EVLT Vein Treatment FAQ

Welcome to the FAQ section of our website specifically related to EVLT varicose vein treatments. Below you will find the answers to common questions that people like you have about the treatment of varicose veins and spider veins through EVLT technology.

If you have any questions about EVLT varicose vein treatments that you don’t see answered here please contact us with your question so we can answer it and update this page.

Why should USA Vein Clinics perform EVLT?
What kinds of veins can be treated?
What is the success rate for EVLT?
Do I need this vein?
What kind of follow-up care will be provided?
How many times do I need to come to the clinic?
What does the EVLT vein treatment procedure involve?
Is the EVLT laser treatment painful?
Will my varicosities come back in the future?
What are the alternatives to EVLT?
How many EVLT treatments will be required?
What should I do to prepare for EVLT vein treatments?
What can I expect during EVLT vein treatments?
What can I expect following EVLT treatments?
Will I need to wear support hose?

Following are the most commonly asked questions about EVLT at USA Vein Clinics. If you have any additional questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Why should USA Vein Clinics perform EVLT?

The medical staff at the USA Vein Clinics is determined to provide the most professional of care to all of our patients. We perform all therapy in our office on an outpatient basis with the patient awake and able to resume normal activity immediately. Our advanced techniques enable patients to achieve the best medical and cosmetic outcome. In addition, all procedures are performed by the doctor, not nurses or technicians.

What kinds of veins can be treated?

Any vein large enough for the insertion of the fibre can be treated. The most common vein that is treated is the greater saphenous vein. This vein starts on the foot and runs up the inside of the leg to the groin.

What is the success rate for EVLT?

The success rate is 98-99%. Some studies have demonstrated a 100% success rate.

The recurrence rate is also important to know. This is the number of times that new veins develop in the treated area. For EVLT this is less than 5% (it runs about 40% for vein surgery).

Do I need this vein?

You have already lost this vein. It no longer takes blood out of your leg. In fact, the blood in varicose veins is moving back down the legs away from your heart. This can only be detrimental to you.  Eliminating this bad vein actually improves your circulation.

Your body has already adapted to this abnormal state. The blood going down your leg via varicose veins is removed by other healthy veins.

What kind of follow-up care will be provided?

You will be scheduled for a brief follow-up ultrasound 3 days after your procedure. One month later, you will be asked to return to see the physician and you will receive another follow-up ultrasound exam. Your final visit will take place 6 months after your procedure.

How many times do I need to come to the clinic?

The first time you need to come, is for the initial evaluation and Ultrasound examination. During this visit the doctor will be able to diagnose your condition and will answer all of your questions. Some insurance policies require a second visit, 6-12 weeks after the initial appointment to evaluate whether conservative treatment was effective to help your symptoms. Conservative treatment consists of frequent leg elevation, avoiding prolonged standing, and wearing compression stockings (30-40 mmHg pressure). If conservative treatment fails, you will be scheduled for the procedure. Finally, 1-2 weeks after the treatment, it is important to come back to our clinic for a confirmatory Ultrasound examination to ensure good results.

What does the EVLT vein treatment procedure involve?

• Once you pick a good time for you to undergo the treatment, you come to the clinic for the procedure.
• Your doctor will see you and again answer any questions you might have thought of after the initial visit.
• Then you will receive a mild sedative in form of a pill and your doctor will perform an ultrasound of your veins and will mark them.
• Next, a nurse will clean the skin of your legs with antimicrobial solution.
• The doctor, after injecting local numbing medicine in your legs, will perform the laser treatment. Once it is completed, compressing wrap will be applied and you will be able to go home.

Is the EVLT laser treatment painful?

The procedure is not painful since we provide not only local numbing medicine but also mild sedative for relaxation and comfort.

Will my varicosities come back in the future?

After complete treatment recurrence of varicosities is highly unlikely.

What are the alternatives to EVLT?

You may choose to do nothing with your varicose veins. You risk developing complications such as venous ulcers.

Wearing support hose will reduce symptoms and slow down progression of the varicose veins.

Surgery can be done to strip large veins. This is a painful procedure that usually results in two to four weeks of time loss. It leaves scars. There is about a 40% chance that you will get new veins in the same area within two years.

Foam sclerotherapy can be done. The success rate is very high, but it frequently requires three treatments over several months to accomplish the same success rate as a single EVLT. There may be a small residual vein following foam treatments. Using EVLT, the treated vein is usually completely eliminated.

How many EVLT treatments will be required?

In most cases one session of EVLT is required. This session will treat the largest vein. Smaller residual veins are treated later with sclerotherapy.

If there are large varicose veins on both legs, another session of EVLT is necessary. However, sometimes both legs can be treated in one session.

What should I do to prepare for EVLT vein treatments?

1. Do not shave your legs the day of treatment.
2. Do not apply lotion or cream to your legs (tape will not stick).
3. Bring a pair of loose shorts. Bring long pants or a long skirt to wear afterwards.
4. Bring support hose to wear after treatment.
5. Eat well before you come to avoid hypoglycemia and fainting.
6. Drink lots of fluids before your treatment to fill up your veins and to prevent fainting.
7. EVLTAvoid exercise (even walking) prior to treatment. This may drain your veins and make accessing your veins more difficult. It is preferable to stand for a prolonged time to fill your veins.

What can I expect during EVLT vein treatments?

First, an ultrasound examination is carried out to map the vein to be treated.  Then you sit on the exam bed, and a needle is inserted into the vein.  Next you lie down, and an introducer sheath ( a long narrow plastic tube) is then inserted into which the laser fibre is passed.

Ultrasound is used to check the placement of the fibre.   Next a local anesthetic is injected along the vein.  The position of the fibre is checked again.  Then the laser is turned on and the introducer with the laser fibre in it is slowly withdrawn.

Once it is out, the laser is turned off.  A compression bandage and support hose are applied to the leg, and you stay for fifteen minutes or so with your feet up.  After this you get up and go home.

The whole procedure takes about one to two hours depending on complexity.

What can I expect following EVLT treatments?

There will be two layers of compression: an outer tensor bandage called Coban and compression hose. The outer bandage can be removed after 4 hours. The compression stocking must be left in place for 24 hours.

You are encouraged to be as active as possible, except in the first 24 hours when exercise should be avoided. You should walk every day.

For a few days you should avoid hot baths, saunas, hot tubs etc.

You will be sore for a few days. Most people use simple analgesics like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen). Some people need more than this. A prescription will be provided for analgesics that you can fill if needed.

You need to wear support hose for three weeks.

Will I need to wear support hose?

When large veins are treated, a support hose is required. It is an important part of the treatment. Use of support hose decreases the rate of complications.