Endovenous Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins
Oklahoma City Varicose Vein Removal
One of the latest, most advanced treatments for varicose vein removal is Endovenous Laser Treatment, or EVLT®. This treatment has the advantage of being minimally invasive, leaving no scar and requiring little postoperative downtime. EVLT® is the preferred varicose vein removal technique of the Oklahoma Vein and Endovascular Center’s Dr. Pedulla.
Choosing EVLT® for Varicose Veins
After your initial consultation with varicose vein doctor in Oklahoma City, Dr. Pedulla, he will use our high-tech ultrasound imaging system to determine the root cause of your varicose veins. The most common cause of varicose veins is incompetence, or dysfunction, of the saphenous vein, which is a major blood vessel in the legs. Once the diagnosis is determined, Dr. Pedulla will educate you about all your varicose vein treatment options and help you decide if EVLT® is right for you.
There are several advantages to choosing Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT®) for varicose vein removal. First of all, EVLT® is extremely effective: up to 98% of patients see complete removal of varicose veins. Second, EVLT® is very non-invasive, which means little or no pain with local anesthesia, no scarring, and little or no recovery time required.
How EVLT® Works
If you and Dr. Pedulla determine that EVLT® is the best choice to remove your varicose veins, you can then schedule your procedure. The process starts by numbing the area to be treated with a local anesthetic. Dr. Pedulla will then insert a catheter tube into the affected vein, inside which is a tiny laser filament.
Next, Dr. Pedulla will use ultrasound imaging technology to ensure that the laser is aimed with pinpoint accuracy. After using a saline solution with anesthetic to numb the target area, Dr. Pedulla will activate the laser, sealing the vein shut and then withdrawing the laser filament through the catheter tube. Overall, the EVLT® procedure usually lasts between thirty and forty-five minutes.
After Your EVLT® Procedure
When your procedure is finished, Dr. Pedulla will give you instructions for taking care of the treated area. It is critical that you follow every instruction Dr. Pedulla gives you in order to reduce the risk of complications and increase the likelihood of success. Usually, you will need to wear a compression dressing for two weeks or so, followed by about one week of wearing compression stockings all the time and another few weeks of wearing them during the day.
Within a week, Dr. Pedulla will likely have you come back for a postoperative ultrasound to evaluate the success of the operation. You may also need another ultrasound in a month or so to make certain that the vein remains sealed.
If you are considering varicose vein removal using Endovenous Laser Therapy, please contact the Oklahoma Vein and Endovascular Center today to schedule a consultation in Oklahoma City.
