Laser varicose vein treatment (EVLA) in Slavuta

How EVLA works

The laser treats the faulty vein from the inside. Through a small puncture, the doctor inserts a thin laser fiber into the vein and guides it along the section to be treated under ultrasound. A local anesthetic solution is injected around the vein, so you stay awake throughout. The laser heats the vein wall, the vein seals shut and blood stops flowing through it. Blood flow moves to healthy veins, congestion in the leg eases, and over time the body absorbs the closed vein. The method is also called endovenous laser coagulation (EVLC).

Compared with traditional surgery with incisions, EVLA usually causes less pain and swelling, and people return to normal activities sooner. In its 2022 guidelines, the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) recommends thermal ablation, including laser ablation, as the first-choice treatment when the valves of the great saphenous vein are not working.

Who laser treatment suits, and who it does not

EVLA is recommended when a color Doppler ultrasound of the veins shows that the valves of the great or small saphenous vein are not working and blood flows backwards. These veins are where visible varicose veins most often start. Ablation is done both when veins bother you mainly for cosmetic reasons and when the skin on your lower legs has already changed or ulcers have appeared: for these changes, European guidelines specifically recommend it.

The limits are mostly anatomical. If the vein is very twisted or lies too close under the skin, the doctor may suggest another method. The procedure is put off in case of acute thrombosis, skin inflammation on the leg, pregnancy or a flare-up of a serious chronic illness. EVLA is not used for small spider veins. The early signs of varicose veins are described in the article varicose veins: early signs.

How to prepare and what happens after the procedure

You start with a consultation with a Viva Clinic vascular surgeon. The surgeon examines your legs, does a vein ultrasound and, if needed, orders blood tests, a urine test and an ECG. You can have the lab tests at the Diagnost-Lab laboratory at 32 Sobornosti St. Tell the doctor which medicines you take regularly, especially blood thinners, and whether you are allergic to painkillers or anesthetics. Do not stop any medicines on your own. Many people buy compression stockings in advance, and the doctor will advise on the class and size.

The procedure usually takes up to an hour per leg. Afterwards, compression stockings go on, and you should walk the same day. For the first few days you may feel pulling along the treated vein and notice bruising or lumps under the skin, which usually fade within a few weeks. If your job is not physical, you can usually return to work after a few days. For the period the doctor sets, avoid heavy lifting, intense exercise, saunas and hot baths, then come back for a follow-up visit. We describe preparation, the procedure and recovery in detail in the article laser varicose vein treatment.

See a doctor the same day if your leg swells a lot, the pain gets worse, you develop a fever, or the puncture site turns red and painful. Call an ambulance on 103 if you suddenly become short of breath or have chest pain.

Do I need to travel to Khmelnytskyi for EVLA?

No. You can have the tests and laser treatment of varicose veins in Slavuta, at Viva Clinic, as an outpatient, with no overnight hospital stay. Patients come to us from Netishyn, Shepetivka, Khmelnytskyi, the Khmelnytskyi and Rivne regions and from all over Ukraine. The vascular surgeon sees patients by appointment, with no waiting in line. The consultation and treatment are paid.