Surgery to remove varicose veins frightens many patients.
The fear of going under the knife makes them endure terrible pain and refuse to seek help in a timely manner. Now more and more doctors recommend their patients to try laser treatment for varicose veins.
This method provides minimal risk, quick results, safety and accessibility.
The course of the disease is individual for each of the phlebologist’s patients.
After scanning the veins and ultrasound examination of the vessels, he can determine which of the two widely used methods (endovasal or percutaneous laser coagulation) will be most effective in this case.
The method of endovasal laser coagulation of varicose veins involves the effect of thermal energy on the vessel from the inside. The result of the impact is the adhesion of the vessel walls, and the area of impact is gradually replaced by connective tissue.
Preliminary preparation includes several stages:
The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. After injection of a local analgesic, the puncture site is disinfected, then a puncture is performed and it becomes possible to insert a light guide.
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Every action of the doctor is monitored using an ultrasound device. The patient stays in the laser therapy room for no more than 100 minutes. Of these, 30-60 are spent on the operation itself, the rest are spent on walking in special compression stockings.
Immediately after this, the doctor gives the necessary recommendations on wearing stockings and acceptable loads, schedules a follow-up examination after 3 days and sends the patient home.
There are other shortcomings, but they are all temporary and go away on their own:
The percutaneous laser coagulation method determines the method of removing the vascular network by heating the vessel walls to 70 degrees. The method can be used exclusively for the treatment of small vessels with a thickness of no more than 3 mm.
Among the main advantages of the procedure is that the result is noticeable almost immediately after its completion. The patient does not need to take any steps for preliminary preparation, other than obtaining a prescription and permission from the attending physician.
The immediate site of treatment is treated with a special gel, and then it is gently treated with a laser. The accuracy and safety of the doctor’s actions is regulated by special equipment that allows determining the duration of exposure, the applied temperature and the condition of varicose veins.
It is not possible to remove all dilated veins the first time; usually the result is limited to 80%. Depending on individual characteristics, you can get the desired result after 2-4 procedures.
After the operation, you will have to deny your legs sunbathing for a whole month.
Also among the disadvantages:
More information about laser treatment methods for varicose veins:
How does laser coagulation of varicose veins work - indications for laser treatment of varicose veins, reviews and prices
Varicose disease of the lower extremities is one of the most common vascular pathologies and, according to statistical data, is steadily becoming younger from year to year.
Let's study the reviews of patients who have undergone laser treatment for varicose veins.
I was always afraid of developing varicose veins, because... I saw how my grandmother suffered under his torture. At first I noticed that I began to get very tired even in low heels, and then the spider veins appeared.
I decided not to delay and immediately see a doctor. His decision “laser therapy” shocked me at first. But after explaining that this is actually a quick and safe procedure and is not at all like surgery, I agreed.
The price is reasonable, but what was most tempting was that one day would be enough for everything. The procedure turned out to be truly painless, although I doubted the doctors’ honesty about this.
Immediately afterwards you can walk and even go home. The doctor warned that the swelling would go away by the end of the week, and that’s what happened. I went to the check-up as a completely happy person.
I had to learn about vein problems during pregnancy. There was no question of any operation before the birth of my daughter. Then life began to spin in a different rhythm: sliders, night feedings, walks. There was no time left for sleep either.
When I came to the phlebologist again, I learned that the disease had already taken a serious form. Endovasal therapy was prescribed. It was scary, but thanks to my husband, he forced me to take tests and come to the office on the appointed day.
When they began to prepare for the operation, I decided to ask how to understand that something was going wrong. They began to explain to me so calmly and kindly what they would do and why, that I calmed down. Everything is really very comfortable and not very long.
Then they actually put on a compression sock to properly distribute the load, and required me to walk around the office. This is probably the most unpleasant part of the treatment. After five days of constant wearing, I still couldn’t get used to it.
I was able to return to an active lifestyle within a week, but my legs had to be hidden for another month due to residual bruising. But the result was worth it.
I myself turned to a phlebologist with a question about the possibility of laser therapy. I'm not afraid of pain, and the online reviews are inspiring. I decided it was better to take a risk once than to constantly suffer and doubt.
I took tests at a paid clinic. Free medical laboratories do not perform all tests, and some require too long a wait. But the budget planned for treatment was completely within the budget.
I didn’t have to take sick leave at work, I just went out the next day and that’s it. At the same time, there is no danger to health or feats of courage and willpower. I went to see the doctor for six months, he confirmed that everything was fine, without complications.
I feel great, I remembered the dacha, the swimming pool and even family hikes in the forest every weekend.
My granddaughter constantly bought me new pills and ointments for varicose veins. They either didn’t help or only helped temporarily. I don’t argue that the disease was very advanced, I wasn’t used to thinking about myself.
I couldn’t walk for several days, and then my granddaughter announced that we would perform laser surgery. For me this word still sounds too fantastic. But she could no longer resist. Done. It was funny to feel in these tight socks.
The sensation was unpleasant, when they put them on me and told me to walk for 40 minutes, I still tried to argue that I couldn’t. But I did, and now I’m even a little ashamed of my lack of trust.
The appointment was due in 3 days, which could have been done at home. I suffered terribly from severe pain, at the appointment the doctor scolded me for why I had not come in earlier. It turned out that the socks did not fit, they were too tight. Replaced it and everything went away.
The lack of effective treatment for varicose veins leads to the progression of the disease, then only a surgeon’s scalpel can save it and a long and difficult rehabilitation awaits.
Maintenance therapy is in fact only a constant source of expense; at any moment, varicose veins can tip the scales in their favor. Spending money and waiting for this rainy day to come is stupid.
You can immediately undergo laser surgery and forget about your problems. The cost is quite justified and, with a common sense view of the situation, is accessible to almost every patient.
Varicose veins are a disease that not only spoils the aesthetic appearance of women's legs, but also brings a lot of unpleasant sensations. That is why it is necessary to start treatment as early as possible in order to avoid the occurrence of various complications.
