EVTA: Simple Treatment for Varicose Veins

Posted: Wednesday, November 27, 2013   |   Revised: October 7, 2013

EVTA: Simple Treatment for Varicose Veins

About half of all men and women in the US have vein problems in one form or another–and half of people 50 years old and above have varicose veins, as noted by Stanford Hospital vascular surgeons and other experts nationwide. If you’re one of those suffering with the pain and unsightliness of varicose veins and allowing them to limit your life—there’s no need to suffer any longer.

Today, minimally invasive varicose vein treatments are available–and they’re nothing like the old “vein stripping” procedures performed by vascular surgeons in the past. Current Treatment for Varicose Veins require no hospitalization and no general anesthesia. Modern varicose vein laser surgery, also called EVTA or Endovenous Thermal Ablation, is available from local Michigan vein doctors.

What are varicose veins?

Most often found in the legs, painful, bulging veins result from weakened valves inside the veins. Blood travels into your limbs through the arteries and capillaries. Veins then send the blood back to the heart. When the valves within the veins don’t close properly, they allow blood to flow back down (reflux) rather than up toward the heart. The affected veins can no longer fight gravity—and swell with pooled blood.

Varicose veins may come about due to heredity, aging, gender (women are affected at a slightly higher rate), pregnancy, obesity, occupations requiring extended periods of sitting or standing, leg trauma, body building or weightlifting and lack of exercise or movement.

Untreated varicose veins may cause:

  • Aching pain
  • Leg fatigue
  • Swelling
  • A heavy feeling in the legs
  • Visible, bulging and unattractive blue or purple veins
  • Blood clots
  • Skin changes including discoloration
  • Chronic skin ulcers
  • And other health problems

How does EVTA work?

The first step in Endovenous Thermal Ablation is locating the optimal spot (using ultrasound) to reach the affected vein, often in the calf area or close to the knee. After local anesthetic is administered, a laser fiber or radiofrequency treatment catheter is slid into the vein and it is sealed with heat from the inside. Pressure is alleviated and circulation improved, as blood is routed through other healthy leg veins. Swelling and aching are eliminated. Typically, no downtime is needed and patients can expect only light bruising following EVTA at the vein center.

With simple outpatient treatments now available, leaving no scars, requiring virtually no recovery time, and considering the big potential downsides to untreated varicose veins—there’s no reason to wait. What’s more, many vein clinic treatments may be covered by your medical insurance. Visit your local Michigan Vein treatment clinic to improve your quality of life and health.

Contact Michigan Vein Care Specialists, where Medical Director Suzanne E. Jones, M.D. and her dedicated staff can help you make the pain of varicose veins a thing of the past. Contact us today!

Comments are closed.