Prof. Dr. Ali Serdar Fak
Cardiac SurgeryVerified
- 29+years exp.
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Vascular Surgery
EVLA
What EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) is, who it suits, how it compares with radiofrequency, foam sclerotherapy and vein stripping, UK, US and German prices compared with Turkey, the procedure, recovery, risks and how to choose a vein clinic.
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Verified surgeons for EVLA (Endovenous Laser Ablation)
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Dr. Bülent İlçöl
Cardiac SurgeryVerified
- 25+years exp.
English · Turkish
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EVLA in Turkey: what the treatment is
EVLA stands for endovenous laser ablation. A thin laser fibre is passed inside a faulty varicose vein, usually the great or small saphenous vein of the leg, and the laser heat closes the vein from the inside. The blood then uses healthy veins, and the closed vein shrinks and is absorbed over months. It is done through a needle puncture with local anaesthetic, without cuts or stitches, and you walk out the same day. EVLA in Turkey starts at €4,710 at an accredited hospital on our site, as the hospital's own list price for international patients.
Be aware that, unlike many treatments abroad, EVLA is often available at home: the NHS in the UK and public insurers in most countries fund it when varicose veins cause symptoms. Compare that route before travelling, and read the cost section below with that in mind. For the wider choice of vein treatments see laser treatment for varicose veins and varicose veins removal.
Who needs EVLA for varicose veins?
EVLA treats varicose veins caused by reflux — valves in the main superficial vein that no longer close, so blood flows backwards. This is confirmed by a duplex ultrasound scan, which is the essential first test. EVLA is considered when the veins cause aching, heaviness, swelling, itching, skin changes, eczema, bleeding or ulcers, or when you want treatment for appearance. NICE guideline CG168 recommends endothermal ablation (laser or radiofrequency) as the first treatment for varicose veins with truncal reflux, followed by foam sclerotherapy, with surgery only if those are unsuitable.
EVLA does not suit everyone. It is usually not used for tiny spider veins (those are treated with injections or surface laser), for a vein that is very twisted or very close to the skin, or when there is an active clot in the deep veins, pregnancy, or poor mobility. Your doctor decides after the scan.
EVLA compared with other vein treatments
| Treatment | How it works | Anaesthesia and recovery | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| EVLA (laser) | Laser heat closes the vein from inside | Local anaesthesia; walking at once, back to work in 1–2 days | High closure rates; mild bruising and tightness along the vein |
| Radiofrequency ablation | Radiofrequency heat closes the vein | Same as EVLA | Similar results; slightly less bruising in some studies |
| Foam sclerotherapy | Foamed drug injected into the vein | No anaesthesia; stockings for 1–2 weeks | Good for smaller or recurrent veins; more repeat sessions |
| Vein stripping and ligation | Vein tied and removed through cuts | General or spinal anaesthetic; 1–2 weeks off work | Longest history; more pain and bruising |
In the CLASS trial (New England Journal of Medicine, 2014) laser ablation, foam sclerotherapy and surgery all improved quality of life by a similar amount after five years, with laser and surgery giving more durable vein closure than foam. Studies of EVLA generally report that around nine in ten treated veins stay closed at one to five years.
How much does EVLA cost in Turkey?
At the hospitals listed on this page EVLA in Turkey starts at €4,710. The price shown on each hospital card is the hospital's list price; what it covers — one leg or both, the scan, the stockings and the nights in hospital or hotel — is shown on the card and must be written in your quote. Other prices below are approximate.
| Country | Typical price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | from €4,710 | Hospital list price; confirm what is covered in a written quote |
| United Kingdom | NHS free when criteria are met; private about £1,800–£3,500 per leg (approximate) | NHS waits vary by area |
| United States | about $3,000–$6,000 per leg billed (approximate) | Insurance often pays for symptomatic veins |
| Germany | statutory insurance when symptomatic; self-pay about €1,500–€3,500 per leg (approximate) | Cosmetic treatment is self-pay |
The EVLA cost depends on whether one or both legs and one or several veins are treated, on added sclerotherapy of side branches, on the hospital stay and on the follow-up scan. Because covered treatment is available in many countries, EVLA in Turkey makes sense mainly for patients with a long wait, no cover, or who combine it with other treatment abroad; it is not automatically cheaper than private care at home.
The EVLA procedure, step by step
- Scan and marking: a duplex ultrasound maps the veins while you stand; the doctor marks the path of the vein.
