When Is Laser Therapy the Best Treatment Option for Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins aren’t just unappealing; they’re also uncomfortable. While these bulging, twisted veins usually aren’t life threatening, their impact on your life can include persistent pain, swelling, and decreased mobility.

The sooner you seek treatment for varicose veins, the quicker you can regain comfort and enjoy a more active, pain-free lifestyle.

At Advanced Cardiovascular Care in Riverside, California, you have several options to treat varicose veins. 

Board-certified cardiologist Dr. Syed W. Bokhari frequently recommends complete physical examination, an ultrasound followed by ablation therapy with laser, radiofrequency or venaseal (glue), if indicated, and sclerotherapy to close the varicose veins shut, providing you with a minimally invasive treatments that allows you to resume your regular activities quickly.

Choosing Venous Ablation therapy

Here are a few reasons to consider vein ablation therapy over alternative treatments to target varicose veins:

No general anesthesia or hospitalization

Vein ablation therapy can be performed within an hour in the office setting using local anesthesia and laser, radiofrequency or venaseal (glue) to shrink and destroy the abnormal symptomatic veins. 

No or Minimal Pain, Downtime and scarring

Most patients return to their normal daily activities within the same day and have no or minimal scarring compared to Venous stripping.

Types of Ablative techniques for varicose veins

Dr. Bokhari has been the pioneer of varicose vein treatments in the Inland Empire and is wella dept with all the latest skills and technologies. He offers the following popular treatment options:

Laser ablation

This technique involves a hand-held device that directs laser energy through your skin, penetrating the targeted vein without damaging the surrounding tissue. After a series of treatments, the vein shrinks away. This method is ideal for smaller veins closer to the surface.

Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT)

If your varicose vein is deep and large, EVLT may be more effective. During this treatment, Dr. Bokhari inserts a thin fiber through a small incision in your skin, using laser heat to destroy the affected vein.

Radiofrequency (RF) Ablation Therapy

Similar to EVLT, Dr. Bokhari inserts a catheter in the culprit vein and using radiofrequency heat the vein is closed successfully.

Venaseal (Glue)

After local anesthetic, a tube is inserted in the leg and a catheter is advanced into the symptomatic vein and venaseal (glue) is injected and manual pressure is held to close the vein shut painlessly.

When sclerotherapy might be the better option

There’s a reason sclerotherapy is widely considered the gold standard in varicose vein treatment: It works. Dr. Bokhari injects an FDA approved medication (Sotradecol or Polidocanoll) directly into the varicose vein, irritating it until the walls of the vein stick together and seal off. 

This treatment causes the vein to collapse and eventually fade from view as your body naturally absorbs the treated vein.

If you’re struggling with varicose veins, a thorough consultation with a vein specialist is essential to help you choose the right treatment. Call Advanced Cardiovascular Care today or schedule an appointment online to book your consultation with Dr. Bokhari.