FAQs

The vein that is treated by EVLT remains closed for the rest of your life, and as time passes, it gets absorbed to a certain extent by the body.

The fact of the matter is that there are already other veins that are currently directing the blood flow back to the heart because the refluxing veins are currently sending the venous blood back down the leg (when standing or sitting for a long time). When the abnormal vein is shut off, these other veins will have an easier time carrying the blood out of the leg.

An important innovation about the EVLT is that it can be performed with the patient awake. It does not require general anesthesia. It only requires local anesthesia, i.e. injections with the lidocaine-containing solution. General anesthesia is a potentially dangerous undertaking for patients, and it is completely unnecessary for this procedure.

In fact, we have performed over 2,000 EVLT’s in the past several years. We have never had to use anything more than local anesthesia to perform those procedures, even in the most anxious patients.

No stitches

We do all our EVLT procedures in one-hour sessions. We have learned from performing over 2,000 procedures that one-hour is the optimal time for completing the procedure. Beyond one hour, there arises a greater chance of issues arising from the patient’s back pain, hip pain, bladder incontinence, fatigue, etc. If you have very complex venous reflux anatomy where there are more than 2-3 veins that need to be treated, you may require two EVLT sessions.

For the same reason as above, we treat one leg at a time, ideally one month apart. Treating both legs in the same setting takes too much time and discomfort during the procedure. There is tissue trauma, post-procedural pain, and discomfort that follow each EVLT procedure, such that treating both legs simultaneously can be overwhelming for most patients.

There can be mild to moderate pain associated with post-procedural inflammation. We use low-frequency laser technology to minimize post-procedural pain. Usually, most patients tolerate pain with anti-inflammatory analgesics such as Ibuprofen alone.

Time off from work depends on two things: (a) Degree of physical activity required in your job that would be a stress on the newly treated leg; (b) Your desire to return to work and your ability to endure mild to moderate pain/discomfort during work. If your job consists of low-level physical activity (e.g., office work), and if you are motivated to return to work (e.g., self-employed), you can return to work the following day. Even if your job requires a moderate degree of physical activity (e.g., nurse or hairstylist), if you are able to tolerate mild to moderate discomfort (equivalent discomfort to a moderate cold or flu), then you can also return in 1-2 days.

If your job requires strenuous physical activity (e.g., construction work or mail-carrier) or if you are unable to tolerate mild or moderate discomfort well, then you should take off between 1-3 days plus the weekend and return to work the following Monday. If minimizing time-off from work is important to you, then you should let us know, and we will schedule your procedures accordingly to meet your needs.

The veins that we treat with EVLT will stay closed with a success rate of 95 to 98%, long-term. If your leg pain and discomfort are caused by venous insufficiency, then EVLT will result in significant improvement in pain and discomfort in over 80% of patients. If your concern is that of leg swelling, the following is what we have observed: After EVLT, the pain and discomfort and the “pressure” associated with your swelling in the leg will improve in greater than 80% of the time.

But the “disappearance” of swelling will depend on the nature of your swelling, such as the cause of your leg swelling above and beyond the refluxing veins (such as obesity, heart/liver/kidney conditions, etc.), the duration of your leg swelling, etc. In some patients, the appearance of swelling does not return to normal even though the pain and discomfort are alleviated.

The chance that the vein that was closed by EVLT will open again is less than 2-5% (1- 2% at the Advanced Vein Care Center). However, the chance that other veins in the leg will develop venous insufficiency because of on-going risk factors (hereditary, obesity, standing long periods), is about 25%. Venous insufficiency is a life-long condition, and it needs to be monitored by the patient so that when the symptoms of pain and varicose veins return, you should seek help from the vein specialist right away.

Compression stockings/ socks are recommended to treat the early stages of venous insufficiency. It helps to compress the lower leg and reduce swelling and relieve other symptoms of varicose veins. They come with different levels of compression and fitted by trained people. This reduces the risks of DVT deep vein thrombosis and fastens the process of healing with increasing chances of healing.

Conservative therapies can help reduce the risks of getting the condition to worsen with damaged veins. You can try home care to improve the effect on symptoms. You can exercise, maintain a healthy weight, elevate your legs, and wear compression stockings. When left untreated, varicose veins can result in sores, blood clots, ulcers, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Varicose veins should be treated as recommended by individual physicians to avoid complications in the future. As unpleasant as they can be, varicose veins can be easily treated. Having surgery is a better choice than the look of it to keep the veins healthy.

We work hard to provide services to our clients with many different insurance providers. At our location, we accept almost all the major insurances. It is best to give us a call to know more about our insurances for particular treatments.

We would love to help our patients to answer their specific questions about insurance needs. Reach out to our locations to know more about insurances at 949-718-0905

Most insurance companies do cover vein treatments for varicose veins that are medically necessary. In case of when conservative treatment few different therapies are being used some policies do not cover the treatments as these are viewed as only being done for cosmetic, not for medical reasons. Make an appointment for a consultation to get answers to more specific questions about your condition.

Venous ultrasound is a screening test that is a very safe procedure that is used for the diagnosis of veins. This screening test observes not only superficial blood vessels in the legs and arms but also deeper veins in any other area. This helps you show the state of blood flow through the vessels in a particular area.

It is a type of imaging that uses sound waves to create a detailed image of a particular part of the body. For venous insufficiency, ultrasound is the best imaging option as they show the soft tissues that an x-ray can’t show.

During a vein ultrasound, the targeted area appears on a monitor where you and our physician assistant can view that together. This procedure is not painful at all, occurs without using any radiation. A registered technologist will perform with a water-soluble gel during the ultrasound exam.

The procedure is very safe and effective; proper screening for superficial thrombophlebitis is integral to a successful course of the procedure. The accurate imaging under the supervision of a physician assistant/ vein specialist would lead to getting the sources of the symptoms including pain, skin rash, redness or discoloration, leg or arm fatigue. In case of a serious condition like deep vein thrombosis in which blood clots might dislodge and travel to the lungs, appropriate care is required if the ultrasound confirms any blood clots.

Plan on dedicating around 25-40 mins for your ultrasound visit depending on the targeted area for study.

Plan on dedicating around 25-40 mins for your ultrasound visit depending on the targeted area for study.

We normally recommend patients a series of one – four treatments in order to achieve the best outcome. Patients with really mild spider veins may need just one – two sessions to achieve optimal results. The number of treatments varies with different numbers of spider veins to be treated and the targeted area.

Spider veins can be caused by several factors. The following factors can increase a patient’s risk of developing spider veins, swollen veins:

Pregnancy / hormonal changes
Aging
​Heat/ Sun exposure
Genetics
Standing or sitting for a long period of time
Obesity
Questions on Varicose Veins
How do you prevent Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins development can occur due to many reasons. Here are the ways to decrease the pain and
symptoms of venous disorder and improve the overall health of veins.
Maintain a healthy weight Avoid taking medications which
causes hormonal imbalance Wear compression stockings
A low-calorie diet, high fiber diet
Exercise
Elevate your legs

It is better to let the vein specialist or vascular surgeon know about your condition and start getting the suitable treatment to get rid of varicose veins in the early stage. There are several self-management techniques to help you deal with varicose veins and decrease the symptoms of it including mild forms of exercise to improve the blood circulation in your legs.

Mild walking and cycling are better options to boost the blood flow in the legs. Stretch your legs and flex your calves more often, especially if you stand or sit all day for work. This will lead to a reduction in bothersome symptoms. Elevate your legs at the end of the day and wear the recommended compression stockings.

Cycling is one of the best methods of exercise to help reduce the symptoms associated with varicose veins and to build the overall health of your legs. Any light activity that gets you on your feet can make a difference in the condition of venous insufficiency, cycling is a good option for the leg with vein issues for these reasons:

Helps to flex your calves⠀Pedaling is a good way to stimulate blood flow through the legs⠀Strengthen your legs and improve circulation⠀In such cases, get a consultation and know about your condition better before trying any exercises

Varicose veins can develop symptoms in a particular area. It can have many complications if left untreated.

With other complications, varicose veins may lead to:
Discoloration in the leg/ ankle area
Skin ulcer
DVT (Deep vein thrombosis)
Rupture and bleeding

Age
Genetics
Heavy lifting
Prolonged standing/ sitting
position
Pregnancy
Hormonal imbalance
Obesity

When left untreated, varicose veins can negatively impact the overall quality of life. Potential symptoms and risks include:

Increased inflammatory and clotting markers
Discomfort
Skin changes
Ulcers
Clots
Deep vein thrombosis
Burning sensations
Cramping
Restless legs
More serious risks include:
Clots in deep veins that can travel to the lungs
Venous ulcers that are very difficult to treat

Varicose veins are raised, large, swollen vascular vessels that appear twisted and turned through the skin’s surface. While they generally develop in the legs, they can appear on the face, as well.