Varicose Vein Surgery: Purpose, Procedure, Benefits and Side Effects

Varicose vein surgery is a surgical procedure which is carried out in order to treat varicose veins. Varicose veins are basically those veins in the body that have become swollen, twisted, or enlarged. The possible causes of varicose veins are poor circulation and prolonged sitting or standing. The most effective way for treating varicose veins is this one.

Sclerotherapy has been one of the most common vein treatments for spider veins or small varicose veins. When veins are treated with sclerotherapy, a healthcare provider injects a foam or solution into the affected veins of the patient.

This solution or foam causes inflammation, scarring, and eventually plugging of the vein. With the vein occluded, there is no longer any blood flow through the vein. In other words, sclerotherapy is a treatment that involves injecting a solution into the veins in order to close them.

The treated or plugged varicose veins should usually take a few weeks to heal completely and fade. Moreover, the surgeon or healthcare provider might inject the same vein more than once. You should also know that sclerotherapy is a medical procedure that can be easily carried out without the need for anesthesia in a healthcare provider's clinic.Sclerotherapy has been in existence for many years now and is one of the most successful methods of treating varicose veins.

Laser treatment is predominantly a medical procedure to treat varicose veins. In this treatment, varicose veins are treated through highly focused beams of light. It is usually done in just a single session, in which a small laser device is placed on the patient's leg.

The body eventually absorbs the light and the affected vein fades away. In other words, the laser energy is used to destroy the blood vessels that give rise to varicose veins. This procedure is very fast and usually takes up to 15 minutes. The patient can leave the hospital or polyclinic shortly after the procedure is successfully carried out.

It must be noted that this treatment involves no downtime, and the recovery time is a total of three days to resume normal activity.

This procedure is usually recommended for larger varicose veins. In this medical process or treatment, a thin tube, which is also known as a catheter, is inserted into the enlarged or affected vein in the patient's body. Thereafter, the tip of the catheter is heated with the help of either radio frequency or laser energy.

The affected vein is destroyed by the heat as the catheter is eventually removed. The heat basically causes the enlarged vein to collapse and seal shut.

In this procedure, an affected vein is tied off before the spot where it joins a deep vein. The vein is thereafter removed with the help of small cuts. Vein stripping or high ligation is an outpatient procedure in most cases.

It is predominantly used as a treatment for varicose veins situated in areas that are difficult to treat with other methods. It is also a safe and effective procedure for treating superficial veins.

This medical procedure is basically done to remove the varicose veins from the surface of the skin. It is mostly carried out to treat small varicose veins. There are different types of phlebectomy that are performed on patients depending on the size of their varicose veins.

In this procedure, smaller varicose veins are removed by a healthcare provider through a series of tiny or minor skin punctures. The procedure is usually carried out on an outpatient basis, which simply means you won't be admitted to the hospital.

Most people undergoing ambulatory phlebectomy can expect to return to a normal condition within just a few days. The procedure is more comfortable and less painful than traditional methods, and recovery times are shorter.

Scarring is also minimal in most cases. Phlebectomy can be carried out without the need for an overnight stay in a hospital.

Summary- The types of varicose vein surgery are: sclerotherapy, laser treatment, ambulatory phlebectomy, catheter-based procedure and high ligation.

• It relieves or does away with exasperating symptoms such as pain, discomfort, swelling, or itching
• It makes the affected part of the body look better or normal by treating those bulky and ugly veins
• It helps you sleep well at night, like a healthy person does
• It gives your body better movement, and you can even resume your workout sessions
• The procedure involves no surgical incision
• It is deemed the most effective treatment for varicose veins with no complications
• Varicose vein surgery is much less invasive if we compare it with other surgical treatments

Summary- Varicose vein surgery helps in the treatment of varicose veins, and relieves pain, swelling and discomfort.

Varicose veins, as already mentioned, are veins that are enlarged, swollen, or twisted. They develop when the valves that are supposed to pump blood back up to the heart are not working correctly. For this reason, the blood ends up pooling in the veins, and it causes the veins to expand and twist.

These veins usually occur in a person's legs, but they can happen in other parts of the body as well. Varicose veins are unsightly, unattractive, and can cause a lot of problems, such as itching, irritation, pain, swelling, sleeplessness, etc.

Furthermore, if a person is having trouble with varicose veins and no other treatments seem to work, a doctor may recommend surgery to fix the problem. The medical procedure or surgery to treat varicose or twisted veins is performed by an expert vascular surgeon.

