McKeown Medical
167 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4SQ
RFA vs EVLA treatment for varicose veins
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) are two minimally invasive treatments used to effectively treat varicose veins, but what’s the difference?
Published by Dr Alex Vesey
Date posted — 29.09.24
What are Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endovenous laser ablation (EVLA)?
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) are two minimally invasive treatments used to effectively treat varicose veins. Both procedures aim to close off problematic veins, preventing them from causing further symptoms and leading to their eventual absorption by the body.
RFA uses radiofrequency energy to generate heat within the vein. A thin catheter is inserted into the vein through a small incision, and once inside, the radiofrequency energy is delivered through the catheter, causing the vein walls to heat up, collapse, and seal shut. This treatment is performed under local anaesthetic, and most patients experience little discomfort, with a quick recovery time and minimal scarring.
EVLA works on a similar principle but uses laser energy instead of radiofrequency to achieve the same result. During EVLA, a laser fibre is guided into the affected vein, and when activated, the laser’s heat damages the vein walls, causing them to collapse and close off.
Like RFA, EVLA is performed under local anaesthetic and is considered highly effective for treating varicose veins. Both RFA and EVLA offer excellent outcomes with low risk of complications, making them preferred options over more invasive surgical treatments. These procedures allow patients to resume normal activities relatively quickly, with significant improvement in both the appearance of the legs and the symptoms associated with varicose veins.
What is the difference?
Although RFA and EVLA are very similar in terms of success rates at shutting down larger varicose veins, several studies have suggested that RFA may be associated with lower complication rates, so RFA is our preferred traditional endovenous method.
An even newer endovenous technique known as Venaseal™, however, is an exciting addition to our practice. The success rate of Venaseal™ is similar to both RFA and EVLA. However, it uses glue rather than heat to close the veins and is associated with even less discomfort.
What are the benefits of RFA treatment?
The benefits of RFA for treating varicose veins are numerous, making it a popular choice for both patients and doctors. RFA is minimally invasive, requiring only a small incision to insert a catheter into the affected vein. This results in less pain, minimal scarring, and a quicker recovery time compared to traditional surgical methods.
The procedure is typically performed under local anaesthetic, reducing the risks associated with general anaesthetic. RFA is highly effective, with a success rate of over 90%, and provides long-term relief from the symptoms of varicose veins, such as pain, swelling, and leg fatigue. Additionally, patients can usually return to their normal activities within a day or two, making it a convenient option for those looking for an effective and efficient treatment.
Expert Video
Dr Alex Vesey is our expert consultant vascular surgeon who heads up our varicose vein team. Listen to him explain the Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) treatment.
Why is RFA better than “laser” or EVLA?
RFA is considered better than EVLA for treating varicose veins in our practice because it’s generally a more comfortable experience and has a lower risk of complications.
RFA typically causes less post-procedural pain and bruising because it uses radiofrequency energy, which generates a gentler heat compared to the intense heat from laser energy used in EVLA. This can result in a smoother recovery with less discomfort for patients.
Additionally, RFA has a slightly lower risk of nerve damage, particularly in areas where veins are close to nerves, such as the lower leg. The procedure’s outcomes are highly successful and comparable to EVLA but with a more favourable side effect profile, making RFA a preferred option for many patients and clinicians.
Are there other options for varicose vein treatment?
Recently, we have introduced the Venaseal™ procedure. Venaseal™ is even less invasive because it avoids the use of heat altogether, which causes even less discomfort whilst still achieving excellent closure rates and long-term outcomes for patients.
Interested in Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)?
If you’d like to find out if RFA is the right treatment for you, the first step is to fill out our online consultation form. From there, our team will be able to arrange an initial consultation and ultrasound scan, and we can work together to create a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs.
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We often talk about the deep plane facelift being the gold standard technique for facelift, and we’re proud to have the talented @bramhallplasticsurgery performing it in the clinic.
Here’s Russell explaining how the deep plane facelift offers longer lasting and more natural results than other techniques. By lifting and repositioning the deeper facial structures rather than just tightening the skin, this advanced approach creates a result that looks natural, moves naturally, and continues to age beautifully over time.
