Endovenous Laser Ablation is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that is primarily used for treating large varicose veins in the legs. After the patient receives a local anesthetic to numb the area where a problem vein is located, the surgeon inserts a tiny laser fiber into that vein via a catheter device that itself requires only a minimal incision to place. The laser is then used to heat the vein’s lining so that the vein collapses, shrinks and eventually disappears altogether. Once the vein has been sealed, the fiber can be removed and a stitch or bandage used to close the incision, with the entire procedure lasting only about half an hour. Patients generally wear an elastic bandage on their leg overnight and then return to their physician for a check-up. When necessary, a follow-up procedure called sclerotherapy can be performed to clear up any surrounding “spider veins.”
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