- Puncture: under ultrasound guidance a needle enters the vein at the knee or ankle and a thin catheter with a laser fibre is advanced to the groin.
- Tumescent anaesthesia: a large volume of dilute local anaesthetic is injected around the vein, which numbs it and protects nearby tissue from the heat.
- Laser: the fibre is withdrawn slowly while the laser heats the vein wall; the vein closes.
- Finish: a bandage and compression stocking are applied, and you walk for 15–30 minutes.
The treatment of one leg takes about 30 to 60 minutes. Visible surface veins that remain can be treated with foam sclerotherapy or phlebectomy in the same visit or a few weeks later.
Your trip for EVLA in Turkey
Plan 2–4 days. Send any previous vein scan report and a list of medicines first, especially blood thinners.
- Day 1: arrival, consultation with a vascular or cardiovascular surgeon and duplex ultrasound.
- Day 2: EVLA, walking afterwards, compression stocking.
- Day 3: a check, usually with a scan to confirm the vein is closed; stocking advice.
- Day 4: flight home if the doctor agrees.
The general plan is on our how it works page. A week or more of walking, with elevated legs when resting, helps the leg settle.
Recovery and flying home after EVLA
Most people walk the same day and return to work in one or two days. You wear a compression stocking for one to two weeks, often day and night for the first days. Bruising, a pulling or tight cord-like feeling along the treated vein and mild soreness are normal and settle over two to four weeks. Avoid heavy gym work, hot baths and long standing for about a week, but do walk every day. Surface veins fade gradually over weeks to months.
Flying is usually allowed after a short wait, often two to three days, once the doctor has checked the leg; during the flight walk, flex your ankles and wear the stocking, because any leg procedure raises the small risk of a clot. Ask for a duplex scan at about one to six weeks at home to confirm the vein is closed and that no clot has formed in the deep veins.
Risks and results of EVLA
EVLA is considered low risk, but it has recognised side effects. Common: bruising, tenderness and tightness along the vein, and brownish skin staining. Less common: a lump of trapped blood or inflammation of a nearby vein (phlebitis), temporary numbness or tingling from a small skin nerve, and skin burns, which are rare with tumescent anaesthesia. Rare but serious: a blood clot in the deep veins or its extension from the treated vein near the groin, with a possible clot in the lung, and re-opening of the vein, which is why the follow-up scan matters. Varicose veins can also return in other branches over the years, because the underlying tendency remains. Surgeons and registries report these risks in different ways, so ask the doctor which rates apply to their own patients.
Choosing a vein clinic for EVLA in Turkey
- A vascular, cardiovascular or interventional specialist who performs and scans the veins themselves, and does not simply sell a package.
- A duplex ultrasound before the quote, and a written plan that states which veins are treated.
- A hospital setting with the possibility to treat a complication, and a follow-up scan before you travel home or at home.
- A stated price per leg or for both legs, and what is included.
Also see the cardiac surgery overview.
Hospitals with Cardiac Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
At the accredited hospitals on our site EVLA starts at about €4,700 for international patients (shown in your currency on this page). Check on your quote whether it covers one leg or both and what is included. In the UK, EVLA is free on the NHS when criteria are met; private treatment usually costs less per leg than this.
EVLA, or endovenous laser ablation, closes a faulty varicose vein from the inside with laser heat delivered through a thin fibre, using local anaesthesia and no cuts.
Yes. NICE recommends endothermal ablation, which includes laser, as the first-line treatment for varicose veins with truncal reflux. Studies report that around nine in ten treated veins stay closed over one to five years.
The numbing injections around the vein sting for a short time; the laser itself is usually felt as warmth or pulling. Afterwards the leg is tight and sore for a few days.
About 30 to 60 minutes for one leg. You walk out the same day.
Most people return to work in one or two days and wear a compression stocking for one to two weeks. Bruising and tightness along the vein settle in two to four weeks.
Both close the vein with heat and have similar results. Some studies show slightly less bruising with radiofrequency; the choice usually depends on the vein and the doctor's equipment.
Usually after two to three days, once the doctor has checked the leg. Walk during the flight, flex your ankles and wear the compression stocking.
Bruising, tightness, temporary numbness, inflammation of a nearby vein, and rarely a blood clot in the deep veins or a skin burn. A follow-up scan checks that the vein is closed and no clot has formed.
The treated vein usually stays closed, but new varicose veins can develop in other branches over the years because the tendency to get them remains.
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