Everything you need before and after your visit.

Patient Portal

Our patient portal is powered by athenahealth. Sign in to message the office securely, view your visit summaries and ultrasound reports, request prescription refills, review upcoming appointments, and update your information — all without having to call.

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New patient? You'll receive an email invitation to set up your portal account after your first visit is scheduled. If you didn't get the invitation or need help logging in, call (337) 425-9300.

Pay a Bill

Pay your bill securely through the same athenahealth patient portal. Sign in to view your current statement, pay by card, set up a payment plan, or update your billing address.

Pay through patient portal  →

Prefer to pay in person, by mail, or by phone? Call the office at (337) 425-9300 and our billing team will walk you through the options.

Financing — CareCredit

Lake Area Vein Center partners with CareCredit to give patients flexible, no-interest and extended financing for out-of-pocket costs — including cosmetic sclerotherapy and any deductibles or copays for medical vein procedures.

Apply for CareCredit  →

For patients who are uninsured or facing financial hardship outside CareCredit's scope, we also offer self-pay pricing and case-by-case payment arrangements. Privacy is fully protected — these conversations happen between you and our billing team only.

Call (337) 425-9300 and ask about financial assistance.

After Your Procedure — EVLT & Varithena Recovery

Recovery instructions after Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) and Varithena foam treatment. Most patients are walking and back to light activity the same day. Following these instructions carefully helps the treatment work as well as possible and keeps your recovery smooth.

↓ Download / print recovery instructions Post-Procedure Instructions – EVLT & Varithena · PDF ⎙ Print this page Open your browser's print dialog

What's normal in the first weeks

• Bruising along the treated vein for 1–2 months — it can look dramatic before it fades.
• Tenderness or a firm, rope-like feeling along the closed vein. This means the vein is sealing as intended.
• Mild aching or tightness in the leg for the first 3–7 days, especially in the evening.
• Small areas of skin discoloration that fade gradually.
• A small amount of pinkish-tan drainage or spotting from the catheter access site for the first day.

The first 24 hours

• Walk for 10–15 minutes every 1–2 hours while awake. Walking is the single most important thing you can do today — it helps the closed vein stay closed and lowers your risk of a blood clot.
• Keep your compression stocking on (see below).
• Drink plenty of water.
• Avoid sitting or lying still for long stretches. No long drives, naps, or movie marathons today.
• You may shower in 24 hours. No baths, hot tubs, swimming pools, or soaking the leg for 7 days.
• Eat your normal diet. Light foods are fine if you feel queasy from the procedure.

Compression stockings

After EVLT (Endovenous Laser Treatment): Wear your compression stocking continuously for the first 24 hours (you can take it off briefly to shower after the first 24 hours). After that, wear it during all waking hours for 1 to 2 weeks. You may take it off at bedtime.

After Varithena: Wear your compression stocking during all waking hours for 2 weeks. You may take it off to sleep and to shower.

If your stocking feels too tight, rolls down, or causes numbness in the toes, call our office — it may need to be refitted.

Activity

• Walk frequently — short walks throughout the day are better than one long walk.
• No heavy lifting (over 25 lb) and no strenuous exercise for 1 week. This includes running, cycling, weightlifting, yard work, and similar activity.
• No air travel or long road trips for 2 to 4 weeks. If travel is unavoidable, call us before you go so we can advise you.
• Most patients return to a desk job in 1–2 days. If your job involves heavy lifting or prolonged standing, talk with us about timing.
• Avoid hot tubs, saunas, and very hot baths for 2 weeks. Heat can dilate the veins and interfere with closure.

Medications

• Take your prescribed anti-inflammatory (NSAID) — ibuprofen or naproxen — for 2 weeks exactly as your physician prescribed. This is not just for pain; it is part of your treatment. It helps the closed vein heal and reduces inflammation along the vein. Take it with food.
• You may also take acetaminophen (Tylenol) as directed on the label if you need additional comfort. Most patients need very little.
• If you take a blood thinner (aspirin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Plavix, warfarin, or another), continue taking it on your normal schedule. We intentionally do not stop blood thinners for these procedures.
• Continue all of your other usual medications — blood pressure, heart, diabetes, thyroid, etc. — exactly as you normally take them.
• A cool pack wrapped in a thin towel may be applied over the stocking for 15 minutes at a time during the first 48 hours.

Site care

There are no incisions — only small catheter and injection sites that close on their own. Light bruising along the treated area is expected and will fade.

Do not apply lotions, creams, or ointments to the treated leg unless we have told you to.

Follow-up ultrasound

Your follow-up venous ultrasound is scheduled approximately 1 to 2 weeks after your procedure. This is required to confirm the vein has closed and to screen for any blood clots.

Please do not skip this visit, even if you feel completely back to normal. Insurance coverage for any additional treatment may depend on it. To reschedule, call (337) 425-9300 as soon as possible.

Devin Seale, MD • Stephen Castleberry, MD • Matthew Ayo, MD
Lake Area Vein Center at Sulphur Surgical Clinic