Unsightly varicose veins can ruin your summer plans. Going out is nerve-wracking If you’re self-conscious about showing your legs. To avoid painful removal procedures, you may think you have to live with varicose veins. But, answers are closer than you think. Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) is a minimally invasive procedure that can improve your quality of life. Here is what EVLT involves and how you can determine if it’s an option for you.

What Causes Varicose Veins?

Our bodies experience many changes as we age. When the valves in your blood vessels are damaged or weakened, blood collects in the vein. As blood pools in the vein, they bulge near the top of the skin, resulting in varicose veins.

How EVLT Treats Varicose Veins

Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) is an outpatient procedure that usually takes less than an hour to complete. EVLT uses a small incision to insert a fiber into affected veins to guide the laser surgery. Next, laser energy seals the damaged vein walls and re-routes the blood that causes varicose veins. With the blood re-routed, circulation improves, and your symptoms start resolving.

How EVLT Benefits You

Some treatments for varicose veins are invasive and have extensive recovery times. EVLT is a short-minimally invasive procedure with little downtime once completed. A local anesthetic makes the surgery 

 painless, and most patients report immediate symptom relief.

Recovery

After the procedure, you can get back to your regular activities immediately. However, you’ll have to take measures to ensure long-term results. You should avoid:

• Standing or sitting for long periods
• Heavy lifting
• Strenuous activities
• Hot baths

Risks of EVLT

Every procedure has the potential for risks, and EVLT is no exception. The chances of complications after an EVLT procedure, but risks can include:

• Deep vein thrombosis
• Scarring
• Infection
• Bruising
• And others

Is EVLT Right For You?

If you have varicose veins and are considering EVLT, talk to one of our professionals. Suffolk Vein & Vascular serves the Riverhead, Port Jefferson Station, and Hauppauge areas. Call any of our offices today at (631) 591-9003 (Riverhead), (631) 476-9100 (Port Jefferson Station), and (631) 979-0222 (Hauppauge) to schedule an appointment.