Surgery Vs Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins
It is not something from far past when the patients used to bear the discomfort associated with painful and unsightly varicose veins only because of the fear of vein ligation and stripping. These are actually surgical procedures to eliminate tortuous veins from the legs or thighs. With this speedy advancement in the treatment of varicose veins, laser procedures have shown dominance over the typical surgical varicose vein treatments because of several patient-centric supremacies.
What are available surgical varicose Vein treatments?
Ligation and stripping are the most commonly operated surgical interventions for the treatment of varicose veins. Ligation is the process involving surgical tying off of a large vein (greater saphenous vein) in the leg while stripping is the process of removal of the same vein via incisions or tissue cuts in the groin region, thigh and leg. Both the procedures are done to diminish the blood pressure, thereby reducing the backflow of the blood into smaller superficial veins from the larger deep veins.
Complications of surgical varicose Vein treatments
Varicose vein stripping is usually carried out under general anesthesia. Although it is a very safe modality and associated with low-risk, the surgery associated side effects and discomfort are always associated with it like allergic responses to the anesthetic solution, needle prick injuries, post-surgical infections, bleeding during or after the surgery, blood clots, bruises, or scars, and possible nerve injury.
Surgical interventions typically take approximately 60-90 minutes. If the case is complicated than the usual cases, then it may last for a longer period. It is associated with comparatively longer recovery periods typically take two to four weeks. In fact, recovery actually varies from person to person depending on the number or location of the operated veins.
Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins
Endovenous (meaning: from within the vein) treatment nowadays are preferred by patients. One of these scientifically and technologically advanced treatments is Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT) and is perhaps the most common.
Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT)
An Ultrasound technique is used to guide an optical fiber inside the affected vein. Afterward, a highly concentrated laser beam is focussed on the walls of the veins that are to be damaged. This laser beam heats the targeted venous walls, causes their reduction, contraction, and consequent closure of the vein.
Supremacy of Endovenous Laser Therapy Over Surgical Varicose Vein Treatments
Unlike surgical treatments, endovenous laser therapy is performed under local anesthesia. So, the patient is not at the risk associated with general anesthesia. It is comparatively a safer procedure associated with low risks, lesser pain or discomfort, and a higher success rate that is around 98%.
It requires comparatively lesser time for procedureand patients is able to go back home walking on the same day. Moreover, patients requires lesser post-operative care even at home. The patient can resume his normal activities almost immediately which is much earlier than surgical interventions.
Summing Up
If you want to get rid of painful and unpleasant varicose veins in a relatively comfortable and minimally invasive painless manner then one must proceed with laser treatment for varicose veins.
Dr. Akhil Monga is among the best vascular specialist in Tricity and has rich expertise in laser treatment for varicose veins. There, you can get the best help to choose a treatment that’s perfect for your venous health.
