Do you have a question?Vein stripping is now a thing of the past. Those veins that were previously treated with stripping are now closed with a laser. In Endovenous Laser Ablation, a long thin laser fiber is placed inside of the vein to be treated. The laser tip is positioned very precisely. Then, local anesthetic is injected along the length of the vein to numb the vein. As the laser is fired, it is slowly pulled back through the vein to burn and close the vein which is then is reabsorbed by the body over the course of months. Patients are typically sore in the treated area for a couple of weeks, but as mentioned above, the discomfort is managed with over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy To Remove Bulging Veins
Ambulatory Phlebectomy, also referred to as micro-phlebectomy, or “hook” phlebectomy, is a micro-extraction procedure used to remove bulging varicose veins, both large and small, that are close to the surface through very small (1/16 – 1/8 inch) micro-incisions. The micro-incisions are so small that they seldom require a stitch. The incisions heal nicely and scars are typically invisible after 1 year. Both the laser closure and the subsequent ambulatory phlebectomies are performed right in our Albuquerque vein clinic under tumescent local anesthesia. Small steri-strips are used to close the micro-incisions, offering a quick recovery. Most patients return to work immediately, but do need to follow a recovery protocol.