Patients suffering from varicose veins in the San Diego area are finding that varicose vein surgery is often their top choice for relieving this condition. Often a painful and embarrassing condition, varicose veins often lead patients to seek the very best treatment in the quickest manner possible. Sometimes this means that endovenous laser ablation or another treatment is the best option, while other times surgery is a better choice.

The surface varicose veins that are visible to many patients are often caused by other vein problems. It is important to treat both the surface veins and the underlying vein problem causing the aesthetic effect. Patients will be evaluated by a vein specialist before receiving any treatment. The specialist will help the patient determine the best treatment for their condition and unique case. As every individual patient is different, what works for one patient may not work for another, so it is important to discuss all possible options with a vein specialist before deciding on a procedure.

Several surgical options may be available. Ambulatory phlebectomy is a procedure that involves the removal of surface varicose veins. Only a local anesthetic is needed and this procedure can be performed in a doctor's office. Tiny incisions or punctures are made in the skin and the varicose veins are removed through them. No stitches are required, as the incisions are very small. Patients should be able to walk after this procedure.

A transilluminated powered phlebectomy is another procedure that may help patients suffering from this condition. Using a flashlight-like device, a doctor is able to illuminate, target and remove the varicose veins. The traditional method is often done without visual confirmation of the vein or its removal. This procedure allows the doctor to achieve a greater level of precision in the removal of varicose veins.

A light anesthetic is used in this procedure. Transilluminated powered phlebectomy is performed in an operating room and the surgeon works using two small incisions in a dark room. The illumination device is placed under the varicose vein, allowing the doctor to easily see the vein through the skin. Tumescent fluid is then introduced under the skin, which loosens the vein and provides the anesthetic. The vein is then suctioned into a small hole at the tip of the vein remover. A blade cuts the vein into small pieces which are removed by suction from the body. There are no stitches required and most patients wake up from the procedure with no pain. Patients are usually able to go home the same day, about an hour after the procedure, and return to work in about two to three days.

In a procedure called vein ligation, incisions are made over the problem vein so that it may be tied off. This stops the flow of blood through the vein, which causes it to become less visible. There may be a high rate of reccurrence following this procedure, which leads many doctors to recommend other options.

Vein stripping is another possibility for patients suffering from varicose veins. This procedure is often performed under a general anesthetic. About 150,000 surgeries like this are performed in the United States every year. In this procedure, the upper end of a problem vein is tied off and the rest of the vein removed from the patient's body.

Patients in San Diego and the nearby communities who would like to know more about these and other procedures should contact a vein specialist for more information about varicose veins and possible treatments.

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