I had laser vein treatment done 6 weeks ago and now there are a few places on the backs of my knees that are purple, puffy, and a little sore. There's also a hard vein going up the back of my thigh. Is this normal? Will these eventually go away?
What you should be feeling really depends on what was treated. If the back of your leg was treated with the laser, it is possible that the hard vein that you feel in the back of your thigh is an extension off of the vein that was lasered. If the hard vein does not hurt, it is probably just that vein scarred in with scar tissue. If the vein hurts like the purple areas in the back of your knees, you probably have trapped blood pocketed in the treated vein or one of its many branches. This trapped blood is often due to various branches feeding into the vein that was lasered, having not been treated. Remember that you have a lot of branches feeding off of the vein that was lasered. Not all of them will close down with the laser. Result can be blood being pocketed into the treated vein causing your symptoms. The treatment is simple. Remove the blood and seal off those tributaries causing your trapped blood.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Hard areas following laser closure are common and are due to the vein contracting following the laser, or due to trapped blood under the microphlebectomy sites. These will resolve over time. Wet heat to the areas may help.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
This can be normal and will fade over a few months. See your doctor to make sure that a recent scan has shown no evidence of DVT. She/he should also evacuate any trapped blood that may have clotted in the vein. This will give the best long term results. Wear your stockings as much as possible over the next few weeks.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Should discuss with treating physcian.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Without seeing you it is difficult to assess and know which vein was treated. However, you may have some varicose veins which have become inflamed or thrombosed (clotted off). This can cause hyperpigmentation (brown staining) over the veins. As a surgeon I remove most of the varicose veins in the area to avoid this problem. Your doctor could drain them if there are limited areas. I would recommend low heat over the veins as often as possible, massage with a cream such as Dermaka or Arnica. Wear you hose if you are more comfortable. They will eventually resolve or may be removed/injected at a later date.
Published on Jul 11, 2012