Vein Stripping

Updated on: August 18, 2014
Vein stripping is a minor surgery. This procedure is performed to prevent complications of vein damage. If there appear to be several valves in a vein and the vein itself has significant damage, the diseased part of the vein in most cases will be stripped away. Your vein doctor will make an incision just below the vein, a flexible instrument is threaded up the vein to the first incision, and the vein is clasped and removed.

During this procedure, one or more incisions are made over the damaged veins, and the vein is tied off and then removed. Vein stripping is performed in an operating room. General anesthesia is used in most cases.

After Surgery

You should be able to go home the same day of your surgery. And in most cases, you will be able to return to work within a few days. But it may take several weeks before you can resume normal leisure and recreational activities.

Reasons to have vein stripping include:

• Your legs ache or swell

• The vein is bleeding

• Open sores or ulcers appear

• The vein is damaged where it joins the superficial and deep veins in your knee or groin

If you are someone who has a combination of small and large varicose veins, another option for you is to have an added procedure done following your vein stripping. That procedure is called sclerotherapy that works well to treat smaller varicose veins.

Sclerotherapy can be performed right in your doctor's office. In most instances, a 23 percent sodium chloride sterile solution mixed with lidocaine and heparin is injected with a very fine needle directly into the blood vessel. Multiple veins can be treated at one session, depending on the size and location of the veins, and your overall medical condition.

There are numerous cosmetic surgeons in your area that can help you get rid of your problematic veins and discuss vein stripping further with you. If you are experiencing problems with spider or varicose veins you can find a Vein Treatment Center in your area now.

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