Varicose Veins Surgery
Varicose Veins can be a very painful and serious condition. These types of veins are veins that have become swollen or twisted and are causing the person suffering with them, a lot of pain. This is why it is vitally important to receive proper care to get relief from this medical condition.
There are many types of treatments that are currently available for varicose veins. These treatments can include sclerotherapy, laser vein treatments and even varicose veins surgery. Varicose veins surgery is an option for people who have bulging and very painful varicose veins.
Surgery is used to remove the larger varicose veins from the legs. Surgery is not effective in the treatment of small varicose veins or in the treatment of spider veins.
The surgery to remove varicose veins is called Vein Stripping. In the process of this surgery, the vein is completely removed from the patient. This surgery takes under two hours and the patient is put under with either general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia where only the bottom half of the body is numb. During this surgery, a surgeon will make two small incisions in the leg.
These incisions are made at the top and bottom part of the vein that is to be removed. The top incision is near the groin and the bottom incision is near the ankle or foot. A plastic wire is inserted into the vein through the top incision. The surgeon will guide this flexible wire through the vein and down through the bottom incision. Once the end of the wire is visible and pulled down through the bottom incision, the end is tied to the vein.
The surgeon will pull the wire and the vein will come out of the small incision at the bottom along with the wire. The surgeon may also remove any other veins that have been damaged through small incisions in the leg. These will be removed in the same way.
After the varicose veins surgery is complete, the surgeon will close all of the incisions with sutures and you will be required to wear bandages and compression socks or hose. This is usually done to control any bleeding or swelling that may occur after the surgery is done. The legs will remain wrapped for several weeks while your legs heal.
Your doctor will discuss with you when you can take the bandages and compression socks off. Your doctor may also prescribe medications to you for pain relief. Follow all directions for any medications that you receive and make sure to take the medicine before the pain becomes too unbearable.
After care will be discussed with your doctor but many doctors will require that you wear compression socks to prevent any varicose veins from coming back. They also may require you to take walks each day. Ten to twelve walks a day that last about 10 minutes each are best. It is not suggested to sit for long periods of time and make sure that you properly exercise your legs.
This type of surgery is generally very successful in the treatment of varicose veins. The success rate is about 94 percent and a low rate of recurrence of varicose veins. Vein stripping is relatively safe and does not have many side effects.
However some patients have experienced nerve injuries or damage, bruising, scarring, or infections. Although these are very rare cases. There may be some pain or swelling but this can be controlled with medications from your doctor. Allergic reactions, bleeding and bruising may occur as with any surgical treatment that you may receive.
Vein stripping is a very safe and effective surgical procedure. It has a very high success rate and a low rate of repeat procedures needed. There is a reduced effect of scarring and the pain and recovery time is very low. This is sometimes the best way to treat the more stubborn types of large varicose veins in the legs.
As with any procedures that you intend to have done, it is vitally important to have a session with your doctor and ask them about any questions that you have about the procedures such as cost, treatment process, experience level, and the effectiveness of other surgeries that they have performed. This will help to keep you calm and to make sure that you are informed on all of the levels of this procedure.