• Infection
• Tenderness
• Bleeding
• Pain
• Bruising
• Blood clots
• Nerve damage
• Redness
• Swelling

Summary- The possible risks of varicose vein surgery are: infection, pain, bleeding, swelling and nerve damage.

Surgery on varicose veins is an effective solution, but like most other surgeries or medical operations, it comes with certain risks. The first thing you must keep in mind is that taking aspirin, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or blood thinners before or after surgery may increase the risk of excessive bleeding.

It is, all in all, a bad idea to take NSAIDs or blood thinners before undergoing varicose vein surgery. However, you can use other safe medications with your doctor's consultation to ease the pain. In fact, avoid taking any medications before surgery that are not in your doctor's knowledge.

The following are some other points that you must keep in mind before you undergo varicose vein surgery:

• Take good care of yourself
• Wear a comfortable and loose outfit
• Remove all your jewelry (if any)
• Go to the hospital with someone who can drive you back home after the surgery

Summary- You should remove your jewellery and dress in comfortable clothes before the surgery.

Varicose vein surgery is performed in two ways—the traditional and advanced methods. The traditional method of this surgery involves a long incision, whereas the advanced method involves only a small incision.

The crucial steps in varicose vein surgery are as follows:

• Lie down on the exam table.
• You will be provided with numbing medicine.
• Your veins will be checked with the help of a doppler ultrasound device.
• Incisions will be made to insert a catheter with a laser fibre into the varicose vein.
• The laser will heat up the vein.
• Eventually, the vein will be closed.

Summary- Varicose vein surgery is done by inserting a catheter into the incision made on the varicose vein.

If you have been told that you need to go under the surgeon's scalpel to remove varicose veins, you may need to complete some paperwork and get some tests done before anything else. Your healthcare provider or the hospital authorities may ask you to fill out a pre-surgery health questionnaire, which is fairly simple.

Your surgeon may ask you to obtain your CT scan, MRI, ECG, or blood test results as well. It's all part of the preoperative process that you may need to go through. However, these preoperative formalities are usually not time-consuming. You can also have these formalities completed during your pre-admission visit to your doctor or hospital.

• During varicose vein surgery, the discomfort does not come only from the procedure itself, but also from the process of injecting local anesthetic around the affected vein. In other words, it is an established fact that the pain induced by the injection of local anesthetic into varicose veins is the most uncomfortable part of this surgery.
• Despite the advent of anesthesia in the form of regional blocks, most surgeons still use a single injection of local anesthetic along the length of the vein as the most standard procedure. This can cause a lot of pain.
• It also depends on how the healthcare provider manages this pain and what steps they take. Apart from this, the following are some other experiences that you may go through during varicose vein surgery:
• You will be asked by your healthcare provider to put on protective glasses at the time when lasers are in use
• The treatment area will be cleaned and then numbed by the surgeon
• You may feel little pinpricks as the local anesthetic will be injected into the vein
• The injected area will shortly become numb
• As the surgeon inserts the catheter through your skin, you may feel some kind of slight pressure
• This pressure will cause no serious discomfort

After undergoing varicose vein surgery, it is very important to keep in mind that you need to give your body adequate time to recuperate. This may mean avoiding doing things that are physically strenuous or exertive.In addition to that, it is a good idea to keep the area that has been operated on as clean and germ-free as possible. You must keep this in mind to avoid any kind of infection. If you are looking to get back into your routine as soon as possible, you must do this without putting too much stress on your body.

The recovery process after varicose vein surgery varies from patient to patient. Some of the more common reactions to having the veins removed are soreness, bruising, and swelling. There are numerous options available for post-varicose vein surgery pain management.

Your doctor will most likely ask you to take pain relievers such as ibuprofen or Tylenol in case the pain gets unbearable or too much. It must be noted that ibuprofen is basically a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and Tylenol is a combination of acetaminophen and codeine. Furthermore, always remember to speak with your healthcare provider if you face any discomfort or uneasiness after the procedure.

If you are suffering from varicose veins, you may be looking for the most affordable treatment options. Aren't you? So, we are glad to inform you that, over the years, various treatment modalities for varicose veins have evolved.Moreover, the cost of varicose vein surgery in India is estimated at between 30,000 and 2,00,000 INR. Whether you are seeking treatment in your hometown or any other prominent city in India.

