Often, people put off going to their doctor because of varicose veins, or simply because they are not aware of the advances in treatment options available. In the not too distant past, the only option for patients was the very painful varicose vein surgery known as vein stripping.
Today, varicose vein surgery is no longer the painful process it was in the past. In addition to being done in a doctor’s office or in a specialized vein clinic or practice, it is low impact, is a good option for all kinds of patient circumstances, and requires almost no recovery time after the procedure.
How it is Done
Ambulatory phlebectomy, a new type of varicose vein surgery, is done under local anesthesia. The patient will typically be fully awake during the procedure, and will be able to walk and easily move about after the procedure is completed.
A small incision is made into the bulging vein, and small sections of the damaged vein are removed through the incision. Since the incisions are as small as 1 millimeter in size, they don’t need stitching and they heal very quickly. There is a low risk of any type of infection or complication, and the process is short in duration. Still, it will depend on the number of veins being treated.
What to Expect
After the varicose vein surgery, the patient will need to wear compression stockings or compression wraps depending on the location of the procedure. Some patients will feel slight discomfort and bruising at the site of the incisions and in the general area for a day or two after the procedure.
Generally, this is not debilitating and is easily managed by wearing the stockings and taking over-the-counter pain medications as recommended by your phlebologist.
Preparation
For this type of varicose vein surgery, there is no specific preparation on the part of the patient. However, it will be important to have a full examination prior to the procedure to determine overall health and any possible issues with circulatory problems or health issues.
In most cases, patients who are able to walk and those who are not pregnant will be excellent candidates for the procedure. This is not typically a procedure completed on women when they are pregnant, but it can be completed as soon as three months after the baby is born. Often, doctors will recommend other treatment options, such as laser therapy or sclerotherapy, before recommending varicose vein surgery.
Our doctors at the Chicago Vein Institute have years of experience in providing varicose vein surgery for our patients. To learn more about our procedures and our expert medical staff, see us at website. You can also visit their twitter page for more information.
