Has anyone had the Lasar varicose vein procedure??

[Chris2597]

I had the procedure last week on my right leg. My leg is sore and bruised. I got to take the bandage and compression stocking off tonight. The veins are amazingly smaller....The dr told me prior to the surgery that it would be virtually painless....He lied...He numbed the area where the catheter went in and injected numbing and some type of cooling agent into the leg where the laser would be used....It was very uncomfortable. I am scheduled to go back for the other leg. I like the result but wonder if other drs provide some other type of relief during the procedure. I have a typically high pain tolerance but this really was uncomfortable.

 

[managerdreamer]

I had the procedure last week on my right leg. My leg is sore and bruised. I got to take the bandage and compression stocking off tonight. The veins are amazingly smaller....The dr told me prior to the surgery that it would be virtually painless....He lied...He numbed the area where the catheter went in and injected numbing and some type of cooling agent into the leg where the laser would be used....It was very uncomfortable. I am scheduled to go back for the other leg. I like the result but wonder if other drs provide some other type of relief during the procedure. I have a typically high pain tolerance but this really was uncomfortable.

Hi I work in a vein clinic and we do the laser procedures all day long. The process sounds very much like our process. And Patient LOVE the results. We have our patients take 5-10 mg of Valium before we start the procedure. This usually helps relax the patient. Doesn't cut the pain though. I suggest taking an I pod and listening to music the distraction is nice for many patients.

Your sore bruised leg is very normal and will resolve but a complete resolution can take a year. Mainly for the look of the leg takes a year. The leg should feel better in about 1-2 months.

I was most surprised you could take your stocking off we keep the patients in the stocking for the first 48 hours can't remove it at all then on day and night for one week only off for a shower. Then the second week we let the patients have the stocking off at night but back on when they are up around during the day.

Good luck with your second leg. Sometimes you find now that you know what to expect it isn't as bad either. Take an Ipod and see if you can have something to help you relax more. You will love how good your legs will feel in a few short months!

 

[Christine]

This is a timely thread. My good friend is having this done on Friday. Actually, I don't think I'll show her this!

 

[gottaluvPluto]

Hi I work in a vein clinic and we do the laser procedures all day long. The process sounds very much like our process. And Patient LOVE the results. We have our patients take 5-10 mg of Valium before we start the procedure. This usually helps relax the patient. Doesn't cut the pain though. I suggest taking an I pod and listening to music the distraction is nice for many patients.

Your sore bruised leg is very normal and will resolve but a complete resolution can take a year. Mainly for the look of the leg takes a year. The leg should feel better in about 1-2 months.

I was most surprised you could take your stocking off we keep the patients in the stocking for the first 48 hours can't remove it at all then on day and night for one week only off for a shower. Then the second week we let the patients have the stocking off at night but back on when they are up around during the day.

Good luck with your second leg. Sometimes you find now that you know what to expect it isn't as bad either. Take an Ipod and see if you can have something to help you relax more. You will love how good your legs will feel in a few short months!

I have never heard of laser surgery on varicose veins! I guess I need to make an appt with a vein clinic. Do they perform laser surgeries on big veins?

 

[Christine]

I have never heard of laser surgery on varicose veins! I guess I need to make an appt with a vein clinic. Do they perform laser surgeries on big veins?

Based on the literature my friend received, the laser ablation is done on the BIG veins. I realize that varicose veins can be smaller but are you sure you aren't thinking about spider veins?

My friend's varicose vein is HUGE and runs from her ankle to her groin and is very visible all the way up. She was deemed a severe case.

 

[JanDave]

I had laser done in the early to mid 80s and again in the early 90s. Must have been in the infancy stage as it didn't help me.

Jan

 

[gottaluvPluto]

Based on the literature my friend received, the laser ablation is done on the BIG veins. I realize that varicose veins can be smaller but are you sure you aren't thinking about spider veins?

My friend's varicose vein is HUGE and runs from her ankle to her groin and is very visible all the way up. She was deemed a severe case.