• Varicose vein surgery recovery time varies. The leg is usually wrapped in a compression bandage and a thigh-high stocking.
• You may have local, hypoallergenic anesthesia or a general sedative. Under either prescription, you may feel like walking right after the surgery is performed.
• Your leg or the treated area will likely have some bruising. However, these bruises should go away in about a couple of weeks. It is best to schedule a follow-up appointment in about 2 weeks so your surgeon can assess your progress.
• Apart from this, you must keep in mind the following points after undergoing varicose vein surgery:
• You can use ice packs to reduce swelling or inflammation in the treated area
• You must check the incision area every day to avoid any infection
• For the next 48 hours, keep your incision site away from water
• You can wear compression stockings (if advised) for a few days in order to prevent swelling or blood clotting
• For the next few days after the surgery, keep your legs raised while sitting
• Avoid sitting, standing, or lying down for long periods of time
• At least thrice a day, walk for 10 to 15 minutes for the next few days after surgery
• Keep active but avoid stressing your body
• Avoid lifting anything heavy for the next few weeks
• Avoid taking hot baths for the next couple of weeks

Summary- You should take a nutritious diet, avoid exhaustive activities and take proper care of the incision areas after the surgery.

• Take fresh fruits and vegetables
• Chia seed and flax seeds.
• Blackberries
• Add more fibre-rich foods to your diet
• Cut down on your sodium intake.
• Avoid consuming food items containing bisphenol A (BPA)
• Stay hydrated
• Increase your vitamin C intake
• Flavonoids

Summary- You should take a diet rich in vitamins, antioxidants and fibre after the varicose vein surgery.

Varicose Vein Surgery is generally a safe medical procedure. However, it can cause wound infections, bleeding, pain, swelling, scarring, and skin discoloration at times. Besides, it must be noted that his medical procedure can be performed by a general physician, dermatologist, vascular surgeon, or interventional radiologist.

What you must keep in mind is that it is very important to choose a skilled and experienced vein surgeon for the purpose of varicose vein surgery. We, at Pristyn Care, have the most skilled and experienced doctors that can carry out this minimally invasive procedure quite safely and without causing any complications.

Varicose veins that may cause throbbing, itching, burning, cramping, and swelling affect millions of people every year around the world. The good news is that modern varicose vein surgery is far less painful than all the pain and discomfort that untreated varicose veins can cause in a patient's body.

Moreover, varicose vein surgery may also not cause any bruises or scars if carried out by skilled and experienced medical professionals. So, in a nutshell, you can say that varicose vein surgery is not at all, or slightly, painful if done right.

Summary- Varicose vein surgery might lead to little pain and discomfort.

For a long time, one of the main concerns for people considering vein treatment, especially surgery, was the recovery time. After all, nobody wants to be limping for a month or two after being operated on. You must know that newer techniques and faster recovery times have made varicose vein surgery safer and way more comfortable.

Furthermore, it is important to understand and realize that time spent recovering differs depending on how many veins were treated or removed. In most cases, however, the patient may take up to three weeks to completely recover from this minimally invasive medical procedure to treat varicose veins.

Summary- After varicose vein surgery, recovery could take one month.

• Pain around the treated area
• Bruised skin
• Bleeding
• Nerve damage
• Infection
• Blood clots
• Change in skin color
• Redness, swelling, or inflammation
• Burns

Note: You may eliminate or reduce the chances of all the abovementioned side effects by getting your surgery carried out by the most experienced and skilled doctors at Pristyn Care.

Summary- The side effects of varicose vein surgery are: pain, bleeding, blood clots, infection and redness.

After undergoing varicose vein surgery, you must take good care of yourself in order to recover from it as soon as possible. You will be glad to know that it won't take too long for you to get back to your normal routine after the surgery if you:

• Take adequate rest
• Sleep well
• Increase your everyday movement or activity gradually
• Avoid taking showers
• Take sponge baths
• For the next few weeks after surgery, ice your incision on a daily basis
• Try to keep your legs elevated most of the time
• Consume nutritious foods
• Eat more fiber
• Avoid lifting heavy objects
• Keep yourself calm
• Avoid blood thinners
• Wear loose and comfortable clothes
• Try wearing compression stockings
• Try to walk everyday without fail
• Keep your incisions in check
• Don't sit or stand for too long
• Avoid driving or other strenuous activities
• Be patient

Summary- Post-treatment guidelines for varicose vein surgery are: take a healthy diet, clean your wounds properly and avoid any strenuous activity.

Many of us dread the thought of undergoing varicose vein surgery, but this medical procedure is nothing like what we think it is.You will be glad to hear that most people who have their varicose veins treated through surgery are very happy and satisfied with the results. For example, more than 90% of people are extremely pleased with the results of varicose vein surgery. Doesn't that sound great?

However, it's quite normal to have some questions or concerns about surgery, which we will be glad to take into consideration and answer. Please feel free to contact us at any time you need us!