Vein Removal Surgery

Vein Removal Surgery, once the only option for varicose vein removal, remains a viable option today. While Laser Vein Removal, Endovenous Laser Ablation, and Sclerotherapy have virtually replaced surgical vein removal, it is still a good option for extremely large veins. Lasers and Sclerotherapy are most effective on smaller and mid-sized veins, and Endovenous Laser Treatments can only remove varicose veins from the thighs. There are several different kinds of varicose vein surgeries including vein stripping, ambulatory phlebectomy, and vein ligation.

Vein Stripping—Vein Stripping is the most popular form of varicose vein removal surgery available. Even with non-surgical alternatives available, approximately 150,000 Vein Stripping surgeries are still performed in the United States each year. The vein surgeon makes an incision near the groin and inserts a special wire into the leg vein. The surgeon then ties the vein to the wire and pushes it through the vein, “stripping” the vein away.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy—This method of surgical removal involves a series of tiny incisions (about 2-3mm). These punctures overlay the vein system and the veins are actually removed through these small incisions. When veins are collapsed even the larger varicose veins can be removed by this surgical vein technique. Ambulatory Phlebectomy incisions are small enough that stitches are not required and scarring is generally minimal.

Vein Ligation—Similar to Vein Stripping, Vein Ligation actually works by tying off the varicose vein. In essence, vein ligation is like "turning the water off." By cutting off the flow of blood to the varicose vein, the vein itself becomes less visible. Vein Ligation was ideally developed to eliminate bulging varicose veins. However, Vein Ligation is not recommended by most vein removal surgeons because of the high rate of reoccurrence. It’s important to know that bulging veins are usually part of a larger underlying vein problem, and the root of the problem must be dealt with in order to permanently remove these larger, potruding veins.

Varicose vein removal is considered minor surgery. This means these vein surgeries are relatively safe and non-threatening, however complications do sometimes arise. Vein surgery risks include bruising, infection, post operative bleeding, and hematoma (collection of blood). While most varicose vein surgeries require little to no hospital time after the surgery, it could take as much as 2-3 weeks to fully recover.