Struggling with varicose and spider veins is never easy. With symptoms such as throbbing areas of pain, achiness, and heaviness of your legs, it can be difficult to not get frustrated after going through all the potential treatment options. At Alate Health, we offer free consultations with our experienced doctors so you can discover the best treatment for your unique case. One of these options may be the minimally invasive treatment of a vein ablation, or laser vein treatment. Read below to learn more, and for the very best laser vein treatment in Houston, stop by our state-of-the-art facilities.
WHAT IS A VEIN ABLATION?
Laser vein treatment is the utilization of targeted heat to seal diseased veins shut. Using ultrasound imaging, a small catheter is inserted into a diseased vein to target heat and cut off blood flow to the vein. Eventually, the body will reabsorb the vein and it will disappear from view. The procedure is very short – generally only 20 minutes long – allowing for the patient to come into the office, receive the procedure, and leave all within an hour. Every case is different, and some patients will need 2-6 treatments for the desired results to be achieved.
Your safety and comfort is of the utmost importance to us here at Alate Vein Center. When you come in for your free vein consultation, our specialists will sit down with you to discuss the procedure, as well as answer any questions or concerns you may have.
While every patient needs individualized care and every case is unique, these are several common factors our doctors will ask you about:
- Large veins that don’t have lots of twists and turns
- Overall good health
- Not pregnant
- No skin cancer
- No history of blood clots
One of our vein specialists will walk you through the specifics of what you should do to prepare for your procedure. However, regardless of individual circumstances, there are certain precautions that should be taken by everyone who wishes to go through with a vein ablation.
Blood-thinning medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or anti-inflammatory drugs should cease to be taken 48 hours before the procedure in order to avoid complications. It’s also necessary to keep the surgery area clean, meaning to wash thoroughly the day before and avoid applying lotion until after the vein ablation is complete.
When you come into the office on the day of your procedure, one of our vein specialists will sit down with you to go over any last minute questions you may have. Once all final questions have been addressed, you will be provided a gown to change into. You will then be directed into our ultrasound room to receive a mini-ultrasound exam in order to correctly identify your problem vein. Once it has been found, you will be redirected to the treatment room. The procedure leg area will be washed and dressed with clean sheets and the procedure will begin.
Unlike other vein centers, Alate Vein Center offers twilight sedation, or a small dose of general anesthesia that reduces anxiety. After sedation, a small catheter will be inserted into the problem vein and anesthesia is injected in the spots around the diseased vein, providing a barrier to protect the surrounding healthy veins. Once everything is settled, the laser is activated and treatment begins. The treatment lasts several minutes and you will be asked to do nothing more than lay still. If you begin feeling an uncomfortable amount of pain, tell your doctor right away. Once the procedure is finished, the catheter is removed and pressure is held to the access site to stifle any bleeding. The leg is bandaged and a compression garment is given for aftercare.
As mentioned above, laser vein surgery is a short procedure that lasts only about 20 minutes. Due to the procedure being minimally invasive, patients are usually able to be back on their feet and resume most of their normal activities the very next day. While walking and other light activity is encouraged, strenuous exercise should be avoided for at least 2-3 weeks after the procedure. It is also advised to wear a compression garment during all waking hours for the next 7-10 days.
About 2-3 weeks after the procedure, the treated vein should begin to dissipate from view as blood flow is discontinued. The physical symptoms you may have struggled with as a results of diseased veins should also begin to dissipate as well. Depending on the size and number of veins, some patients will need to come in for additional treatments.
While vein ablations are minimally invasive and safe, there are several health risks. While most of these will not be an issue after several days to a week, please bring any concerns you may have to one of our vein specialists. Potential side effects and risks include:
- Slight to moderate pain
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Redness and swelling
- Changes in skin color
- Blood clots
Our staff at Alate Vein Center wishes to keep you healthy and feeling fantastic. We utilize the latest in medical technology to provide you with the most effective laser vein treatment in Houston, along with other varicose and spider vein treatments. Take a look around our website for more information about treatment options, and check out our testimonials page to see what our satisfied patients have to say. Schedule a free vein consultation today to visit with our vein specialists and begin your journey to health and happiness.