I heard that ELVeS has recently updated or added a new type of procedure. What is it, and how is it different from ELVeS?
ELVeS is certainly the endovenous laser associated with the least discomfort by patient rating, on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the worse); the average rating was 3. Which is almost zero [...]
I had 3 laser surgeries done on left leg in 2006. It helped tremendously. I had much pain swelling etc. off and on for years until I did this. Well now I have some new vein problem in same leg. Right now I have superficial phlebitis in the left leg.
There is no specific limit to [...]
What is the most effective surgery that is least painful?
Most vein procedures are done without sedation. However most surgeries/ treatments can also be done with mild sedation with oral drugs and local anesthetic. Even the most apprehensive patients do well with oral medications and a supportive vein center atmosphere.
Can you please tell me if this is painful or not?
If you’re asking about the Endovenous Laser, it’s not very painful. More like mildly uncomfortable for most people. If you’re asking about the Cutaneous Laser, or an IPL they are a little more uncomfortable. It feels like grease popping on the skin. However, most people [...]
If the EVLT procedure doesn’t alleviate problems in the lower leg do /can you laser the lower leg?
Yes you can laser in the lower leg, you have to be much more careful. There is a nerve that supplies sensation to the skin, saphenous nerve, that runs along the vein in the lower leg. The [...]
Would I be put under, or is just a local used?
The choice of anesthesia is a decision make between the patient and the surgeon. Depending on the procedure there may be a wide range of options while some types of surgery require a more specific choice.It depends on what procedure you have, if it is [...]
I was wondering what test can be performed to detect which veins in the pelvis are refluxing? I am having a hysterectomy and have been told if we know which veins are refluxing they can be taken care of during the hysterectomy surgery.
Varicose veins in the legs are best studied with a reflux ultrasound. Varicose [...]
After having sclerotherapy 6 weeks ago, now I am having intense pain in my foot and I am having trouble walking on it. Is this normal? The physician says it is not related to the sclerotherapy or vein stripping I had done on same leg.
Difficult to tell if related. Nerve damage can develop after stripping or [...]
It seems like the laser would hurt.
It is true that properly performed Endovenous Laser Ablation is associated with minimal discomfort. Patients typically require either no analgesic or an over the counter analgesic after the procedure. As with many procedures, there is frequently a mild peak of discomfort at days 3 to5 days after the procedure, [...]
No, they are completely different than Vein Ligation, or Vein Stripping.
EVLT and RF are minimally invasive catheter based procedure which use laser or RF energy to seal the involved vein closed. Thes procedure have minimal downtime or discomfort associated with them. Ligation or Stripping are surgeries which require open incisions, dissection, and sutures, and involve [...]
What are the odds the veins will come back after treatment?
The odds of a treated vein returning are about 2 in 100. Although some studies have reported a little more or less recurrence, 2% is probably the best estimate.
I had an EVLT done about three months ago..right after the EVLT procedure I started feeling weird sensations in my ankle and now the pain seems to get worse everyday? Could this pain be associated with the procedure?
VLT can be the cause of nerve damage, especially of the small sensation serves. If this occurs, healing [...]
After having the endovenous laser ablation on both legs, I have developed large ulcers on one of my legs. What could have caused this? This has been a very long and painful experience.
Very unlikely to cause leg ulcers, unless the vein treated was very superficial and a skin burn was caused which is theoretically possible, [...]
They sound like sort of the same thing; why would one hurt more than the other?
As to pain during the procedure there should be absolutely no difference. No pain should be felt during the ablation if the local anesthesia is administered correctly.Generally there is minimal to mild pain after these procedures treated with at most [...]
How common is this complication? Is there any way to prevent it?
Yes, Endovenous Laser Ablation can cause a deep vein thrombosis. Studies show that this is an uncommon occurence happening in less than .5% of cases; or less than 5 in 1000 treatments.