In most cases, this disease affects women. Despite this, medicine knows of cases where varicose veins were found in men. The development of the disease is caused by several factors. This could be pregnancy, during which the female body does double duty, and there is a lot of stress on the legs due to increased body weight. Varicose veins can also be hereditary. If your mother, grandmother or aunt suffers from this disease, then you need to closely monitor the health of your veins, as there is a high probability of this pathology occurring.
It is worth noting that this disease affects only the lower extremities. Of course, on the arm area a person can also see some veins that protrude through the skin, but this has nothing to do with varicose veins.
If you are diagnosed with this disease, it is necessary to begin treatment as soon as possible. Otherwise, the disease will affect new areas of the veins and ultimately reach a very advanced stage. Depending on how strongly the vessels and veins are involved in the process, an individual treatment method is selected. Let’s answer the main question: “How to treat varicose veins?”
At the earliest stages of the disease, a conservative method is chosen. The patient is prescribed medications that thin the blood and strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Thanks to this, the woman stops complaining of pain and heaviness in the lower extremities.
Another correction method is called vein sclerosis. The patient is injected into a vein with a special medicine that pushes blood out of the vessel and subsequently glues its walls together. This method is effective only in the initial stages for small saphenous veins and vessels.
The phlebectomy method is quite outdated, but most public clinics use it. During the procedure, the patient makes several incisions in her leg, through which the dilated vein is removed. After such manipulation, a woman has to recover for quite a long time and wear compression garments.
This correction method is one of the newest. There is no need for hospitalization for the procedure. Laser treatment of varicose veins can be carried out in two ways:
Depending on how severely the lower extremities are affected by varicose veins, one or another method is chosen.
Laser treatment of varicose veins in this case is carried out without any anesthetics. The procedure is painless and lasts no more than twenty minutes. After this, the woman can return to her normal activities.
Laser treatment of varicose veins in Minsk, Moscow, Kyiv and other capital cities is used much more often than in regional centers, where old methods of combating this disease are sometimes still used. Laser treatment can be used for cosmetic purposes. In this case, spider veins on the face are treated in a similar way.
During the procedure, the patient lies on a hard couch. The doctor marks the areas that need to be treated and begins manipulation. A special device directs magnetic waves onto the vessel. Under the influence of such rays, the contents of the vein are heated. Because of this, blood cells are displaced from the dilated vessel, which subsequently sticks together.
If a person has a more advanced stage, then subcutaneous treatment of varicose veins of the legs with a laser is chosen. In this case, the procedure is performed under local anesthesia of the treated area. The manipulation lasts up to one hour.
Varicose veins treated with laser disappear completely after about a few months. During the procedure, the doctor makes a small incision in the dilated vein and inserts a special small chip there. After this, the doctor carefully guides the laser along the affected vessel. At the same time, the chip, which is located under the skin, moves behind the beam. Thanks to all this, the inner layer of the vein is “cleaned” and blood flow improves. After such manipulation, after some time, you may notice that the vein began to disappear and varicose veins went away along with it.
Laser treatment for such a disease is quite new and is not widespread in public medical institutions. Despite this, private clinics have been using this method for a long time. After such a manipulation, you must be attentive to the health of your blood vessels and veins. It is recommended to regularly take a course of prescribed medications and visit a doctor.
It is worth saying that if you want to achieve the most positive effect from the procedure, then after the manipulation you must follow all the doctor’s recommendations.
Laser treatment of varicose veins has only positive reviews. However, patients note that after the procedure they had to wear compression stockings for several months and take medications to strengthen the walls of blood vessels. An undoubted advantage is that after the manipulation there are no stitches or scars. If women needed to make a small incision to insert a chip, then, as the ladies say, it was made in an inconspicuous place. After healing, it completely disappeared. After the procedure, patients note lightness in their legs. Their evening cramps decreased and the pain went away. The itching and burning sensation also disappeared.
One disadvantage that laser treatment for varicose veins has is the price. Since most clinics that offer this correction method are not government-owned, you will have to pay for such treatment. Depending on what region you live in and what stage varicose veins are at, the cost of laser treatment will vary. The average price for such a correction ranges from $1,000 to $5,000. It must be said that laser treatment of individual small vessels and stars will cost you much less than correction of deep saphenous veins.
Before you undergo laser vein treatment, you need to consider all the pros and cons of this manipulation. First, compare the prices offered by different clinics. If you live in Belarus, then it makes sense to consider private medical institutions that are located in Minsk, for example, “Sante”, “Confidence” and others.
After you have chosen a suitable place, talk to the doctor and ask him all your questions. Before the procedure, you will definitely undergo a series of studies. An ultrasound will also be done, which will help identify not only varicose veins protruding through the skin, but also assess the condition of the deep subcutaneous vessels.
Some institutions guarantee you the effect within a certain period of time. That is, if varicose veins appear again, re-treatment will be carried out for you completely free of charge.
Every person should know what varicose veins are. Laser treatment will be ideal if you value your time and do not want to spend several days in a medical facility. In order to avoid surgical intervention, carry out treatment in the early stages of the onset of the disease. Monitor the condition of your legs and blood vessels. Visit a phlebologist regularly. Be healthy!
Varicose veins of the legs are not only a cosmetic problem, but also a serious pathology, which is accompanied by dangerous consequences for health. Laser treatment of varicose veins is one of the most modern, low-traumatic and reliable ways to cope with the disease at an early stage. It allows you to achieve an excellent aesthetic effect, has a minimal risk of complications and a short rehabilitation period.
Traditional drug therapy in combination with physical therapy and wearing corrective underwear also gives good results, but does not eliminate the underlying cause of the disease. To radically solve the problem of diseased vessels, surgical intervention is required. Classic removal surgery (phlebectomy) is difficult for patients to tolerate because it is very traumatic and is accompanied by a high risk of infectious complications. This method is gradually becoming a thing of the past. It is being replaced by minimally invasive procedures (sclerotherapy, laser therapy), which give excellent results and allow you to quickly and painlessly get rid of varicose veins.
