Endovenous Ablation in Traverse City & Cadillac, MI

As with radiofrequency ablation, just about anyone bothered by their varicose veins is a great candidate for endovenous laser ablation. Dr. Heeringa advises patients to exhaust conservative treatment options — wearing compression stockings, losing weight, exercise (particularly with your legs), and elevating your legs while sitting — before opting to have Endovenous Thermal Ablation.

In Endovenous Laser Ablation, a thin fiber is inserted into the damaged vein through a tiny entry point in the skin. Using ultrasound technology, a thin laser fiber is guided into the vein through a very small opening to deliver pulsed laser heat to the diseased vein wall. This causes the vein to close and seal shut, and eliminates venous reflux at its source. The veins that are closed are superficial veins that handle less than five percent of the body’s blood flow. The blood is automatically routed to other, healthy veins.

Some physicians are now using a jacketed fiber, which prevents any contact between the fiber and the vein wall. The jacketed fiber prevents much of the pain and bruising that is often associated with the most conventional method of ligation and stripping. Some patients may experience temporary soreness or some slight swelling, which can be treated effectively with over-the-counter, non-aspirin pain relievers, and typically subsides within 1 to 2 days.

Lasers have proven their safety and effectiveness through years of use in all types of medical procedures, from eye surgery to dermatology. In the hands of a skilled physician, lasers offer far less risk for complications than conventional surgery.

When you decide to partner with Dr. Heeringa and our team at Northern Michigan Vein Specialists, you minimize risk and put yourself in the hands of experienced expert surgeons.

The veins closed off by Dr. Heeringa with Endovenous Thermal Ablation are permanently closed. Studies have shown the long-term closure rate of veins treated with thermal ablation to be upwards of 95% 10 years later. They won’t return to pumping blood, so they cannot become varicose veins again either. Most veins treated with laser ablation are effectively invisible, even to ultrasound, 12 months after the procedure. There isn’t any scarring with this procedure, and there is little, if any, discomfort. The treated vein will not return. Of course, you can still develop other varicose veins in the future.

The most important part of recovery is that you will need to wear compression stockings for up to a week after your ablation. Most patients resume normal activity immediately after the procedure, and all patients are encouraged to remain active and actually instructed to walk as much as possible. It is common for patients to go back to work right after the procedure. Some mild discomfort can occur, but that is typically easily controlled with simple over-the-counter pain medications.

The most important part of recovery is that you will need to wear compression stockings for up to a week after your ablation. Most patients resume normal activity immediately after the procedure, and all patients are encouraged to remain active and actually instructed to walk as much as possible. It is common for patients to go back to work right after the procedure. Some mild discomfort can occur, but that is typically easily controlled with simple over-the-counter pain medications.

As with any procedure where the skin is penetrated, there is a slight risk of injection, but this occurs in less than 1 in 1,000 cases. Since the catheter is inside the blood vessel, there is a risk of damage to the blood vessel, bruising, or bleeding at the puncture site. There is also a very low risk of a blood clot, but that is less than 1% and can be avoided by remaining active and wearing compression as advised. The experience of Dr. Heeringa and our team at Northern Michigan Vein Specialists mitigates this risk.

Possible complications of endovenous laser treatment are thermal skin burns and transient numbness. Your compression stockings help to ease these effects.

Thrombophlebitis (swelling of the vein) can also occur, and this can cause pain and tenderness over the treated area. Most patients only need over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication and ice to handle the pain.

There is an extremely low risk of a pulmonary embolism, where a blood clot forms in athe vein and can travel to the lungs.