Get Your Legs Ready for Spring With Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA)

Have you been wearing compression stockings during the winter for relief from varicose veins? Now that spring is around the corner, you want to ditch them, but if you do, your legs ache. Plus, those long, rope-like purple veins are embarrassing. 

You don’t have to live with problematic, unsightly varicose veins. Modern medicine can remove your troublesome veins with a minimally invasive procedure called endovenous laser ablation, or EVLA. 

Our board-certified radiologists at REDI Diagnostics Corp in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, can effectively treat your varicose veins and help restore the natural beauty of your skin. 

Get your legs ready for spring now. The recovery period isn’t too long, but you may want to wear long pants while you’re healing. 

How does EVLA work to remove varicose veins?

There are several methods to remove varicose veins. EVLA is the gold standard for treatment when the problem involves your saphenous vein — the large vein running down your leg. 

The valves in your veins aren’t working properly, and blood is pooling in your legs, causing the bulging, purple lines. Your expert provider uses laser heat to close your varicose veins. Blood reroutes to healthy veins, and normal blood flow is restored. 

What happens during the EVLA procedure? 

You lie comfortably on a table. Our staff gives you special goggles to protect your eyes. After we administer a numbing gel and a local anesthetic to the target area, we use ultrasound to guide the procedure. 

Your radiologist makes a small incision and inserts a catheter into your vein. A laser fiber is inserted into the catheter. The laser’s heat causes the vein to disintegrate. The same procedure is used for each varicose vein. 

How long is the recovery for EVLA? 

You need a friend or family member to drive you home. Recovery takes about two weeks, but you can return to a normal routine in a couple of days. 

You need to wear a bandage over the incision site and keep the area dry for a couple of days. You can use an ice pack to reduce swelling for the first few days after the procedure. We provide written instructions that include all this information. 

You’ll wear compression stockings for a couple of weeks, and we recommend that you don't fly during that time. 

It’s important to start walking right away and continue to walk a moderate amount as you recover. You should walk 3 times a day for 10-20 minutes each time. Avoid vigorous exercise and workouts at the gym. 

Keep your feet elevated using an ottoman or pillows when you’re sitting, and don't stand for extended periods of time. 

When will I see results from EVLA?

Results vary depending on the size of your varicose veins; larger veins take longer to disappear. Any bruising should fade in a couple of weeks, and you’ll see initial results in a few weeks, followed by gradual improvement. 

This is an ideal time of year to move forward with EVLA. By spring, your legs will be ready for shorts and swimsuits. To get started, call REDI Diagnostics Corp or book an appointment online today.