For varicose veins, laser correction is considered the most reliable and effective treatment method. This method is based on the use of the thermal effect for coagulation of blood vessels. Simply put, a light guide introduced into the affected vessel during surgery emits a stream of energy. This radiation is absorbed by hemoglobin in the blood, releasing heat, which warms the blood cells and vessel walls. As a result, the blood is squeezed out of the vessel, and the vein itself is “sealed.” The blood flow stops completely, and venous outflow from the surrounding tissues is already carried out through other, healthy veins.
Wearing compression garments after laser treatment of varicose veins perpetuates the effect, creating additional pressure on the vessel and preventing blood flow in the damaged vein from being restored. Over time, the vessel becomes overgrown with connective tissue. Compliance with measures to prevent varicose veins will not allow damage to other veins to develop, so the disease will be cured forever.
The advantage of the method is its low invasiveness, the absence of blood loss and extensive incisions. And since there is no entrance gate for infection, then the risk of damage to neighboring tissues and possible complications is minimized.
Laser treatment of varicose veins is a low-traumatic procedure, it does not require special preparation and is performed under local anesthesia. The operation is carried out only in a specialized medical institution; the progress of the operation is monitored by ultrasound in real time. That is, the surgeon uses ultrasound to monitor the progress of the LED through the vein. Before the operation, the patient must undergo the necessary examination, during which the location of the affected venous vessel is clarified and the most optimal method of laser coagulation is selected.
The basis for laser treatment of varicose veins is varicose veins of the saphenous veins (large and small). The laser is used if the mouths of these veins are dilated by no more than 1 cm, the vessels themselves have a smooth course without sharp bends, and their branches are healthy or slightly dilated. That is, the laser is effective only at the initial stage of varicose veins, with a small degree of severity of the process and only when used on the saphenous veins. If the disease is advanced and the affected vessel is dilated by more than 1 cm, there is a high probability that in the future the vein will “unstick” again and treatment will be ineffective.
A medical laser has a therapeutic effect on a very small area - this allows you to avoid its negative effects on surrounding tissues. Therefore, the use of laser therapy on large areas of damaged vessels, as well as on deep veins, is ineffective. In these cases, it is necessary to use other methods of surgical treatment that are more suitable for the given situation (for example, classic phlebectomy).
In addition to cases where the laser will be ineffective, there are situations where its use may harm the patient's health. There are quite a few contraindications for the laser procedure; they can be divided into absolute and relative:
If there are absolute contraindications, it is strictly forbidden to carry out therapeutic manipulations. The list of such conditions includes:
In these diseases, the laser can damage the walls of blood vessels or provoke massive vein thrombosis. Contraindications also include the inability to move actively and wear compression stockings. Without these measures in the postoperative period, laser treatment may completely lose its effectiveness, and also provoke inflammation in the vessel.
Relative contraindications are those in which the operation must be postponed for a while. These are inflammatory processes on the skin of the legs, especially near the site of the future puncture, exacerbation of chronic diseases. In this case, it is necessary to first treat concomitant pathologies, and only then perform surgery. If this is not done, then the risk of complications in the postoperative period is very high - both from the operated veins and from the disease that has become a contraindication to laser treatment.
The operation should not be performed during pregnancy and breastfeeding, because during this period the immune system is weakened and the load on the lower limbs is higher than usual. For the same reason, it is difficult to carry out laser treatment for varicose veins in overweight people - they tolerate anesthesia less well, and due to the heavy load on the legs, complications are possible in the postoperative period.
Despite the high cost of treating varicose veins on the legs with laser, this procedure is gaining increasing popularity due to its simplicity and effectiveness. To determine whether there are indications for surgery, a duplex ultrasound examination is first performed. It helps to see the structure of the veins, the degree of their damage and blood flow disturbances. If the condition of the patient’s blood vessels allows laser treatment, then surgery is prescribed.
On the day of the procedure, no special preparation of the patient is required. If necessary, you can take a sedative. Before the operation, another duplex angioscanning is performed, all manipulations occur under ultrasound control. The small scale of the operation allows you to avoid general anesthesia and associated complications - laser treatment is carried out under local anesthesia, which numbs the puncture site.
The essence of the operation to treat varicose veins with a laser is that a light guide connected to a laser device is inserted into the damaged vessel through a small puncture in the skin of the leg. Then, using laser radiation, the damaged vessel is coagulated, after which the light guide is removed, the puncture site is treated with a local antiseptic, and a sterile bandage is applied to it. The operation itself lasts about 15-30 minutes (to treat one leg).
After being forced to lie on the operating table, it is recommended to move to a vertical position slowly and gradually - first sit down and only then stand up. This will avoid vascular collapse with a sudden change in body position. There are no more restrictions. Some time after the procedure, the patient can go home.
Before the operation, the patient must buy compression garments in advance - stockings or tights. The degree of compression is discussed with the doctor in advance.
After laser removal of varicose veins, you should immediately put a compression stocking on your leg. During the first two days you need to wear it constantly without taking it off. Then, if there are no complications, the doctor will allow you to remove the medical underwear at night. The duration of wearing medical knitwear gradually decreases as the operated vessel is finally overgrown with connective tissue. Due to the need to wear compression garments, they try to schedule the operation during the cold season so that the patient does not experience discomfort when wearing stockings for a long time. In addition, patients with vascular diseases feel much better in cool weather than in hot weather.
In the first week after laser treatment of varicose veins, you should avoid significant stress on your legs, heavy lifting, and you should not visit the bathhouse, sauna or swimming pool. In the future, you need to gradually increase the degree of physical activity. Hiking, running and cycling, aerobics, and swimming are recommended. The patient can play sports, walk long distances, and drive a vehicle. Contraction of the transversely striated muscles of the legs will act as an additional pump and help improve venous outflow from the lower extremities. This is a natural mechanism, the use of which will help avoid recurrence of varicose veins after surgery.
