What to Expect from Your First Laser Vein Treatment Session
Lasers are now often used instead of knives and scalpels for various medical procedures. Thanks to their ability to target tiny areas of the body, such as problematic veins, a laser is utilized by your vein doctor to get rid of these veins once and for all.
Varicose veins are a common condition whereby the veins look dark purple, blue, or reddish, and they may also appear twisted and bulging. You can often find varicose veins on the legs and ankles because they develop after years of standing and walking while putting pressure on these veins.
There is no harm done to your body when a vein is removed because the blood will simply be naturally re-routed to nearby healthy veins. Let’s talk about some of the key things you can expect if you have laser vein treatment, and where you can go here in Kansas City for an expert medical evaluation and treatment of your spider veins and varicose veins.
How Laser Vein Treatment Works
Your vein doctor will target the laser to heat the vein. This essentially creates a seal, which renders the vein useless – so blood will naturally flow through other nearby veins. You may need to have more than one session with your vein doctor, and the vein will diminish after it is deemed to be fully depleted.
Laser vein treatments are often used by those who do not want to or cannot, undergo invasive procedures. Some of the benefits of laser vein treatment include the following:
- No general anesthesia necessary
- Minimal pain after the procedure
- Short recovery period
- Little to no scarring
- Minor or no complications
There are two main types of laser treatments that are used to address varicose veins, non-invasive and minimally invasive:
Noninvasive Laser Treatment
Simple laser treatment is done outside of the skin. This procedure is usually used to treat spider veins or tiny varicose veins.
Minimally Invasive Endovenous Laser Treatment
Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) is used to treat large varicose veins. A laser fiber is inserted through the skin into the vein via a tiny catheter. While doing this, the doctor will use ultrasound to ensure precision.
What Can I Expect After Vein Treatment?
You may have minor bruising and swelling for a short period of time. These symptoms can be prevented or minimized by wearing compression stockings. Wearing compression stockings for a week or more may be required for those who undergo endovenous laser treatment.
You will want to avoid high-impact activities for two weeks or more after the procedure. However, low-intensity physical activities such as walking and swimming are encouraged. Long periods of standing or sitting in one position may be detrimental to your recovery, so be sure to move around and stretch.
Keep your legs elevated when you can. As with any laser treatment, you may experience some scarring, burning, hypopigmentation, and bruising.
What if I Just Let It Go?
Untreated varicose veins can cause various issues, including the following:
- Pain in the leg
- Itching around the vein
- Swelling in the area
- Feelings of cramping
- Burning sensations
- Skin discoloration
- Ulceration of the vein through the skin, causing an open wound
If you have the vein treated by a vein doctor, you will eliminate these problems altogether.
Vein Clinic in Kansas City, MO
If you have spider veins or varicose veins, you can get the clear skin you want by seeing Dr. Scott Darling here at Missouri Vein Specialists. Contact our friendly staff today by calling (816) 792-3400 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to seeing you!
