Besides being unattractive and highly noticeable, varicose veins can also be a painful and uncomfortable medical condition that may negatively impact your quality of life on a daily basis. No matter what your reasons for wanting your varicose veins gone, however, you will in all likelihood be presented with several different options for their removal. The most modern and, in recent years, popular of these methods is laser vein treatment, but many patients are initially worried about the safety of this procedure. If you are intrigued by laser vein removal but concerned about its potential side-effects, read on to gain a better understanding of this process and any risks involved.
Learning About Your Varicose Veins
Varicose veins form when a valve in an otherwise healthy and functional vein begins to leak, allowing deoxygenated blood to trickle back down instead of up to the heart and lungs. The veins holding this pooled blood eventually become enlarged and inflamed, resulting in the spiderweb of blue lines many people develop as they age. These typically occur on your legs, but they can appear nearly anywhere on your body as well.
Understanding How Laser Vein Treatments Work
Laser vein treatment works by using precision lasers to irreversibly damage the offending blue veins, closing them off by forming small sections of scar tissue in the laser's path. What is left of the vein then shrivels up and dies over time. This procedure is highly effective at reducing the severity of or even entirely eliminating varicose veins, but many patients worry about losing circulation or experiencing burns as a complication when they first hear about it.
Determining Your Complication Risk During Laser Treatments
Despite its intimidating methods, laser vein treatment has actually been found to be the safest of all options for removing varicose veins. One large study conducted in 2014 found that, while laser vein therapy was as effective as surgical or foam treatments, only 1 percent of laser treatment patients experienced complications, compared to 6 and 7 percent for foam and surgery. You may be at greater risk of skin discoloration if you have darker skin, however, so consult with your dermatologist to make sure he or she has the right type of laser to safely work with your skin tone.
Choosing an Experienced Physician
The most important choice you can make when undergoing laser vein treatment is to choose an experienced and reputable physician (such as one from Elite Vein Centers). Lasers are precise and powerful, and it takes a steady, expert hand to guide them safely without burns or excessive scarring. Speak to your dermatologist to get a better idea of his or her proficiency with laser vein treatment, and don't be afraid to ask questions or raise any concerns. By doing your homework ahead of time, you can go into your treatment session comfortable with the knowledge that your risk of complications is very low and the odds of success are high.
Share10 May 2016
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