You can start working, if it does not involve heavy physical activity or prolonged standing, almost immediately, even on the day of surgery. Potential housework can also be done a few days after the intervention. You can and should walk in the first minutes after surgery, wearing compression garments.
Laser treatment of varicose veins is particularly popular due to the short rehabilitation period, absence of pain and minimal risk of complications. However, they are not completely excluded. During surgery, pain may occur if anesthesia is administered incorrectly. After the procedure, pain may appear along the operated vein. If the pain does not subside within two days, you should definitely consult a doctor - this may be a sign of serious complications.
Errors in the manipulation can cause burns of the skin and soft tissues, hematomas at the puncture site, suppuration and inflammatory processes. In rare cases, vein thrombosis, including deep veins, is possible, which leads to a noticeable deterioration in the patient’s condition. You should consult a doctor immediately if:
In order to diagnose these complications in a timely manner, it is recommended to see a phlebologist on the second day after surgery and then regularly come for routine examinations.
Experts advise following simple preventive measures to prevent possible relapses of the disease:
Laser treatment of varicose veins has many significant advantages over other surgical methods. Let us list the main advantages of laser therapy:
For all its attractiveness, this method has a number of disadvantages, including:
Before deciding on laser therapy, you should weigh the pros and cons, undergo a full examination and get advice from an experienced specialist.
The price of laser treatment for varicose veins is one of the significant disadvantages of this method. It can vary widely, depending on the degree of complexity, the individual characteristics of the patient, the equipment used, the status of the clinic and the qualifications of the surgeons. On average, the procedure will cost 28,000 – 40,000 rubles. But to this amount you must also add the costs of examination, diagnosis and consultation with a phlebologist. However, the operation is not urgent, and its implementation and financial expenses associated with the intervention can be planned in advance.
Reviews about the treatment of varicose veins with laser are generally positive. Patients say that the procedure is easily tolerated and there is practically no pain during the manipulations. Some discomfort is felt only at the moment of puncture and insertion of the light guide into the vein. The postoperative period is also easy, without serious complications, although many patients note a slight nagging pain along the operated vein. But these unpleasant consequences are easily relieved by taking tablet analgesics.
For the first time I had to deal with manifestations of varicose veins during pregnancy. But I couldn’t even think about any operation at that time. After the birth of the baby, life centered around her: sleepless nights, care, feeding. When I saw the doctor again, it turned out that the disease was progressing and medications would be of little help. The doctor recommended laser therapy. In the end, everything went well, there was no pain, only after the intervention I felt discomfort and a pulling sensation in my leg. To properly distribute the load, compression stockings were put on immediately after the procedure. I was able to return to my normal lifestyle within a few days and am very pleased with the result.
The veins in my legs began to appear after 30 years. Over time, the condition worsened, I had to go to an appointment with a phlebologist at a paid clinic. The doctor said that the best option for me is laser coagulation. The operation was performed under local anesthesia; the diseased vein was “soldered” along its entire length through an inconspicuous puncture. After the procedure, they put compression stockings on my leg to evenly distribute the load and forced me to walk around the ward. Two hours later they sent me home. There were no traces of the intervention left on the leg, and the small bruise at the puncture site disappeared after a few days.
Three months ago, a diseased vein in my leg was removed with a laser. The operation went without complications. There was only slight discomfort when the instrument was inserted into the vein. The very next day after the procedure I was able to return to my normal life, I didn’t even have to take a sick leave. The procedure is expensive, I had to pay more than 35,000 rubles for 1 leg, but it is worth the money.
Before the vein surgery, I thought that people probably want to know how all this will happen...
Everyone in our family suffered from varicose veins, both my mother and grandmother. Things were really bad. And nothing good was in store for me, except to wear trousers all my life to hide my veins. I was not bothered by the disease, but only until my first pregnancy.
During my first pregnancy I worked 4 times a week. During this period, I started having problems with my veins; they itched, burned, and began to swell. It wasn’t very noticeable, but still I began to worry.
By the 38th week of pregnancy, I developed anemia. Towards the end of the pregnancy I had a lot of water in my body and my weight increased which I think caused pressure on my veins. After giving birth, the weight fell off, and the problems with the veins faded into the background.
Afterwards I gave birth to two more children, and with each pregnancy my vein problems got worse and worse.
After my third pregnancy, I felt severe pain in my lower abdomen, as if I had just given birth to a baby! It was hard for me to even leave the restroom. I always wanted to put my feet up and relax.
Later I discovered a varicose vein on my left leg. I immediately applied ice to this place, and did this for several days, only then did I feel better. But still, the bulge on my leg remained, and I realized that something urgently needed to be done.
I decided to go to the doctor because my left leg was bothering me all the time, there was a burning and itching in the veins, and these symptoms were getting worse. It was easier only when lying down, but it’s impossible to lie down all the time with two children and a newborn?!
The first thing the doctor did for me was an ultrasound of the veins. I had to lie down on a special table, they put on disposable panties and explained that with the help of an ultrasound they would look not only at the diseased veins, but also at all nearby veins. So the doctor scans my entire leg. Periodically, I was asked to press and lift my leg, several times for what seemed like a long time.
When the procedure was completed, I was allowed to get dressed and invited to talk about the results of the ultrasound. The doctor told me that my health was bad, that the valves in my veins were pumping blood incorrectly, more than 10 seconds per cycle. I was told that there was a problem with the veins in the pelvic area and that surgery would be required.
Fortunately, there was money for the operation at that moment and I agreed to it.
Treatment of varicose veins with laser
Later the doctor explained to me the essence of the procedure:
I had to treat two main veins - the one that runs from my inner ankle to the inside of my thigh, and the vein that runs diagonally across my thigh. The interesting thing is that the bulging vein around my knee will not be treated with laser, it should disappear on its own after the two main veins are treated.
I was also told that I would need to have an ultrasound a week after the operation to monitor the progress of the treatment.
I had to buy compression stockings, they said I would need them after surgery and would need to wear them for 2-3 weeks.
