Endovenous Laser Ablation Treatment is a treatment alternative to surgical stripping of the greater saphenous vein. A small laser fiber is inserted, usually through a needle stick in the skin, into the damaged vein. Pulses of laser light are delivered inside the vein, which causes the vein to collapse and seal shut. The procedure is done in-office under local anesthesia. Following the procedure a bandage or compression hose is placed on the treated leg.

ELT stands for Endovenous Laser Treatment. This is an exciting new technique that is replacing traditional vein stripping in practices across the nation. It is predominantly used to treat varicose veins. ELT involves threading a laser fiber into the diseased vein and firing it along the length of the vein. This effectively “closes” the vein, preventing blood flow and the increased pressure associated with varicosities.

The energy source from the laser irritates the vein walls, causes them to shrink and slowly disappear. The vein can no longer carry any blood through it. Because these veins are superficial, they are not important for transfer of blood to the heart.

EVLT is a procedure performed in an office/clinic, requires no incisions and no hospital stay is required. After local anesthesia is administered, a laser fiber is inserted through a small needle hole in the skin into the vein that runs along the inner thigh. The laser is then slowly heated and the vein collapses around it. The collapsed vein soon shrinks and disappears. This technique rapidly treats the large varicose veins in the thigh and takes less than 30 mins to perform.

The endovenous laser treatment, using the Dornier D940 laser is a safe and highly effective treatment for varicose veins. This procedure is usually performed in a physician's office, typically using tumescent anesthesia. You can usually return to work the next day, with minimal post-procedure discomfort.

Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) was FDA-approved in 2002. EVLT is a quick, minimally invasive laser treatment that requires no hospitalization and no complicated surgery. The entire procedure, start to finish, takes about one hour and causes minimal to no pain. Performed under ultrasound guidance, EVLT uses laser energy to treat the underlying cause of varicose veins by closing off the vein to any future blood flow.

These are 2 of the newer, less-invasive surgical procedures performed on the large varicose veins only. Although some doctors still perform VNUS Closure, most experienced vein specialists are gradually doing less of this and more of EVLR. These procedures are designed to be performed on the main veins, especially the Greater Saphenous Vein (GSB).

LASE stands for Laser Assisted Saphenous Endo-ablation. LASE is a generic term used by Veintec to describe the laser procedure, ELAS and other acronyms refer to the same procedure but are copy written by individual laser manufacturers.

Major complications from this procedure are very rare. Various levels of discomfort can occur as well as some bruising.

Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that has rendered vein stripping all but obsolete. The procedure consists of placing a catheter into the diseased vein through a needle puncture with virtually no scarring.   Radiofrequency energy (heat) is then applied that destroys the vein wall from the inside. There is minimal discomfort and patients typically resume their active lifestyles immediately.

Clinical results have been published which document the success of endovenous laser treatment. Like any medical treatment, however, endovenous laser therapy has certain risks which your physician will explain to you as they apply to your individual case.

Previously, treatment of painful, swollen varicose veins required a surgical procedure called vein stripping, where the vein was completely removed from the leg. More recently, endovenous laser therapy has been developed to treat chronic venous insufficiency by delivering laser energy through a small puncture in the leg to close the diseased vein. With endovenous laser therapy, no surgery is required, and the entire procedure can be performed in less than one hour in your physician's office.

This minimally invasive treatment is an outpatient procedure performed using imaging guidance. After applying local anesthetic to the vein, the interventional radiologist inserts a thin catheter, about the size of a strand of spaghetti, into the vein and guides it up to the great saphenous vein in the thigh. Then laser or radiofrequency energy is applied to the inside vein. This heats the vein and seals the vein closed.

A:After your initial treatment, you will notice a significant reduction in the amount of hair in the treated area. However, it will take 2-4 weeks for the treated hair to push its way to the surface and fall out. It is important not to pluck or wax between treatments, as this may change the growth phase of the follicle. With each subsequent treatment, the hair in the active growing phase will be effectively treated.

Laser may be effective for the treatment of very fine spider veins in selected patients but has not been proven effective in the treatment of larger spider or varicose veins.

While we do have a laser available that is occasionally used to treat leg veins, we have found over the years that sclerotherapy (injection treatment) is more effective, hurts less, has fewer complications, less cost, and is far more efficient. While laser treatment has made the news a lot, most vein centers dedicated to vein treatment agree that topical laser treatment has been a big disappointment.

No. Each laser machine is FDA approved for different treatments. Some are approved for hair removal, others for facial rejuvenation, and yet others for vein treatment. It is important to check that the machine being used is appropriate for the treatment given. Always seek treatment with a professional that has experience with laser vein therapy.

This is a procedure done at the surgery center to help control or stop abnormal bleeding or heavy periods. It is a painless and quick procedure done while you are asleep for 15 minutes. You can go home in 1 - 2 hours after the procedure and resume normal activity the next day. You cannot attempt pregnancy after this procedure is done. This is a simple option to alleviate abnormal bleeding and/or heavy periods without needing a hysterectomy!