I wish it was spider veins! No, it's a varicose vein that a doctor wanted to strip a long time ago and I didn't let him do it. The laser treatment sounds much better than the stripping.

 

[Christine]

I wish it was spider veins! No, it's a varicose vein that a doctor wanted to strip a long time ago and I didn't let him do it. The laser treatment sounds much better than the stripping.

I agree. That's why my friend waited so long. Her older relatives had them stripped and she just didn't want to deal with that. Hers is so bad now that she's getting them done. We were surprised to find that it isn't always covered by insurance but since hers is so large and deemed severe it will be.

 

[managerdreamer]

I wish it was spider veins! No, it's a varicose vein that a doctor wanted to strip a long time ago and I didn't let him do it. The laser treatment sounds much better than the stripping.

Yes, Laser is the new treatment. And much better than stripping. We still do some strippings but they are few and far between the most common reason for stripping is the vein is to little in diameter or too superficial.

For the lady or gent who said her laser didn't work. There are a few things that are possible. The vein could have re opened there is about a 3 % failure rate or your body made a new network of veins which is possible.

The veins that are usually laser is used on are the greater saphenous vein (GSV) and the lessor saphenous vein. (LSV)

There are some centers that do laser on spider veins though injections is still the most common way to go.

You will find that once you have your GSV or LSV lasered may of the other refluxing veins are affected.

The girl or guy who has a friend having the procedure on Friday... Good luck to her. She will do just fine. Everyone is different in every procedure. I have had people think it is very painful and the next person tell me it was no pain at all. Just weird how we do the same thing to every patient and each patient reacts different.

In my opinion I feel that people have different effects of the local anesthesia. I think it works better for some than other.

GOOD luck to everyone with their veins!

 

[Chris2597]

I had a follow up with the vascular surgeon last Friday. The procedure successfully closed the vein. I was still terribly bruised and sore. The vein has almost completely disappeared. The leftover vein will be removed in 3 weeks with a mini phlebectomy. The dr said it will be completely gone after that. I still feel a bit of pulling when standing or if I sit too long, but it much better. The bruising is almost totally gone. The dr recommended Arnica to lessen the bruising, which seemed to work great.
I am waiting to have my left leg done until after my right leg is completed. He said I could take a pain pill and a xanax prior to the procedure if I wanted to. I will also take an ipod as suggested. I will post and let you know how the finished product looks.

 

[Christine]

My friend did pretty well last Friday. She said it was a tad uncomfortable but not a big deal. They have her 15 mg of valium during the procedure but she felt it didn't affect her much.

She felt slightly sore over the weekend and if she stands for too long or sits for too long, she feels a pulling.

They warned her that she would have a lot of bruising (she had one of the more severe cases they'd ever seen) but so far she hasn't said it's bad.

She is concerned because she still feels that she can see it but it hasn't quite been a week yet, so...

 

[Chris2597]

I can not believe my results. The ugly vein is barely visible. the pain is about gone. I am a bit nervous about the mini phlebectomy but so far it has all been worth the results.
@Christine, how is your friend doing?
This doc wont give anything....He did ok it if I took some xanax and a pain pill prior but he is totally against prescribing.

 

[Chris2597]

Update on my results....The change in my legs is truly amazing. I go in next Monday for a mini-phlebectomty. The dr will remove any visible veins from the area. He claims this is virtually painless and I will only feel the numbing injection. I still need to have my left leg done. The bruising and healing pain lasted for about 3 weeks.

 

[tomtoot]

I have also heard of taking valium or xanax prior to the procedure, makes you more relaxed and less focused on what's happening.

 

[Christine]

Update on my results....The change in my legs is truly amazing. I go in next Monday for a mini-phlebectomty. The dr will remove any visible veins from the area. He claims this is virtually painless and I will only feel the numbing injection. I still need to have my left leg done. The bruising and healing pain lasted for about 3 weeks.

I was wondering how you were doing.

My friend's turned out well. She had what was classified as a very severe vein (one of the worst they've seen). It was verified that it collapsed; however, if you look REAL hard you can still see it a bit. She is happy with it though and doesn't want to go through with having it removed.

