Endovenous Laser Treatment for Varicose Vein

The Varicose Vein Laser treatment is done with an infrared laser that is FDA cleared for endovenous laser treatment of varicose veins. The Varicose Vein Laser treatment is a safe and effective solution for treating venous insufficiency, often the cause of varicose veins, in a fast, comfortable procedure. It is a superior alternative to traditional solutions such as sclerotherapy and vein stripping.

• Safe, effective, and comfortable treatment
• Fast procedure
• Quick recovery
• Cosmetically pleasing results
• Minimal to no downtime
• Can be done in the doctor’s office

Varicose veins are gnarled, bulging and enlarged veins. They are larger than spider veins, typically 3 mm or more in diameter, and are deeper than spider veins. Contributing factors of venous insufficiency are heredity, age, obesity, prolonged standing and pregnancy.

Most patients develop varicose veins from the hydrostatic forces produced by reflux that results from primary valvular insufficiency.

Arteries carry blood from your heart to the rest of your tissues. Veins return blood from the rest of your body to your heart, so the blood can be recirculated. To return blood to the heart, the veins in legs must work against gravity. Muscle contractions in the lower legs act as pumps, and elastic vein walls help blood return to the heart. Tiny valves in the veins open as blood flows toward the heart then close to stop blood from flowing backward.
Age - As one gets older, the veins can lose elasticity causing them to stretch. The valves in the veins may become weak, allowing blood that should be moving toward your heart to flow backward. Blood pools in the veins, and the veins enlarge and become varicose.

Pregnancy - Some pregnant women develop varicose veins. Pregnancy increases the volume of blood in the body, but decreases the flow of blood from the legs to your pelvis. This circulatory change is designed to support the growing fetus, but it can produce an unfortunate side effect - enlarged veins in the legs. Varicose veins may surface for the first time or may worsen during late pregnancy, when the uterus exerts greater pressure on the veins in the legs. Changes in the hormones during pregnancy also may play a role. Varicose veins that develop during pregnancy generally improve without medical treatment within three months after delivery.

In addition to endovenous laser treatment, there are other procedures available to eliminate venous insufficiency, such as vein stripping or radio frequency ablation. In recent years, endovenous laser treatments have gained popularity as a fast and comfortable procedure, delivered under local anesthesia, with no downtime and little to no discomfort, bruising or swelling post procedure.

Yes, the Varicose Vein Laser treatment is safe for all skin types I through VI. Since the laser energy is delivered directly into the vein itself, skin type is not a factor. Tanned skin can also be treated safely.

Varicose Vein Laser treatment can be performed on an outpatient basis, in our Wayzata office. Under local anesthesia, a small incision is made and the laser fiber is inserted into the incompetent vein. With the fiber in position, the laser is activated and gently heats the vein in a series of pulses. As the fiber is pulled through the vein, the heat generated gently causes the vein to collapse painlessly. The vein is later reabsorbed by your body. Varicose Vein Laser treatment can be completed in usually less than one hour from start to finish.

The Varicose Vein Laser treatment uses the optimum wavelength for fast and comfortable endovenous laser treatment. Absorption of this laser light occurs in water within the vein and the heat generated by absorption of laser energy contracts and collapses the vein wall. This will halt the formation of future varicosities and result in complete vessel closure. With blood flow to the varicose vein interrupted, the pooling and bulging will begin to subside immediately as the blood circulation redirects itself to healthy veins.

With Varicose Vein Laser treatment you will experience minimal discomfort, bruising, or swelling. You can look forward to a quick recovery period and no wound care. Our Laser Esthetician may instruct you to wear compression stockings for a brief period following treatment. Most patients are up and walking within 30 minutes of treatment, return to mild activities within a day, and can participate in more strenuous activities within several days. Our Laser Esthetician will require an additional post procedure office visit (typically a week after treatment) to confirm full vessel occlusion.

The procedure does not require any stitches or wound care, so healing of the incision site is rapid.

Venous insufficiency can typically be addressed with one treatment. Studies show 100% closure at day 2 post procedure and a less than 1% rate of recurrence over time. Following Pro-V endovenous laser treatment, our Laser Esthetician may opt to perform other complementary procedures, such as sclerotherapy or phlebectomy, to treat your varicosities.

Potential, but uncommon, side effects that can occur, but are not limited to: pain, edema, ecchymosis, paresthesia, hematoma, phlebitis, thrombus, skin thermal injury, pigmentary changes, and infection.

Discuss your concerns with our Laser Esthetician prior to treatment.

The cost of treatment is dependent on many factors, including individual fees each office charges for treatment. It’s always best to ask when scheduling an appointment.

Most carriers provide coverage for endovenous laser treatment when medically necessary