I had to start wearing compression stockings to get used to them and wear them after surgery.
According to the instructions I should wear these stockings:
It's not so scary. In addition, you need to wear comfortable shoes. I feel much better in stockings, but when I took them off my veins were swollen, just like when I was pregnant, it was no fun!
Today I will have surgery. I have to be in the office at 8:15, bring a sweater, not shave the leg that will be treated, and bring compression stockings.
I'm starting to get a little nervous, but there is no way out, and I have to do the operation anyway. In general, I’m sure that there is no reason to worry, I just want to get it all over with quickly!
Leg after surgery (Clickable)
I had a procedure today on my leg where the largest vein is. It was a wonderful procedure! One small cut, like an injection, 15 minutes and that’s it!
Now all I have to do is wear compression stockings for 24 hours at first, and then 8 hours a day for 2-3 weeks!
Excellent procedure, I recommend it to everyone!
In the third millennium, technologies that are being introduced into medicine provide high-quality treatment for any disease. Varicose veins are a disease that has become noticeably younger, because today it is diagnosed not only in the elderly, but also in young people. Progressive techniques make it possible to make the fight against such pathology painless and effective, and the laser is cutting-edge. Endovasal laser coagulation is an innovative and impressively effective approach.
The current laser treatment method for varicose veins is based on the use of laser thermal energy - the so-called endovenous thermoobliteration/coagulation, thermal ablation is performed. In essence, the pathological vein is simply “brewed”. The technology in action looks like this:
The first stage is anesthesia. Local anesthesia is sufficient here.
An instrument is inserted into the venous lumen - a fiber optic light guide, which, due to its tiny diameter, will move inside the vein, exposing it to high-intensity radiation.
The path of the LED (laser) begins in the area under the knee and ends at the anastomosis of the groin.
Removal of veins with a laser occurs with the direct participation of a phlebologist, who controls the entire process by transmitting Doppler images to the screen.
The essence of the technique is that due to the action of the laser, the internal venous wall is burned and the so-called sealing of the lumen of the vein occurs. In ordinary language: the diseased vessel is clogged and sealed. Moreover, such treatment can be performed on veins of any diameter. And it happens comfortably and efficiently.
Treatment of veins using the described method is becoming increasingly popular among different segments of the population. If five to seven years ago the procedure was inaccessible, today it will not be difficult to do it in Moscow. The positive qualities of this innovative technique are rightly considered:
The speed of its implementation in combination with minimal discomfort and general comfort for the patient.
Highly accurate results and the ability to achieve your goal in one session.
No pain during and after laser coagulation. The patient does not have any unsightly marks on the skin and does not lose his ability to work.
The procedure takes from half an hour to an hour, and such treatment is carried out exclusively on an outpatient basis. The sooner the patient makes an appointment with a phlebologist, the easier it will be to eliminate the disease and make the legs healthy.
You may also be interested in the innovative technology Radiofrequency ablation (obliteration), which allows you to effectively, quickly, and painlessly eliminate pathological venous reflux of the main veins.
Laser vein correction using German laser equipment BioLitec + miniphlebectomy (category I)
Laser vein correction using German laser equipment BioLitec + miniphlebectomy (category II)
Laser correction of veins using German laser equipment BioLitec + miniphlebectomy (for acute thrombophlebitis)
Laser correction of perforating veins using German BioLitec equipment
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Laser treatment is often performed for diseases such as varicose veins; the consequences of laser vein coagulation (EVLC) can be different.
There are many ways to treat varicose veins: from surgical techniques to conservative supportive programs. However, the cause of the disease itself remains in the body for life, despite all the efforts of doctors. Therefore, each patient of a phlebologist must weigh the pros and cons before deciding to remove veins using the traditional or laser method.
If the patient is somatically healthy, mobile, not obese, and has slightly branched straight-trunk varicose veins, laser treatment is a priority for him, since it:
The disadvantages of the method include its high cost, the dependence of the operation result on the qualifications of the doctor, the technical characteristics of the laser device and components, as well as the risk of an unexpected reaction of the body to the effects of laser radiation.
Within a week after EVLT, most patients experience discomfort due to necrotic processes in the laser-sealed veins. These sensations in the early period after the intervention are considered normal.
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During the postoperative period, the patient may experience the following negative phenomena:
It is very important to make sure in time that the patient has no contraindications for EVLT: conduct a thorough instrumental and laboratory examination, and study the medical history. This minimizes the possibility of medical error and the risk of postoperative complications. Under no circumstances should varicose veins be treated with a laser in patients with thrombophilia - an innate tendency to form blood clots. Such treatment could cost him his life. Any cardiovascular pathologies also exclude laser treatment.
Of course, not all patients experience complications after EVLT. If varicose veins appear locally, without complex bends of the veins, laser coagulation leads to good results: the vein affected by the disease ceases to exist, the blood flow of the lower extremities is normalized, and the threat of thrombophlebitis can not be feared for a long time. Successfully performed laser treatment improves the patient’s quality of life: the clinical manifestations of varicose veins, such as heaviness, pain and cramps in the legs, and increased fatigue when walking, go away. Laser coagulation of veins returns an attractive appearance to the legs, so that patients can again wear open summer dresses and short skirts.
Even if the operation was successful, you cannot relax and let your health take its course. Varicose veins are a lifelong disease, and no one is immune from relapses. You should regularly visit a phlebologist, take courses of anti-varicose vein medications at least twice a year, do special exercises at home, and wear compression stockings. During sleep, it is necessary to keep your legs elevated (on a special pillow) to ensure the return flow of blood and prevent stagnation. It is very important to monitor your body weight: excess weight increases the risk of relapse of the disease. If there are endocrine disorders, hormonal imbalances should be corrected in a timely manner. It causes worsening of varicose veins.