Please post back and let me know how that goes so I can tell her in case she changes her mind.

 

[Chris2597]

I was wondering how you were doing.

My friend's turned out well. She had what was classified as a very severe vein (one of the worst they've seen). It was verified that it collapsed; however, if you look REAL hard you can still see it a bit. She is happy with it though and doesn't want to go through with having it removed.

Please post back and let me know how that goes so I can tell her in case she changes her mind.

Tell your friend that the mini phlebectomy is no big deal. It sounds a whole lot worse than it is. I still have some bruising from it but I think it is going to put the finishing touches on my right leg. I am having my left leg done in June (the insurance authorization expires June 23)....I am not looking forward to the procedure but the great results on my right leg have inspired me.

 

[LovableGluttons]

OOohh I am so glad you posted!

I've worked on my feet since the age of 14! First bagging groceries, then lifeguarding, bartending, then nursing.

My varicose veins are just awful! I've had PCPs over the years give me referrals to vascular surgeons, but I chicken out.

My legs feel and are so heavy too! I carry all of my weight in my legs and they swell after being on them all day.

It's weird, the swelling stops at my ankles and my feet don't swell.

So, how bad was the pain? What about the recovery time?

I'm self conscious of those giant ropey veins.

Was it worth it? I am no good at staying off my feet. I'm a terrible patient that way.

 

[Chris2597]

Loveablegluttons, Yes....it was so worth it. I can not believe the improvement in the look of my legs as well as how my right leg feels (I havent done the left yet)...My leg doesnt hurt, feel tight or get hot anymore.
The process begin with the insurance requiring that I wear a medical stocking for 3 months (I was not good about doing that as it was way too hot)....The dr told me he wouldnt ask me if i wore it just if it helped when I did....I said yes....and i had the procedure paid for by insurance. The lasor part is fast, a little uncomfortable but not terrible. My leg was sore and very bruised for a couple of weeks. I had the mini phlebectomy to remove the visible veins that didnt diminish...(the procedure was no big deal....just more bruising)
I am going in for my left leg in June. I highly recommend the procedure even with the initial moderate pain with the first procedure....So worth the outcome. Post if you decide to get it done and your outcome.
I am going to the beach this summer and can proudly wear shorts and a bathing suit without feeling weird abouit my veiny legs.

 

[Fly4free]

Yes, Laser is the new treatment. And much better than stripping. We still do some strippings but they are few and far between the most common reason for stripping is the vein is to little in diameter or too superficial.

For the lady or gent who said her laser didn't work. There are a few things that are possible. The vein could have re opened there is about a 3 % failure rate or your body made a new network of veins which is possible.

The veins that are usually laser is used on are the greater saphenous vein (GSV) and the lessor saphenous vein. (LSV)

There are some centers that do laser on spider veins though injections is still the most common way to go.

You will find that once you have your GSV or LSV lasered may of the other refluxing veins are affected.

The girl or guy who has a friend having the procedure on Friday... Good luck to her. She will do just fine. Everyone is different in every procedure. I have had people think it is very painful and the next person tell me it was no pain at all. Just weird how we do the same thing to every patient and each patient reacts different.

In my opinion I feel that people have different effects of the local anesthesia. I think it works better for some than other.

GOOD luck to everyone with their veins!

These are the 2 that I had ablated last year. For me the laser was painless, but I sure did not like all the injections to numb the vein. I had to go twice. They only did 1 vein at a time.

It was so worth it though. I had awful aching and burning in my leg after working on my feet all day. I did wear (lovely ) compression stockings but they did not give me much relief. I still ( a year later) have a bit of tightness in the GSV like a rubber band being pulled. After the procedure I was uncomfortable and arranged to stay off my feet as much as I could.

After both vein ablations I returned to have my spider veins injected. I almost didn't do it because it was out of pocket, but I feel so much better about myself now and really wish I had done it years earlier!

 

[runsandjumps]

I think I will keep this thread in mind for my friends mom.