Also known as laser therapy, endovenous thermal ablation is a treatment for venous insufficiency and varicose veins that uses a laser or high-frequency radio waves to close a defective vein. In this procedure, your doctor will locate the vein using ultrasound and insert a catheter into the vein, usually just below the knee. Then a salt water solution and an anesthetic will be injected into the vein, followed by laser or radiofrequency waves. You’ll be given local or general anesthesia for this procedure, and you can expect to return home the same day. Most people need a week or two to fully recover.
