Does Laser Therapy Treat Varicose Veins?
When treating varicose veins, it is of the utmost importance that the selected remedy is sufficient enough to resolve the situation in its entirety. With that in mind, this article will give an overview of varicose veins and focus on the treatment potential of laser therapy as a remedy to the condition.
What are varicose veins?
Medically speaking, varicose veins are swollen and enlarged veins that occur in a twisted pattern. It is worth noting that this condition does not necessarily require treatment.
What causes varicose veins?
The development of this condition can be traced to the stretching of the vein walls, which will eventually cause the valves which carry blood around the body to get weaker. In such a situation, the weakened valve will cause the blood to flow backward in the opposite direction. Eventually, the blood will accumulate, and the veins will continue to swell, resulting in varicose veins.
What are the available treatment options?
The treatment of varicose veins is indeed necessary as it reduces pain and discomfort. It is also required to prevent potential complications such as skin discoloration and leg ulcers. Therefore, available treatment options include the following;
- Sclerotherapy: In this regard, a chemical is injected into the veins to the effect of scarring and closing them. This will cause the veins to fade.
- Transilluminated powered phlebectomy: This involves using an endoscopic transilluminator that will be passed into the skin via an incision. With this, the physician can see which veins to remove by using a suction device through the incision.
- Radiofrequency ablation: A small incision will be made below the knee and a narrow tube threaded into the vein. A probe that emits radiofrequency energy will be passed through the tube to the effect that the vein will be heated up. This will cause the walls of the affected veins to collapse, thus sealing them shut.
- Vein stripping and ligation: During this procedure, the doctor will begin by cutting the skin, after which he will off the affected veins and remove them. In consideration of future operations, the physician will attempt to leave the saphenous vein. Additionally, the patient will be allowed to return home immediately after the surgery has been completed. Still, it should be noted that the recovery time might differ and can span a period between 1 to 4 weeks.
- Surgery: This becomes a necessary procedure in a situation where the veins have become large, and there is no other alternative asides surgery. In such wise, intense bursts of light are applied to the veins, and this will cause them to fade away gradually.
Additionally, patients can exercise as an alternative home remedy.
Laser therapy as an available treatment option
This operation is done by closing the vein with continuous bursts of high-intensity light. It should be understood that this form of treatment is mostly carried out on smaller varicose veins. Thus, incisions and needles are unnecessary during the procedure.
What are the types of laser therapy?
Laser therapy choices include the following;
• Simple laser treatment
This is done outside the skin of the affected person and is used to treat tiny varicose veins outside the surface. In this regard, the procedure will require more than one laser session, which will be scheduled preferably every 6 to 12 weeks. Additionally, larger veins must be treated before smaller veins in the event of poor blood circulation; thus, surgery or sclerotherapy must be carried out before the laser treatment.
• Endovenous laser treatment
This procedure will involve the passing of a laser fiber through a thin tube into the vein. It should be noted that only light anesthetic is required during the operation.
• How successful has laser therapy been in the treatment of varicose veins?
To get a better grasp of the situation, we have to look at the advantages of using laser therapy for this condition. They include the following;
• Less pain
In some of the treatment methods for this condition, such as vein ligation and stripping, patients have been known to experience pain. However, this issue does not exist with laser therapy as the process is quick; thus, the affected person experiences no harm caused by extensive treatment.
• Shorter recovery time
As opposed to other forms of treatment that may have delayed results, patients can see improvements once treatment has been completed. This means that affected persons have a high chance of returning to their regular activities within a short period.
• It gives room for other forms of treatment.
In certain instances, there will still be a need to supplement treatment that has already been done. Thus, the physician will recommend that the affected person wear compression socks to assist in the recovery process.
• Easy to conduct physician check-up
It is not uncommon for the physician who conducted the procedure to carry out a routine check up on the patient. Laser therapy has simplified this process by allowing the doctor to use duplex ultrasound to ensure the vein has been closed.
• High success rate
Laser therapy has become an established method of treating varicose veins due to its high percentage of successful operations. Studies have shown that the endovenous laser treatment closes about 94 veins out of 100. Additionally, the simple laser treatment has been guaranteed as safe and effective over 20 years of use.
• Fewer issues
Most treatment options for varicose veins have side effects that can be damaging to the patient. As opposed to this, laser therapy has very few repercussions on the patient’s health and wellbeing.
• Are there any downsides?
Despite its massive success in treating varicose veins, laser therapy has minimal drawbacks worth mentioning. These include the following;
• Residual skin issues
In the treatment of varicose veins, the laser will be required to make contact with the skin surface on a regular basis. However, this may result in skin-related issues for the patient, e.g., changes in skin color, scarring etc.
• Repeated sessions
Despite its success rate, there is a chance that 6 out of 100 varicose vein treatments are not done correctly. This development means that the patient will undergo repeated treatment sessions that may prove difficult to follow through and can cause them considerable discomfort.
• Treatment cost is high.
Laser therapy is a very effective way of treating varicose veins as it utilizes top-notch technology to get the procedure done. However, this makes the treatment expensive as the cost can range between $200 to over $3,400.
Does laser therapy treat varicose veins successfully?
Looking through the benefits of the treatment method in question, it is without a doubt possible to treat varicose veins with laser therapy. Notwithstanding the treatment’s shortcomings, it has proven to be an efficient and safe way to treat patients and get them back to good health.
Summary
It is of absolute importance that patients suffering from varicose veins seek the best treatment option available. Cardio vascular specialists of South Florida has a specialist trained in laser surgery, thus ensuring that you have no issues during and after treatment.
Additionally, we are focused on your wellbeing and are prepared to work within your budget to guarantee you receive adequate treatment despite any funding restraints. Schedule an appointment with us today, and we can get you started.