Endovasal laser coagulation of varicose veins is a popular and widely used modern method of combating varicose veins. Like any surgical operation, EVLT has a postoperative period in which complications are possible. If we are not talking about thrombosis or purulent inflammation, postoperative negative phenomena are successfully and without consequences stopped by symptomatic treatment or go away on their own over time. But with a brilliantly performed operation and an adequate response of the patient’s body to treatment, the effectiveness of EVLT can hardly be overestimated. The joys of life without varicose veins again become available to the patient: freedom and ease of movement, good health and mood, beauty and health of the legs.
You just need to remember about preventive measures: lead a healthy lifestyle, take supportive medications, do not lift heavy objects, women wear therapeutic compression stockings during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. It is necessary to walk more and avoid prolonged sitting. If you follow these useful recommendations, you will be able to avoid relapses of varicose veins and the need for repeated surgery.
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Varicose veins of the lower extremities or, in common parlance, varicose veins, the treatment and prevention of which are described on this site, refers to the “diseases of progress” caused by human upright walking. Nature, having elevated her “king” above the four-legged world, in return insidiously rewarded him with additional stress on his legs and spinal column. The result was two such common chronic ailments as osteochondrosis of the spine and varicose veins of the legs, which are almost never found in animals in the wild.
The name of the pathology comes from the Latin word varix, literally, expanded, prominent, coming to the surface (the etymological relationship of this word and the Slavic root “top” has been proven). Morphologically, varicose veins manifest themselves in an increase in the lumen of the vein and, accordingly, thinning of its walls. Blood stagnates in the lumen of the veins, it coagulates into blood clots, which either completely clog the lumen of the vein, leading to persistent disruption of blood circulation in the tissues, or break off and go into the bloodstream, which is fraught with thromboembolism.
Varicose veins, symptoms and treatment, which were of interest to Hippocrates and Galen, have accompanied humanity throughout its history. In Egypt, a burial dating back to the 16th century BC was found with a mummy that had traces of a trophic ulcer on the lower leg, which had clearly been treated. However, until the end of the 19th century, treatment of varicose veins was limited only to preventing septic complications of trophic ulcers and reducing pain and swelling of the legs. Doctors in those days did not have methods for normalizing venous blood flow.
Varicose veins can affect more than just the veins of the legs. With portal hypertension (for example, with cirrhosis of the liver), dilatation of the vessels of the abdominal cavity almost always occurs, and treatment of varicose veins of the esophagus is often urgent, as it is fraught with fatal internal bleeding. Enlargement of the veins of the rectum in women and men and the spermatic cord in men, known as hemorrhoids and varicocele, brings a lot of unpleasant sensations to patients.
In comparison with the listed diseases, the treatment of varicose veins does not require the use of urgent and sometimes painful measures, but only if the varicose veins on the legs are not advanced or complicated. If harmless spider veins and spider veins (initial reticular varicose veins) have turned over the years into unattractive purple-bluish thickenings on the ankles, legs and thighs, if the legs quickly get tired, go numb and hurt, and wearing recently comfortable shoes turns into torture, then treatment of varicose veins Veins in the legs can no longer be put off.
Alas, frivolity or medical ignorance of patients, as well as unfavorable external and internal factors (hypothermia, overheating, features of professional activity, endocrine diseases, bad habits) sometimes lead to the fact that treatment of varicose veins at home with folk remedies and medications no longer gives the desired results. effect.
Swelling of the legs becomes alarming, the patient can no longer not only walk normally, but also stand. Non-healing trophic ulcers form on the skin, threatening sepsis or gangrene. Thromboembolism with fatal damage to the lungs, heart or brain is possible at any time. In such cases, it is impossible to do without potent remedies - modern treatment of varicose veins with laser, vascular microsurgery techniques or traditional surgical interventions.
After the operation, the patient will have to undergo long-term rehabilitation, since the laser beam or the surgeon’s instrument eliminated only the mechanical damage to the venous network and skin, and the systemic disturbance of venous blood flow can be gradually corrected only by long-term and persistent conservative therapy both in specialized clinics and at home.
The condition for success is the patient’s strict adherence to the work and rest regime, compliance with doctor’s prescriptions, proper nutrition and dosed fluid intake, categorical refusal of bad habits and significant physical activity.
In many cases, when treating varicose veins, the price you have to pay is a change of profession. Patients with dilated veins of the lower extremities should not be on their feet much or even sit for a long time without changing posture. The hairdresser and truck driver, the salesperson behind the counter and the tram conductor will have to change their occupation.
Athletes will have to give up strength sports and most athletics. Representatives of the fair half of humanity, who suffer from varicose veins 1.5 times more often than men, will be forced to limit spa treatments: sugaring, waxing and mechanical depilation are contraindicated for diseased veins in the legs, and only cold wraps for varicose veins are permissible.
Since dilated, nodular veins in the legs are not only a cosmetic defect and the threat of hematomas and trophic ulcers, but also a risk factor for venous thrombosis and thromboembolism, when treating varicose veins, patients will have to worry about the problem of blood clots for a long time - take special medications that thin the blood and prevent platelet aggregation .
For a long time, perhaps until the end of her life, restrictions on wearing shoes will remain: elegant stiletto heels with a short skirt cannot be worn by a fashionista suffering from varicose veins, not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for medical reasons.
Considering all of the above, it is not difficult to come to the conclusion: it is much easier to prevent varicose veins on the legs than to fight it for years, with varying success. On our website, readers will be able to find simple and affordable recipes that can reduce the risk of varicose veins, even with a genetic predisposition to it and the presence of other risk factors.
The immediate systemic cause of vein stretching is a constant or prolonged increase in blood pressure in them and the occurrence of reverse flow (reflux) of blood. The pressure in the veins is much lower than in the arteries, so deformations develop gradually, over years and even decades, and may never manifest themselves at all. In order for an individual to develop visually or instrumentally diagnosed varicose veins, a predisposition is necessary:
Most often, the development of varicose veins on the legs, the treatment of which becomes relevant, is multifactorial in nature, for example, a genetic predisposition is combined with a difficult pregnancy, excess body weight after childbirth and the woman’s subsequent return to work, where she has to spend all the time on her feet. Bad habits play an important role, especially drinking alcohol and smoking.