If you have any questions about the deep plane facelift just send us a message, or you can see more about the procedure at the link in our profile.
Our 5ml protocol is designed for patients looking for a general refresh - perfect at the earlier stages of the aging process or a gentle start for those further into the process.
This lovely patient came to us with concerns about her nose to mouth lines, some lost volume in her cheeks and her jowls. We used the 5ml protocol to give her an overall rejuvenation which gives her a really natural result that we can build on in the future.
You can a see video of this patient’s treatment at the link in our profile.
What do you think?
This patient had deep lines and folds in her face which she wanted to address as naturally as possible, so went for our signature volumetric facelift - a fully non-surgical approach but can have significant results.
With this, we want to restore natural lift, structure and definition to her face and by carefully rebuilding volume where it’s been lost, we softened her folds and lines while maintaining a completely natural expression.
The patient is delighted is really pleased with her result so far - what do you think?
Here`s another fabulous result from our amazing consultant vascular surgeon, Dr Alex Vesey.
This patient was bothered by visible varicose veins around her knee. After treatment with foam sclerotherapy the veins have been cleared, leaving behind smoother, and healthier-looking skin.
If you have varicose veins that have been bothering you, now is a great time to have them treated. We use the minimally-invasive techniques to treat both the cosmetic and medical aspects of varicose veins, and can offer effective treatments with little to no downtime.
If you’d like to know more about how we can help with varicose veins, check the link in our profile.
Thank you to this lovely patient for allowing us to share her results.
She wanted some help with her jowls, so we used some filler to restore structure in her cheeks, chin and jaw. She was delighted with the immediate improvement.
What do you think?
If you`d like to know more about how we can address jowls, visit the link in our profile.
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We posted this lovely patient`s selfie before and afters a few weeks ago and we wanted to update you now on how things look with the proper clinical photos, so you can really scrutinise the details. This patient had full laser resurfacing five months ago to rejuvenate her skin, before undergoing a deep plane face and neck lift and upper blepharoplasty with our fabulous plastic surgeon @bramhallplasticsurgery two months ago to complete her refreshed look.
Although selfie-style photos are a great indicator of a result, and what you normally see on social media, we always like to follow up with clinic photos because thats how you see the details!
The patient is over the moon with her results. What do you think?
Here`s another fabulous result from our talented surgeon @bramhallplasticsurgery.
This lovely patient had a wide awake deep plane face and neck lift under local anaesthetic. The deep plane technique is the most technically challenging facelift to perform, and Russell remains the only surgeon in Scotland offering it. Unlike more traditional lifts, it goes much deeper to reposition the facial tissues rather than simply pulling them tight.
The outcome is a much more effective rejuvenation and results that last far longer than a standard facelift.
She is nine months post-surgery and absolutely delighted with her results.
What do you think?
For more information on the deep plane face and neck lift, check out the link in our profile.
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With the shorter days and weaker sunlight, autumn and winter are the most popular times of year for laser treatments. In the clinic we use a spectrum of world-leading technologies, from gentle refreshes right through to the most transformative resurfacing, to help undo sun damage, smooth texture and bring out your best skin.
BBL is our universal refresher — excellent for redness, sun damage and pigmentation, and it leaves skin glowing without any downtime. For patients looking for some more correction, Halo combines two wavelengths to resurface the skin, refine pores and soften fine lines, usually with less than a week of recovery. And when the goal is the most dramatic change, full laser resurfacing delivers a complete reset, tackling the deepest lines and wrinkles and dramatically transforming skin quality.
Here are some of our fabulous patients who have kindly let us share their results. If you’ve been considering laser treatment, now really is the ideal time to start!
Check the link in our bio for more information on our laser treatments.
Join us on Instagram to keep up with the latest results and expert insights from the clinic team.
Our dedicated team of experts are on hand to help you as you navigate your journey with us.
When you first make contact with us you will be assigned your own personal Patient Relationship Manager. They’ll start by understanding your needs and liaising with our doctors to book you an appointment with the most suitable specialist. For any additional questions or needs, you can message or call them anytime and they’ll be delighted to assist you. Our entire team is dedicated to providing you with the best possible treatment and care tailored to your needs.
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