Are there potential new varicose veins following stripping and phlebectomy? Can they be treated before they turn into unattractive/bulgy looking ones?

I had GSV vein stripped six months ago and additional phlebectomy done two months ago. But, I can already see some blue veins on the same leg and near where the varicose vein was. They are not bulgy or ropey and my skin is smooth, but I can see them clearly under the skin surface. Are these potential new varicose veins? Can they be treated before they turn into unattractive/bulgy looking ones? How is it possible when I am quite fit, walk a lot and have very little fat on my legs.

Answers from doctors (8)


Vein Specialties of St. Louis

Published on Jan 28, 2019

Stripping is no longer the most effective treatment for refluxing veins. Laser ablation is now standard of care. Typically, stripping is a blind procedure, but some surgeons will use ultrasound. The veins you describe are mostly likely reticular veins, and they can be treated cosmetically with sclerotherapy injections. It cannot be determined if these will increase in size and become varicose. People with little body fat can have more noticeable veins.

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Answered by Vein Specialties of St. Louis

Stripping is no longer the most effective treatment for refluxing veins. Laser ablation is now standard of care. