How long will it take to recover from a Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) treatment?
EVLA is a ‘walk-in, walk out’ procedure so you will be able to leave the clinic after treatment. You will be advised to wear compression stockings after treatment because these apply constant pressure to the legs. This will reduce bruising post-treatment and will ensure the treatment effectively targets the unwanted veins to offer results that are long lasting.
Aside from wearing support or compression stockings for about 2 - 3 weeks, you should be able to return to your day to day routine immediately.
You will normally be asked to return to the clinic for a follow-up check after a few weeks to have an ultrasound scan and discussion to assess the success of the treatment.
What are the risks and potential complications from Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) treatment?
Expect side effects such as pain, discomfort, itching, swelling and bruising and a feeling of tightness or numbness in the treated leg(s) for up to a few weeks following treatment.
The removal of varicose veins does not affect blood flow. This is because the remaining veins in the leg, particularly the deeper (femoral) veins, take over this role.
Any operation on the leg carries a risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). For example, with the old vein stripping method the associated risk was 5%, which is 15 times more that the 0.3% risk with EVLA.
In extremely rare cases small skin burns have been reported with EVLA.
What should you do after a Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) treatment?
It is important to follow the advice of your vein specialist as closely as possible following EVLA to ensure that you get the full benefit of the treatment and avoid any complications.
Post-treatment advice may include:
- Take over the counter anti-inflammatories or pain killers (ibuprofen or paracetamol) for a few days after the treatment, which will ensure you feel comfortable.
- Wear the supplied or recommended compression stockings for the time period advised.
- Plan for an average of three days off work post treatment although some people do return to work sooner (even on the same day), this depends on how you feel and your type of work.
- Do plenty of walking post-treatment (ideally four miles per day for two weeks).
- Avoid hot baths, Jacuzzis, steam rooms or swimming pools for two weeks after treatment.
- Avoid drinking alcohol for 24/48 hours following treatment.
Who should not have Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) treatment?
You should not undergo EVLA treatment if you are pregnant and many specialists will not treat patients who are breast feeding.
If there is a history of past deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the ultrasound scan will need to pay particular attention to the state of the deep veins. If there is significant deep vein obstruction, EVLA may be inadvisable.
Other contra-indications include:
- Active superficial vein thrombosis
- Acute Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Recent Long Haul Flights
- Very superficial veins close outside the fascia and close to the skin
- Very tortuous veins which cannot be negotiated by a straight laser catheter
EVLA is very safe and can be performed in the presence of many medical conditions and without the need to stop medications such as anti-coagulants.
Summary of Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) information
Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) is a safe, effective and minimally invasive treatment option to remove varicose veins. The technique has been developed and perfected for well over a decade.
It is a ‘walk-in, walk-out’ procedure which produces very little downtime for the individual with good results that last longer than those seen with traditional surgical stripping operations.
With new guidance from NICE, this treatment may be accessible on the NHS as well as through private clinics.
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