To return to the leg and vein clinic please click here
Questions and Answers
If unsightly and painful veins have been preventing you, from living a full life, these Questions & Answers offer new hope about treatment.
Q. Which are the standard methods of treatment?
Besides compression therapy, the most common form of treatment is surgical ligation and stripping. At least two incisions are required, allowing the physician to tie off and pull out the faulty vein. It is an expensive surgery that requires general anaesthesia, hospitalisation, may leave scarring and requires a lengthy recovery period.
Another form of treatment is ultrasound-guided schierotherapy-the injection of an irritant to close a vein. Schierotherapy is effective on small veins. However, with larger veins it has a high reoccurrence rate.
Q. How does ELVeS laser treatment work?
ELVeS is a minimally invasive procedure where laser energy is delivered to the faulty Great Saphenous vein, causing it to close. There are many veins in the leg. So, after treatment, the body simply reroutes blood flow through other healthy veins.
Q. What is the actual procedure like?
The ELVeS treatment takes about 45 minutes and is usually performed in your physician’s office. No general anaesthesia is required just a local anaesthetic. Your physician will insert a thin flexible fibre through a sheath into the faulty vein. The laser light will then be emitted through the fibre. As the thermal laser energy is administered, the vein will close from the inside. Only minimal discomfort, if any, should be experienced.
Q. How soon should I be able to resume normal activities?
Normal activities can be resumed immediately after ELVeS treatment, with the exception of rigorous exercise.
Q. Will the results of ELVeS treatment last?
ELVeS treatment has been performed for a number of years on thousands of patients. The procedure has proven to be highly effective with outstanding patient satisfaction. There is a very low probability that reoccurrence in the veins will be experienced.
Q. Will my insurance cover it?
Some policies will cover the procedure, at least partially, and others will not. Check your policy and call your insurance provider to find out what their exact coverage will be
Don’t let venous insufficiency keep you from enjoying life fully – it’s time to do something about it. Ask your physician about the ELVeS procedure and find out if it’s right for you
|
