Approximately 25 percent of all women and 15 percent of all men suffer from greater saphenous vein reflux, by far the most common cause of varicose veins. The traditional treatment for the condition was stripping and ligation, a solution many patients found very painful – and one that required up to six weeks of recovery time. Now, Dr. Matt Wilson is offering a far simpler minimally invasive treatment called Endovascular Laser Venous System (ELVS)
Using today’s most advanced medical laser technology, ELVS makes varicose veins vanish without all the disadvantages of older treatments. It’s a quick, effective outpatient procedure that involves minimal discomfort. After treatment, a patient can simply walk out of the office and resume normal activities immediately.
In the ELVS treatment, a laser fiber is inserted into the vein through a tiny puncture site. The laser energizes the fiber as it is withdrawn from the vein. Energy emitted from the tip of the fiber causes only the treated vein to close, while the body automatically routes the blood to other healthy veins.
The greater saphenous vein runs all the way down the inside of the leg. Its job is to return blood from the leg back up toward the heart. Normally, there are valves in the vein that keep blood from running backward down the vein. When these valves don’t work, the blood can go backward in the greater saphenous vein. This causes a build up of pressure and causes the varicose veins. The higher pressure is known as venous hypertension and causes the symptoms that are associcated with varicose veins. Many people have a heavy bursting or burning type pain in the legs that is often worse at the end of the day. There can be changes in the lower legs such as swelling, dark pigment in the skin and a dense hard thickening to the skin. Venous hypertension can increase the risk or blood clots in the legs and also lead to ulcers that are very difficult to treat.
Once the saphenous vein is closed, most of the varicose veins go away over a few weeks. The symptoms of venous hypertension improve as well. The few varicose veins that remain can be removed with a simple office procedure.
Call our office for an appointment (870)425-3737.