Alcohol or its metabolite acetaldehyde leads to an excessive increase in the tone of the vascular walls, which as a result experience increased blood flow load. Nicotine and aromatic resins contained in tobacco smoke have less effect on vascular tone, but they are no less insidious. These substances accumulate in the cellular structures of the veins and gradually make them thin and fragile. As a result, the risk of vascular rupture with the formation of extensive subcutaneous hematomas increases.
The trophism of the entire limb inevitably suffers - the skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, nerves, joints, bones are chronically lacking nutrients and oxygen. All this aggravates the already rapidly progressing thinning of the vascular walls. As a result, when the disease comes out in the form of unaesthetic ulcers, even laser treatment of varicose veins in smokers is not always effective due to catastrophic problems with the trophism of the lower extremities.
As we have already noted, varicose veins in the legs are more common in women than varicose veins in men. Statistics vary. According to scientists from different countries, among representatives of the fair half of humanity, the percentage of vascular pathologies of the lower extremities is 60-90% of the population, and among men - 40-60%. Of course, the different attitudes of men and women to the problem of varicose veins contribute to the statistical data. Ladies treat their appearance with great reverence, and swelling and mesh on the skin make them run to a phlebologist, while a man may not pay attention to such trifles for many years. And completely in vain!
The immediate mechanism for the development of varicose veins is as follows:
At the same time, visual damage to a small area of the skin should not at all reassure. Most likely, the inflammatory phenomena have spread to the entire venous network of the limb from the great superficial vein (GSV) on the thigh to the foot and ankle; simply due to some reasons (for example, an injury suffered many years ago), varicose veins appeared in this particular place.
The first signs of the development of problems in the blood vessels of the legs are:
Even if the veins are not yet dilated and do not appear through the skin, patients begin to experience swelling and pain along the veins. At first, pain in the legs as a symptom of varicose veins may not be taken seriously by patients, but may be attributed to overwork, physical exertion, or injury. But when visual symptoms appear, everything falls into place.
Swelling is most often localized in the feet, lower legs and calf muscles, but is always extremely individual in its manifestations. The initial stage of the disease is often called “heavy leg syndrome”, and it is not at all necessary to manifest itself - varicose transformation of blood vessels can pass without a prodromal period.
As the disease progresses, swelling increases, first from the back of the foot and on the ankles, then along the entire surface of the leg below the knee. By the morning after sleep, the legs return to relative normality, but during the working day everything repeats itself. The patient can always compare his condition on weekdays and weekends. If he has the opportunity to lie down, the swelling and pain are not so intense.
As a result of infiltration of erythrocytes and chronic tissue hypoxia, the skin acquires a bluish tint. If not treated promptly, hyperpigmentation can last a lifetime. As a result of atrophy and oxygen starvation, the skin becomes thin and dry, fatty tissue is destroyed, the risk of injury increases, the slightest bruise leads to long-healing hematomas. The final stage of development of destruction of the skin and subcutaneous tissue is necrotic tissue damage (trophic ulcer).
Thanks to the development of laser treatment for varicose veins, the price of which is now affordable for almost all patients, the local consequences of even advanced cases of the disease can be stopped in time by coagulation of the affected areas of the venous network. Drug therapy minimizes the risk of septic complications of trophic ulcers. The main medical problem of varicose veins is chronic thrombophlebitis, which cannot be cured with laser alone or wearing compression garments. We have already talked about the possible consequences of thrombophlebitis; the main danger is the separation of blood clots formed in the lumen of the vein and their blockage of the most important arteries. According to statistics, the most common potentially fatal complication of varicose veins is pulmonary embolism.
Experts evaluate the dilation of the veins of the lower extremities from various points of view, which underlie the classification of varicose veins according to the following criteria:
By the way, thrombosis (blockage of the venous lumen) can be both a consequence of varicose veins and a direct impetus for its development (for example, in case of a serious leg injury).
Varicose veins in ICD-10 are described in section I83, as well as in several complication diagnoses, for example, O22.0 - varicose veins during pregnancy, and O87.8 - varicose veins in the postpartum period. Section I8 is almost entirely devoted to diseases of veins of various locations (except for paragraphs I88 and I89, which relate to diseases of the lymphatic system).
In the Russian military medical classifier, the reason for granting a deferment or exemption from conscription for military service is only a pronounced ulcerative lesion of the skin with varicose veins of the lower extremities during an exacerbation.
If the disease has progressed far and led to tissue necrosis and the formation of ulcers, the diagnosis is made based on the results of an external examination. However, a phlebologist, one way or another, needs to determine the degree of damage to the venous network of the extremities in order to prescribe adequate therapy or decide on surgical intervention or laser treatment of varicose veins.
It is much more difficult to determine the degree of destruction of vascular walls and venous valves in the initial stages of varicose veins, when heavy leg syndrome is already noticeable, there is pain and swelling, but there are still no obvious symptoms of tissue atrophy and destructive horizontal reflux.
During the initial appointment at the clinic for the treatment of varicose veins, the phlebologist determines the picture of the disease using the following methods:
If ultrasound scanning does not provide comprehensive results, magnetic resonance imaging of the leg tissue is prescribed. MRI allows you to obtain a layer-by-layer dynamic image of the problem area and evaluate not only the condition of the main vein, but also the degree of venous insufficiency in the perforating veins, the residual efficiency of the muscle pump, the degree of degeneration of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, muscles, nerve trunks, bones and joints. In some cases, venography is prescribed - an X-ray examination of veins using a contrast agent, but this method is associated with inevitable radioactive exposure and is gradually being replaced by MRI, the cost of which is steadily decreasing.
Varicose veins are a chronic disease with periods of exacerbations and remissions. In conditions of insufficient treatment or a frivolous attitude of the patient to the doctor’s prescriptions, the inflammatory process in the walls of the veins progresses, spreading along the limb. If you have been diagnosed with varicose veins and have been prescribed conservative, laser or surgical treatment, every six months (or even more often) after completing the course you must consult with your doctor, who will monitor the dynamics of the disease, confirm previous or make new appointments.
