What is Laser Vein Treatment (EVLT)
July 5, 2023 • mdconnect • Vein Treatment
Varicose veins can be both a cosmetic and a health issue. They can make what might otherwise be beach-ready legs look ugly and cause a heaviness that makes moving more difficult. If you are looking into ways to treat your varicose veins, you are not alone. According to a 2022 book published by StatPerals, 30 percent of adults experience them at some point. Several possible options for dealing with varicose veins exist, including laser vein treatment (EVLT). What is EVLT, and why might it be the best choice for your varicose veins?
What Are Varicose Veins?
The circulatory system is a little like a two-lane highway. One lane, the arteries, carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to tissue throughout the body. The other way, the veins, move unoxygenated blood in the other direction, toward the heart, to pick up oxygen. Of the two lanes, veins have the more difficult job. They often have to push blood in an upward direction against the forces of gravity. Built into the muscular walls of veins are valves that help control the direction of the blood flow. The valves open as the walls of the vein contract to push blood up. The valves close to keep the blood from flowing backward as the vein walls relax. Over time, the walls of the veins can lose their elasticity, and that causes leaks in the valves. The valves open normally but don’t close fully when the walls relax, so blood moves backward and pools around the nearest working valve. This is a varicose vein. Varicose veins no longer function properly, so most treatment options like EVLT remove the vein. That forces the body to reroute the blood flow to healthy veins to improve circulation.What is Laser Vein Treatment (EVLT)?
Laser vein treatments are a minimally invasive option to collapse problem veins and improve circulation, usually in the legs. It works for both cosmetic and medical issues associated with varicose veins. The vein doctor uses a laser to seal the vein. With that vein closed off, blood reroutes to healthy veins. Eventually, the body will absorb the problem vein so it disappears completely.How Does Laser Vein Treatment Work?
Laser vein treatment is a minimally-invasive surgical procedure done in the doctor’s office, so there is no hospital or long-term recovery. Once the health care provider maps out the problem vein, they:- Apply a local anesthetic to the area to numb it
- Slide a thin fiber into the problem vein. The fiber contains a tiny laser.
- The laser emits a small amount of energy to close the vein.
- The body reroutes blood flow and absorbs the damaged vein.