My doctor wants to treat the greater and lesser saphenous veins in both legs on the same day, is this appropriate?

My doctor wants to treat the greater and lesser saphenous veins in both my legs with EVLT and ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy in the same session (that's a total of 4 veins). Am I likely to have more complications by having so much done all at once? I am an active 44 year old.

Answers from doctors (5)


Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Published on Nov 17, 2014

Although this can be done, I would not recommend doing both legs and four veins simultaneously. I never do both legs at the same time and I usually do greater and lesser saphenous vein ablations on different days. By dividing the procedures, they are well tolerated, require minimum local anesthesia and the post op recuperation is minimal.

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Answered by Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Although this can be done, I would not recommend doing both legs and four veins simultaneously. I never do both legs at the same time and I usually do greater and lesser saphenous vein ablations on different days. By dividing the procedures, they are well tolerated, require minimum local anesthesia and the post op recuperation is minimal.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


More About Doctor Laser Vein Center

Published on Jul 31, 2013

It is appropriate. There's a slightly greater risk from doing both at the same time, but it's only a very small risk.

Answered by Laser Vein Center (View Profile)

It is appropriate. There's a slightly greater risk from doing both at the same time, but it's only a very small risk.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Cosmetic Vein Centers of Texas

Published on Jul 31, 2013

I usually split up each of those procedures and perform them on separate days.


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Answered by Cosmetic Vein Centers of Texas

I usually split up each of those procedures and perform them on separate days.


Published on Jul 11, 2012


VeinSolutions - Edina

Published on Jul 31, 2013

While we do not use the EVLT technique, we do perform procedures in which we will close the greater and lesser saphenous veins bilaterally. We prefer the VNUS closer technique, which uses radiofrequency heat instead of laser. The concern with having the two procedures you mentioned at the same time is not so much the extent of work done but rather the amount of local anesthesia. In this case, I am assuming your practitioner will be using tumescent. tumescent is made up of lidocaine with epinephrine, saline for injection and sodium bicarbonate. There is a certain level at which lidocaine can become toxic and when doing a procedure in which local anesthesia is the primary form of anesthesia, the surgeon must be careful to stay below that level.

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Answered by VeinSolutions - Edina

While we do not use the EVLT technique, we do perform procedures in which we will close the greater and lesser saphenous veins bilaterally. We prefer the VNUS closer technique, which uses radiofrequency heat instead of laser. The concern with having the two procedures you mentioned at the same time is not so much the extent of work done but rather the amount of local anesthesia. In this case, I am assuming your practitioner will be using tumescent. tumescent is made up of lidocaine with epinephrine, saline for injection and sodium bicarbonate. There is a certain level at which lidocaine can become toxic and when doing a procedure in which local anesthesia is the primary form of anesthesia, the surgeon must be careful to stay below that level.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Bella MD Laser Vein and Aesthetic Center

Published on Jul 30, 2013

There is no good data on this. I prefer to separate the treatments.

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Answered by Bella MD Laser Vein and Aesthetic Center

There is no good data on this. I prefer to separate the treatments.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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