I have varicose veins that get worse when I’m pregnant. I want to have endovenous laser ablation, but should I wait until I’m finished having children (my husband and i want at least one more)?
There is no good reason to wait. Actually, taking care of the problem prior to any future pregnancies is actually the [...]
Is it normal to have a Phlebectomy in the doctor’s office and not a hospital?
I just consulted with a doctor about my large varicose veins. He advised me that he could take them out by phlebectomy in his office under local anesthetic. Is this normal or should I find a doctor to do this procedure [...]
How can I tell if I have spider or varicose veins?
Varicose veins are larger and bulge out. Most patients tend to have a lot more pain, swelling and other symptoms with varicose veins vs. spider veins.
To answer your question with more precisely: Essentially, as we currently understand, the same characteristics apply to both spider [...]
What kind of anesthesia is used during Varicose Vein Surgery? Would I be put under, or is just a local used?
Vein procedures often can be performed fully ambulatory under local anesthesia. If you are having a more involved procedure, the type of anesthesia depends.
The choice of anesthesia during surgery is a decision made between [...]
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 [...]
Is it possible for EVLT to make your legs look worse after the procedure?
Not usually if you are referring to the bulging veins, as the EVLT is used to cut off the source of these bulging veins. Some people do get darkened skin, which usually fades over time
- Dr. Wright
Does endovenous laser ablation require multiple treatments? Or will just one treatment do the trick? Could the varicose veins come back?
For the most part endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) is done on the large veins ie greater saphenous and lesser saphenous. Occasionally some large tributary branches can be treated with EVLT as well. For the most [...]
I have perpetually cold feet and occasional tingling in my feet and ankles. I also have a number of large varicose veins in each leg, so do you think that my circulation in my feet will improve if I have ELA?
Venous circulatory symptoms usually manifest with leg heaviness, pain that increases during the day, and [...]
I am about two months into treatment for chronic venous insufficiency. I have had laser ablation and foam sclerotherapy with very little results. Can anything be done to treat lipodermatosclerosis after the veins are treated? I wear compression hose.
Lipodermatosclerosis is usually not reversible even after treatment for venous insufficiency. It is scarring and damage to [...]
Can ELA or other vein treatments improve overall circulation, perhaps improving PCS symptoms? I have bad varicose veins in the legs and hemorrhoids and was hoping that treating them would improve my PCS symptoms as well.
Treating superficial venous reflux may help lower leg symptoms but does not address PCS. The valve problem in the pelvic [...]
Is Endovenous Laser Ablation or VNUS Closure Fast a more effective way to treat a dilated greater saphenous vein with gross incompetence from the saphenofemoral vein down the lower leg, contributing to superficial venous hypertension?
Endovenous Laser Ablation and VNUS Closure Fast have similar effectiveness. Actually Endovenous Laser Ablation has a slightly better effectiveness. There is [...]
What are the risks involved with ELVeS?
The treatment carries little risks. A very small number of people develop blood clots following treatment with ELVeS { less than 2 per thousand treatments}. The only other reported side effect is some numbness in the affected area, which usually disappears with time.
- Dr. Wright
What is recovery like after a vein procedure with a laser?
Recovery is generally quick and almost pai- free. The doctor will apply a compression garment and ask the patient to walk around the office for about 20 minutes before leaving. Patients may return to normal activities other than strenuous exercise, but compression stockings must be [...]
Who is a candidate for ELVeS?
This system is effective for problems with both the greater and small saphenous veins. Most individuals with incompetent or leaky superficial veins of the legs are perfect candidates.
- Dr. Wright
What are the advantages of ELVeS over other procedures?
ELVeS takes less than an hour and can be done without general anesthesia or hospitalization. Other procedures can leave scarring and are much more expensive and often requiring hospitalization. According to most patients the worst pain involved is the injection of lidocaine, which feels something like a [...]