On the pages of our website you can share your own experience in diagnosing and treating varicose veins, reviews of which can be left in the comments to the articles.
Varicose veins on the legs are essentially a surgical disease. For a long time he was treated exclusively with a scalpel. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, the methods were quite barbaric; the affected veins were excised, leaving rough scars on the legs, and the operation itself was accompanied by significant blood loss and often infection.
In the middle of the 20th century, classical phlebectomy was replaced by less invasive methods, in which doctors tried to preserve veins affected by the disease by suturing their walls or removing them by introducing special cables into the lumen of the vein through small incisions in the skin. This technique is still used today, but it is only suitable for large vessels. For small veins, a sclerotherapy method was developed - the introduction of special adhesive compounds into the lumen, gluing together deformed vascular walls and reducing their cross-section.
A revolution in the treatment of varicose veins was the use of a diode laser, which coagulates the walls of the affected vein without making an incision. The first attempts to use a laser for gluing blood vessels were made back in 1981, but the new technology achieved final clinical success only in 1999. A compact installation with an intravascular probe ensured delivery of a laser radiation source through the veins to the site of damage to the vascular wall, where the beam sealed the problem area in a matter of seconds. Collagen, which makes up 80% of the walls of blood vessels, coagulated under the influence of high temperature, like the protein in an egg, preventing uncontrolled reflux of blood. In this case, it is important to destroy all endothelial cells - if some of them survive, regeneration is possible, as a result of which a relapse of the disease will occur. Excessive laser power can also cause a problem - perforation of the vascular wall and spillage of its contents into the surrounding tissue. At first, the operation remained very expensive, but today the price of laser treatment for varicose veins is quite affordable for the average patient. In many public clinics, this operation is performed at the expense of compulsory medical insurance.
To avoid complications, all venous laser coagulation operations are previously simulated on a computer and performed under ultrasound control. Unfortunately, it is not possible to point a video camera into the laser coverage area - firstly, it will not withstand the effects of temperature, and secondly, the laser radiation will block any picture.
The intravenous burn left by the laser is usually not felt by the patient, since there are no nerve endings in the vascular walls, and the operation is performed under local anesthesia. During the healing process, local pain, hyperemia of the skin, and increased body temperature are possible. These symptoms are treated with analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Laser coagulation of veins is performed on an outpatient basis; the patient goes to follow-up appointments and physiotherapeutic procedures for 7-10 days.
An alternative to laser is radiofrequency coagulation of blood vessels, in which ultrahigh-frequency radio waves become the heat source. The principle is the same as that used in a microwave oven. However, compared to laser, RFA is more complex and is fraught with tissue burns and other side effects, so it is used less and less, as a rule, only on the large and small saphenous veins on the thigh. Hospitalization for RCC is also not required.
Sclerotherapy, the gluing of venous walls with adhesive compounds, remains in demand. Interestingly, this method was invented back in 1853 by the French surgeon Edouard Chassaignac, but at that time there were no effective adhesives that would not cause allergic reactions (Chassaignac injected toxic perchlorates into a vein). Today there are safe, self-absorbing drugs, and the accuracy of the procedure is ensured by ultrasound control or a special transluminescent lamp, which allows illumination of the injection of fluid into shallow reticular veins.
The disadvantage of sclerotherapy remains the impossibility of its use in cases of extensive lesions of the venous walls. The chemical agent, in addition, does not lead to the death of endothelial cells and varicose veins can recur over time.
Compression treatment is the most ancient method of combating varicose veins. Even ancient warriors, who spent many days marching on horseback and on foot, wrapped their legs with elastic bandages made of skins to get rid of fatigue and pain. Today, skins have been replaced by elegant compression garments, although after sclerotherapy, patients often wrap their legs with special bandages for several days, achieving:
Long-term wearing of bandages and constrictive underwear is not always comfortable, but this is the only non-invasive mechanical method for treating varicose veins.
Phlebectomy, laser treatment and sclerotherapy aim to completely stop blood flow through the affected vein. In the initial stages of the disease, radical methods can be avoided in the hope of restoring the functioning of the venous system of the extremities with medications. Their use can pursue the following purposes:
Drugs against varicose veins are divided into local, applied to the skin or injected into problem areas using subcutaneous injections, and systemic, taken orally or parenterally. On the pages of our website we will regularly publish instructions on the use of the best drugs for the treatment of varicose veins. The list of drugs whose reviews are published on our website is constantly expanding.
With all the successes of official medicine, traditional medicine has also done a lot in the fight against varicose veins. Our authors publish a review of green pharmacy products that are effective for vascular diseases. Healing herbs for varicose veins are used both topically and internally. Do not forget that varicose veins of the lower extremities, hemorrhoids, venous pathologies of the pelvic organs and abdominal cavity are of a similar nature, so the recipes published by us will be useful not only to those who have developed problems with the veins of the legs.
Folk treatment for varicose veins also includes completely outlandish, but proven and effective remedies, for example, treatment... with green tomatoes. Serious scientific research has confirmed that the juice of unripe tomatoes actually contains substances that help strengthen the walls of superficial veins and relieve swelling and inflammation.
Our website, entirely dedicated to the treatment and prevention of varicose veins on the legs, is open for publications and comments. If you want to share your observations, experiences, reviews about drugs, clinics, treatment methods, leave a comment under the feature article or write to the site administrator. Your opinion will definitely be heard.
Articles for the site are written by leading phlebologists, vascular surgeons, specialists in the field of physiotherapy and therapeutic massage. We are pleased to publish articles on new products in the fight against varicose veins.
Varicose veins on the legs are an unpleasant but completely curable disease and at the same time a serious cosmetic problem. The resources of the human body are usually quite sufficient to cope with peripheral circulatory disorders in young and middle age. The main thing is not to aggravate the situation by illiterate treatment or ignoring doctor’s orders.