Frequently Asked Questions
How does the EVLT work?
The laser energy damages the vein walls,
shrinking them and closing the faulty vein so
that the blood cannot flow through it. This
eliminates vein bulging at its source.
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Is loss of this vein a problem?
No. After treatment, the blood in the faulty
veins will be diverted to the many normal
veins in the leg.
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What are the complications of this procedure?
The only minimal complications experienced
with EVLT have been a small number of cases
of numbness that passes quickly.
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Am I at risk from the laser?
No. Just as a precaution against accidental
firing of laser energy outside the body, you will
be given a pair of special glasses to protect
your eyes.
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How successful is EVLT?
97% of first-time EVLT treatments are successful!
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What Causes Varicose Veins Disease?
Many people think varicose veins are caused by pressure from
standing on their legs too long during work or exercise or that
they just develop during old age. Actually they are caused by a
disease in the major leg vein at the top of the leg called the
greater saphenous vein, and can affect people as young as 20.
Heredity is the most important factor, followed by gender and
age. Women have a higher incidence of varicose vein disease;
up to 25% of all women and 18% of all men will suffer from vein
reflux disease to some degree. Women are more susceptible
in part to the female hormones affecting the vein walls, especially
during pregnancy when there is also a temporary increase in
blood pressure and volume in the veins. Age is a factor because
vein walls loose elasticity, causing the valve system in veins to
work less effectively.
The greater saphenous vein is the major vessel in the superficial
venous system, running from the groin to the ankle. This vein
branches into many tributaries and connects to the “Deep Vein
System” at a number of points through vessels known as
perforator veins. The most common medical origin of varicose
veins is known as “reflux of the greater saphenous vein.” Within
all veins there are a series of one-way valves that assure blood
flow in the direction of the heart. “Reflux” relates to a failure of
these one-way valves that causes blood to flow backwards, pool
and stretch the walls of veins in the lower leg causing the unsightly
blue, bulging and painful veins known as varicose veins.
Although varicose veins often occur in the lower thigh, around
the knee and in the calf, the cause of the problem is often related
to a disease process or failure occurring higher up in the leg.
There are other factors that are associated with varicose veins
that can speed up the development of this disease and make
them worse but do not cause it, including obesity, prolonged
standing, and physical trauma. Patients can change their
lifestyles to address these secondary factors and may be able
to slow down the development of vein reflux disease.
Unfortunately, in most cases if you are going to develop the
problem, there is little which can be done to avoid it.
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How Can They be Treated?
In the past people suffering from varicose veins had only one
option for treatment, a painful procedure still performed today
which involves surgical tying and stripping of the diseased veins.
This surgery entails undergoing general anesthesia, making an
incision in the groin, and tying off and cutting the diseased vein;
the affected vein is then stripped out of the leg through an incision
at the knee. Problem cured, but with side effects including tissue
trauma, scarring or possible nerve damage not to mention the
inherent risks of general anesthesia and post surgical infection.
The recovery for this surgery is painful, and long, requiring
prescription painkillers, and taking up to one week of bed rest
and one week of restricted movement to heal.
With recent advances in technology to treat vein disease there
is now a better choice for varicose vein sufferers called EVLT™
(EndoVenous Laser Treatment). An innovative non-surgical
procedure, EVLT™ uses laser technology to seal the problem
vein safely and effectively, thus eliminating the problem at its
source.
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EVLT™ Delivers Results, Comfort & Convenience,
Freedom
How is this possible? Unlike surgical stripping, EVLT™
permanently closes off the vein without removing it. The physician
uses a diode laser delivered by a pencil tip-size fiber-optic probe
through a freckle-sized nick in the skin. The probe is guided into
place using ultrasound. The procedure is performed under a local
anesthetic that is similar to what dentists use to numb an area
being treated.
The whole process takes about 45 minutes. The patient is able
to walk out of the office with no post-operative scarring and
recover over a matter of hours or days using over-the-counter
pain relievers to minimize minor discomfort.
As defined by a lack of blood flow in the treated vein, EVLTT
has been shown to have a success rate of 98 percent at one
month follow-up, and 93.4 percent of treated greater saphenous
veins remaining closed at two-year follow-up. These results are
comparable or superior to those reported for other options for
treatment of greater saphenous veins, including surgical ligation
and stripping and alternative, minimally-invasive procedures such
as injection sclerotherapy and radio frequency
electrosurgery. (VNUS-Closuretm).Not all patients suffering
from venous diseases will be suitable candidates for EVLTT
treatment and should check with their doctors.
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