Endovenous laser treatment in Beirut
Endovenous laser ablation closes a large failed vein from the inside. A fine fibre is passed into the vein through a single puncture under ultrasound guidance and the vein is sealed with heat, then reabsorbed by the body. It is done under local anaesthetic, with no hospital stay and no surgical stripping.
What it replaced
For decades, a failed great saphenous vein meant an operation: a general anaesthetic, an incision in the groin, and the vein physically stripped out of the leg. Endovenous laser does the same job from inside the vein, through a puncture, with the patient awake and walking out afterwards. It is the single biggest change in how varicose veins are treated, and it is why “do I need surgery?” now usually has a better answer than it did.
How the procedure runs
- The leg is scanned and the failed vein is mapped along its length.
- Local anaesthetic is placed, and a fine fibre is introduced into the vein through a single small puncture.
- Ultrasound confirms the fibre's position along the whole vein before anything is delivered.
- Anaesthetic fluid is placed around the vein — this protects the surrounding tissue and nerves, and it is why the treatment is comfortable.
- The fibre is withdrawn slowly, sealing the vein behind it.
- A compression stocking goes on, and you walk immediately.
When laser is the right choice
Laser is for the larger trunk veins under real pressure — typically the great or small saphenous vein — where injection alone tends not to hold. It is frequently combined in the same treatment plan with sclerotherapy or a phlebectomy to deal with the surface branches once the source has been closed. Which combination a leg needs is a duplex question, decided before anything starts.
Recovery, honestly
Walking begins immediately and is part of the treatment, not a concession. Most people are back to ordinary daily activity quickly. A degree of tightness or pulling along the treated vein over the following one to two weeks is common as the vein contracts — it is expected rather than a complication. Bruising varies. Heavy gym work, long standing and very hot baths are paused for a defined period, and you are given the specifics for your case.
A patient's account from the practice's Google reviews: Yesterday, I underwent endovenous laser treatment for my varicose vein, and he made the whole experience smooth and easy. He was knowledgeable and made sure I understood everything before I made my decision. The procedure itself was quick and almost pain-free.
What to ask any clinic offering it
Three questions worth asking anywhere, not just here. Was a duplex scan done before the plan was made? Who performs the procedure, and are they a vascular surgeon? And what is the follow-up — is the vein re-scanned afterwards to confirm it stayed closed? A clinic that cannot answer all three plainly is a clinic to leave.
Risks and what can go wrong
Endovenous laser is well established and generally well tolerated, but you should be told what can happen before you consent.
- Common and expected: bruising along the treated vein, a pulling or tight sensation for one to two weeks as the vein contracts, and temporary numbness or tingling over a small patch of skin.
- Less common: phlebitis in the treated segment, skin burn at the puncture site, or incomplete closure requiring re-treatment.
- Uncommon to rare: lasting nerve irritation causing a numb patch, deep vein thrombosis, or endovenous heat-induced thrombosis extending toward a deep vein.
Your suitability depends on the anatomy the duplex scan shows, your clotting history and your medication. All of that is gone through at the consultation.
References
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Varicose veins: diagnosis and management, clinical guideline CG168. Published 24 July 2013, last updated 2 August 2024. nice.org.uk/guidance/cg168
- Society for Vascular Surgery / American Venous Forum. Clinical practice guidelines for the management of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders, 2023.
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Injection sclerotherapy for varicose veins and related reviews of endovenous ablation.
Clinical guidance changes. This page states the date it was last reviewed, and the sources it draws on are dated.
Common questions.
Is endovenous laser done under general anaesthetic?
No. It is done under local anaesthetic, with you awake, and you walk out afterwards.
There is no hospital stay and no surgical stripping. Anaesthetic fluid placed around the vein protects the surrounding tissue and is the reason the treatment is comfortable rather than merely tolerable.
What is the difference between laser and sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy closes a vein chemically, with an injected solution. Laser closes it thermally, with heat delivered from inside.
Injection suits spider veins and small to medium varicose veins. Laser is for the larger failed trunk veins that injection alone will not hold. Plenty of legs need both — laser for the source, injection to finish the surface — and the scan decides which.
Does the vein stay closed?
In the great majority of cases yes — the vein is reabsorbed and does not reopen. Follow-up ultrasound is what confirms it rather than appearance alone.
Separately, the body can form new varicose veins elsewhere over the years. That is not the treated vein failing; it is new disease, and it is why follow-up exists.
Keep reading.
Bring the leg in.
The consultation includes the ultrasound scan, the diagnosis and an exact quote. You decide after that, not before.
+961 81 663 350- Clinic
- Beirut Symposium, Sin El Fil, Beirut
- Hospital
- Clemenceau Medical Center, Beirut
- Hours
- Monday to Thursday, 10:00 – 18:00
- Phone
- +961 81 663 350
- wa.me/96181663350
- @dralainshab