in place under ultrasound guidance. They’ll then insert the laser fiber into the catheter and turn it on.⁸

The vein specialist will slowly pull out the catheter with the laser fiber. As the laser fiber passes through the vein, the laser heat energy flows through the fiber’s tip and heats the vein walls. The heat energy causes the varicose vein to shrink and close along its entire length.⁹

The blood flow to the varicose vein gets cut and reroutes through healthier veins. The treated vein gradually disappears along with the painful varicose vein symptoms.

For more than one varicose vein, you may need additional treatment.

Aftercare

The entire EVLT procedure takes about an hour. You can get back to your daily activities immediately after treatment. Some may feel instant relief from painful varicose symptoms. But some may have side effects like pain and bruising near the treatment site. It is normal after a laser heat treatment but goes away eventually.

Here are some dos and don’ts for aftercare:¹⁰

Walk more: Walking as much as possible will help improve your blood circulation and prevent swelling.
Wear gradient compression stockings: Your vein specialist may ask you to wear compression stockings for a week or two after the procedure. The stockings gently squeeze the veins in the treated leg keeping the vein shut, while promoting healthy blood circulation and preventing discomfort, swelling, and bruising.
Eat healthily: A nutritious diet will help maintain your vein health and promote healing. Eat foods with more fiber, potassium, and antioxidants. Avoid salty, sugary, fried, high-fat, or processed foods.
Elevate your legs: Raising your legs above the heart level can help improve circulation and prevent swelling.
Avoid prolonged standing or sitting: Sitting or standing in one position for too long can affect your blood flow. So, change your position and move around often, especially if you have a desk job.
Avoid strenuous activities: After EVLT, avoid high-impact activities like running, jogging, and weight lifting. Strenuous exercise can put pressure on the treated vein and prevent healing. Check with your vein specialist before resuming such activities.
Avoid heat and sun exposure: Avoid hot-water baths or showers and sun exposure for some weeks after treatment. Too much heat can affect the treated vein and reverse the recovery process.

Risks of EVLT

EVLT is a safe and effective treatment. But like any other surgical procedure, it comes with a slight risk of bleeding, bruising, infection, or blood vessel damage at the treatment site. Vein specialists are careful to ensure that they minimize such risks.¹¹

EVLT Procedure Recovery

You’ll start seeing treatment results within a few days to a week after EVLT. However, the treated vein may take up to a year to fade away completely.¹²

EVLT is a permanent treatment. Your treated varicose veins won’t return. But you may develop new varicose veins due to vein weakness or damage if you’re not careful.¹³

Varicose Veins and Their Treatment

Varicose veins may appear due to increased pressure on your legs. In most people, bulging, blue varicose veins affect the appearance of their legs. But they can cause severe pain and discomfort. They can also increase your risk of developing complications like blood clots or leg sores.¹⁴

To get rid of the symptoms and prevent complications, visit a vein specialist for treatment. They’ll check your veins and recommend the right, minimally invasive treatment to remove your problematic leg veins and relieve your symptoms.

Tips for Finding a Qualified Vein Specialist

Here are some tips for finding a vein specialist:

Check whether the vein specialist is qualified, experienced, and board-certified.
Check if the clinic offers the latest treatments and state-of-the-art equipment.
Check reviews, recommendations, and referrals to see what previous patients think about the clinic.
Check if the clinic offers insurance coverage for treatment.
Check if the clinic is near you, so you don’t have to travel far for the procedure.

Medicus Vein Care is an established, patient-driven practice, dedicated to excellent care. If you’re feeling discomfort every day, call us! Meet with our vein specialist for a free consultation to understand why you have symptoms and what we can do to get you back on your feet again, comfortably.

SOURCES:

American Academy of Dermatology: “ Leg Veins: Why They Appear and How Dermatologists Treat Them.”
NHS: “ Treatment.”
BMJ: “ Varicose veins and their management.”
NHS: “ Treatment.”
International Wound Journal: “ Comparison of endovenous laser treatment and high ligation in treatment of limb varicosity: A meta‐analysis.”
Cleveland Clinic: “ Varicose Veins.”
RadiologyInfo.org: “ Varicose Vein Treatment (Endovenous Ablation of Varicose Veins).”
RadiologyInfo.org: “ Varicose Vein Treatment (Endovenous Ablation of Varicose Veins).”
RadiologyInfo.org: “ Varicose Vein Treatment (Endovenous Ablation of Varicose Veins).”
Johns Hopkins Medicine: “ Endovenous Laser Varicose Vein Surgery.”
RadiologyInfo.org: “ Varicose Vein Treatment (Endovenous Ablation of Varicose Veins).”
American Academy of Dermatology: “ Leg Veins: Why They Appear and How Dermatologists Treat Them.”
International Wound Journal: “ Comparison of endovenous laser treatment and high ligation in treatment of limb varicosity: A meta‐analysis.”
Cleveland Clinic: “ Varicose Veins.”

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