Varicose Vein Surgery

Swollen veins on the surface of the leg are known as varicose veins. Since they are often visible, many people consider undergoing surgery to get them removed, especially if they have multiple varicose veins. The veins usually start on the calf, but can continue all the way up to the groin. They may ache slightly towards the end of the day, or your feet and ankles may well, but the main “symptom” of varicose veins is simply seeing them.

They occur because gravity puts pressure on the veins in the legs and they have to work harder to pump the blood back up towards the heart. This pressure can break the valves in the veins, or the valves may not be present, which can cause the blood to collect in pools in the legs. Varicose veins are usually made worse by standing for long periods of time, or being constipated, overweight, or pregnant.

Women are more likely than men to suffer from varicose veins. Typically they will not cause any health problems, but in some cases they can result in ulcers in the ankles. They may also get sore and inflamed, which can cause redness of the skin around them. If any discomfort occurs you should be sure to see your general practitioner, but it is highly unlikely that they will cause any urgent problems.

Sometimes simply wearing support tights or stockings will relieve the aches that you are experiencing. This may even be your general practitioner's prescription depending upon what is causing your varicose veins. If, for example, constipation is a cause, they may treat that as well as require you to wear tights for a short period. However, that type of treatment is typically only short-term and will not get rid of the appearance of the veins on your legs.

You may eventually need an operation to strip the veins out of the leg, or a minor operation to scar the veins closed. The latter procedure, called sclerotherapy, is accomplished by injecting the veins with a special chemical mixture and does not usually require anesthetic (although the doctor may mix a local anesthetic with the dose to ensure that you feel no discomfort). After the procedure you will likely need to keep your legs bandaged and to walk at least 3 mile a day for a number of weeks.

This removal or treatment of veins will not cause circulation problems because veins can re-route themselves around a blockage (a phenomenon called collateral circulation). Vein stripping, as opposed to sclerotherapy, completely removes the vein from your leg and is performed under general anesthesia. Small incisions are made at the bottom (ankle) and top (groin area) of the varicose vein and a thin, wire-like instrument is inserted into the vein. This then “strips” the vein out from the inside.

Many times both stripping and sclerotherapy are both performed at the same time depending on what is best for each individual vein. The procedure is done for many reasons: the veins are causing circulatory problems, you are experiencing skin irritation and sores, blood clots are forming in the veins, and/or, for purely cosmetic purposes.

You may be able to make a case with your insurance company if you are experiencing health problems due to the veins, and convince them to help pay for the procedure, but typically varicose vein removal is considered cosmetic. Your treatment should be based on several factors including, your physician's diagnosis, the size of the veins to be treated, your treatment history, your age, your history of allergies, and your ability to tolerate anesthesia and surgery.

Unfortunately, no treatment method has been proven to prevent varicose veins from recurring. Surgery is not necessarily a permanent fix because other issues such as heredity and hormonal and gravitational aspects also factor in and affect the walls of the veins. How quickly the problem returns depends upon what caused the problem, the treatment used, its suitability for your condition, the physician's skill, and is something to discuss with your physician before you undergo the procedure. Nevertheless, most patients who opt for the procedures are happy with the results.

By Liz Smith