Research Shows EVLA Better than Surgery

Varicose Vein Treatment

For many years, surgery has long been the most common treatment option available for varicose veins.

In recent years, EVLA has been touted as the preferable solution. EVLA stands for Endovenous Laser Ablation and is a treatment which uses laser to heat and damage difficult varicose veins so that they are destroyed. It is also known as EVLT – Endovenous Laser Treatment.

Now a new research study is showing just how much better EVLA is for treating varicose veins.

A group of 214 patients were studied. 61 underwent surgery, 73 underwent EVLA and 72 had sclerotherapy.

97% of patients experienced complete absence of varicose veins within one year of treatment with both EVLA and conventional surgery. Only 51% of foam sclerotherapy patients had no return of varicose veins in the same time frame.

EVLA vs Surgery

While the outcome of surgery was found in this study to be comparable with EVLA, the experience of having laser treatment is much more pleasant. EVLA is carried out on a day case basis and uses local anaesthetic. Recovery is very quick and patients are able to walk unaided to return home. There is no need for an overnight stay and patients can return to normal activities much faster.

EVLA vs Foam Sclerotherapy

Foam sclerotherapy is a technique where a chemical is mixed with air to make foam that is then injected into a varicose vein. This technique can be used for treating smaller varicose veins, but for treating large varicose veins, foam sclerotherapy is not as effective as EVLA. So while the non-invasive nature of foam sclerotherapy and lower cost can look attractive, results point to EVLA as a better option for most, especially for larger veins.

Varicose Vein Treatment

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private varicose vein treatment and see many patients who have been refused treatment on the NHS.

Their London Vein Treatment Centre offers EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal with a vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Thread veins can be treated with sclerotherapy injections, micro cautery laser or Nd:Yag laser.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.