Varicose Vein Laser Removal

Varicose vein laser removal is a healthcare treatment for the unsightly and often painful condition of varicose veins.  Varicose veins are caused when the valve of a deeper large vein begins to leak blood back into smaller veins near the surface of the leg.  The smaller veins become stretched so much beyond their original size that healthcare problems such as itching, swelling, and leg pain occur. Over 25% of women and 15% of men suffer from varicose veins due to factors such as age, heredity, pregnancy, leg trauma, standing for prolonged periods of time, and obesity. 

What is Varicose Vein Laser Removal?

Varicose vein laser removal is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure.  The healthcare surgeon uses a local anesthetic to numb an area near the knee. Guided by ultrasound, the surgeon uses a needle to insert a wire through the incision into the main problematic vein.  The wire guides the placement of a catheter and small laser through the entire vein.  The surgeon activates the laser and pulls it back out of the vein. The laser collapses the vein walls, which effectively stops the blood from leaking back into the smaller leg veins. Blood flowing to the collapsed vein naturally reroutes itself to other healthier veins. Varicose vein laser removal can be completed in less than one hour and is reported to have a 98% success rate.  

How Quick is Recovery from Varicose Vein Laser Removal?