EVLT (Endovenous laser treatment)

What is it?

Who it is for?

EVLT works best on generally healthy patients who are qualified based on photos, medical tests results (blood tests, Doppler blood vessel ultrasound and ECG for over 50’s) and a face to face consultation with a surgeon and an anaesthetist.

Most often varicose veins treatment is performed for cosmetic reasons. However, a number of patients feel itching, discomfort or, on rare occasions, develop one of several potential complications. EVLT is performed both as preventive treatment and to cure any complications which might have already occurred. In any case it is advised to consult with a professional the necessity of undergoing such a procedure.

Surgery info

An experienced and qualified surgeon assisted by an anaesthetist perform the surgery on a patient under sedation and local anaesthetics. A small incision is made on the leg and the enlarged blood vessels are closed with the use of a laser. The surgery duration time is max. 1 hour per each leg and usually other methods are used at the same time (for instance, sclerotherapy) to achieve the best effect. The patients get special compression stockings and all necessary medication after the procedure.

Hospital stay

No hospital stay is required. You will be released from the clinic up to a few hours after the procedure.

Clinic info

The procedure is available in Warsaw Józefów clinic. Please find details in ‘Our clinics’.

Required stay in Poland

Minimum 2 nights post-surgery + 1 before (if you are having the blood tests done in Poland).

Accommodation

Please find more info in ‘Accommodation’. We recommend one of the ‘Warsaw Józefów hotels’.

Contraindications

Medical problems like heart and skin diseases, blood coagulation, liver conditions, mental disorders, drug or alcohol abuse, etc. or patient’s unrealistic expectations.

Possible complications

A very limited number of patients might develop different complications. They include inflammation, swelling of the lower leg or foot, skin changes (e.g. thickened, red sections, ulcers, eczema, discolouration). Very rarely they might as well bleed, in which case an immediate medical help is necessary. However, in a vast majority of cases no complications are observed.

Post-operative guidelines

Include check-ups, dressing changes, taking recommended medication, wearing compression stockings and avoiding exercising for a few weeks after surgery. Some patients may require further medical attention after returning home. More details provided by the doctor at the consultation.

Surgery cost

The price of the procedure for 1 leg is 6810 PLN / £1261 / €1480 and 9975 PLN / £1847 / €2168 for both legs.

Our prices are inclusive of consultations with a surgeon and an anaesthetist, anaesthetics during surgery, surgery fees, check-ups and dressing changes (by a nurse at the clinic), compression stockings and required medication.

Additional costs are medical tests, ultrasound scan, accommodation, flights, transfers and food.

Flights

There are two airports in Warsaw. Flight prices from most popular locations start from around £50 / €56 return.

WAW Warsaw Chopin airport – 20-min drive from the city centre

WMI Warsaw Modlin airport – 1h drive from the city centre

Transfers

Prices of the transfers with assistance for the medical tests are evaluated individually and start from 750 PLN / £139 / €163 per package (patient + 1 non-patient companion). They are available upon request.

Varicose veins info

Healthy blood vessels. Basically three types are present in the legs, including superficial (quite often visible, near the skin surface), deep and perforator (transporting the blood from superficial into deep veins). Normal, healthy leg blood vessels transport the blood up the legs, back to the heart. Inside of larger ones, there are special valves, which prevent the blood from flowing down.

Varicose veins. Over the years, some walls of our blood vessels might become weaker, wider and more visible. If such an issue occurs near the aforementioned valve, the blood might start flowing in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, just one damaged valve is enough to cause problems in the whole vein, as more pressure is developed.

As a result additional wider sections or damaged valves might occur, which then results in the blood collecting in such a blood vessel, thus making it more prominent.

Statistically even around 30% of adults might develop varicose veins, most of which are women. Usually, there is no disease causing the enlargement of the blood vessels. Most often they are observed during pregnancy, at older age, on legs of overweight people or people, who work at positions requiring them to stand a lot.

On separate occasions they might be caused by blood clots, swelling in the pelvis or abnormal blood vessels, although such possibility is very low.

Symptoms:

• swollen feet, ankles or lower legs (especially in high temperatures or after prolonged standing or sitting),
• pain in the area of the vein,
• skin itching,
• skin discolouration (especially near the ankles),
• heavy legs (minimized after rest, especially with legs raised),
• tingling sensation, numbness of legs,
• restless legs syndrome,
• visible varicose veins.