Varicose Vein Removal With Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT)

Varicose veins are a common side effect of aging. By the age of 50, 40% of women and 20% of men will have vein issues in their legs. You may find varicose veins unsightly, but they can also be a sign of poor vascular health.

The good news is that varicose veins can be treated with lifestyle modifications and other nonsurgical therapies. However, if conservative treatments don’t work, varicose vein removal with endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) can be highly successful. Beaufort Memorial vascular specialists can determine which varicose vein treatment is right for you.

Learn your risk for vascular disease with a vascular screening. Then, discuss your results with a member of our heart and vascular team. Call 843-985-2870 to schedule an appointment.

Varicose Veins

Healthy veins transport blood from your extremities back to the heart. If vein walls get weakened or damaged, blood can pool — and sometimes even flow backward. When this happens, the veins can enlarge and become varicose.

Varicose veins will not go away on their own. However, with proper treatment, they can improve or be cured to help avoid serious complications, including:

• Bleeding in the vein (venous hemorrhage)
• Fungal and bacterial infections from edema, or fluid buildup
• Inflammation of the vein due to blood clot formation (thrombophlebitis)
• Open sores (venous stasis ulcers)
• Skin tissue infections

Varicose Vein Treatment With Lifestyle Changes

Mild varicose veins may improve with adjustments to lifestyle habits, such as:

• Avoiding long periods of time on your feet
• Elevating your legs when sitting
• Exercising regularly
• Losing weight
• Quitting smoking
• Wearing compression socks or tights

Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT)

If lifestyle changes do not help, or if the varicose veins are serious enough to need immediate treatment, your provider may recommend varicose vein removal with EVLT. This type of laser vein removal uses an ultrasound scanner to map out where your varicose veins are. Then a doctor inserts a small tube containing a laser fiber inside into the faulty vein. The fiber burns the vein to close it off.

Often, surgeons can perform EVLT procedures in their offices in just 45 minutes. Other benefits include:

• Little to no scarring
• Low risk of complications
• Quick return to normal activities

Beaufort Memorial uses VenaCure EVLT, which has a 98% success rate in treating varicose veins. However, some patients may need additional treatments for nearby veins that the EVLT cannot reach.

Other Varicose Vein Treatment Options

In addition to EVLT, Beaufort Memorial vascular specialists offer additional treatments for varicose veins that may be too small or complex for EVLT. Those treatments include:

• Sclerotherapy, a treatment often used for smaller varicose veins in which a solution is injected into the vein to improve appearance
• Vein stripping, surgical removal of varicose veins

If you’re struggling with varicose veins, talk to a Beaufort Memorial vascular specialist about treatment options.