Treatment

Your doctor may recommend a procedure based on the results of ultrasound or other exams showing which of your veins are affected and how well they are working.

What is Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT)?

Endovenous laser ablation therapy (EVLT) is a minimally invasive procedure that makes use of catheters, lasers, and ultrasound to treat varicose veins. This procedure is performed most often on veins that are still relatively straight and untwisted.
The EVLT procedure begins with an interventional radiologist inserting a catheter into the varicose vein. Using ultrasound to see inside the patient, the doctor guides the catheter through the vein. A laser at the end of the catheter heats the walls of the vein, which closes it. This causes blood to stop flowing through the vein.
As the body recovers after the procedure, circulation becomes more efficient since blood is not flowing through a faulty vein and the problem vein shrinks and fades.