Relief you can feel and see.
Most patients with varicose veins come to us with both symptoms and visible bulges — aching that gets worse by evening, swelling that leaves sock-line marks, restless legs at night, and ropy veins that have slowly developed over years. EVLT addresses both at once.
Once the diseased trunk vein is closed, the elevated pressure that drives the visible varicosities downstream resolves. Many of those bulging veins shrink on their own over the following weeks. Larger varicose tributaries that don't fully resolve can be treated separately with Varithena foam or micro-phlebectomy at a follow-up visit.
The symptoms — aching, heaviness, swelling, restless legs — typically begin to improve within days of the procedure. Skin changes (discoloration near the ankle) and chronic edema take longer, but improve as the venous pressure normalizes.
What happens at your visit.
Before the procedure
Every patient starts with a venous reflux ultrasound in our Lake Charles office. The ultrasound maps which veins have failed valves, the severity and direction of reflux, and the precise anatomy that determines whether EVLT, Varithena, or a combination is the best approach for you.
If EVLT is indicated and you have venous insufficiency symptoms documented, our team handles insurance prior authorization. Most plans require a trial of compression stockings (typically six to twelve weeks) before authorizing procedural treatment — we'll let you know exactly what your insurer needs.
The procedure itself
Performed at Imperial Calcasieu Surgery Center. You're awake the whole time — no IV sedation or general anesthesia required.
- A small needle puncture is made over the diseased vein, typically near the knee. No incisions.
- A thin laser fiber is threaded into the vein under ultrasound guidance.
- Tumescent anesthesia (a numbing solution) is infused along the entire length of the vein.
- The laser is activated and slowly withdrawn, closing the vein as it goes.
- Total time: about 45 to 60 minutes per leg.
After the procedure
- Compression stocking on for the first 24 hours continuously, then during waking hours for 1–2 weeks.
- Walk for 10–15 minutes every 1–2 hours while awake — this is the single most important thing you can do.
- Back to a desk job within 1–2 days.
- No heavy lifting (over 25 lb), no strenuous exercise, and no air travel for 1–2 weeks.
- Follow-up ultrasound at 1–2 weeks to confirm the vein has closed.
Full post-procedure recovery instructions are available on the Patient Info page, including a printable PDF you can take home.
Is EVLT right for me?
EVLT is the preferred treatment when a large trunk vein — typically the great saphenous vein or small saphenous vein — has documented reflux on ultrasound. It's especially well-suited to:
- Patients with classic venous insufficiency symptoms: aching, heaviness, swelling, restless legs
- Patients with visible varicose veins fed by an incompetent trunk vein
- Patients who want to address the root cause of their venous disease, not just the visible surface veins
- Patients whose anatomy on ultrasound shows a straight, accessible trunk vein suitable for laser threading
EVLT may not be the first choice for veins with very tortuous (twisty) anatomy, above-knee disease that's anatomically challenging, or branching tributaries. In those cases Varithena may be a better fit — or both may be used together.
The only way to know is a venous reflux ultrasound and a conversation with one of our surgeons. Call (337) 425-9300 to schedule.
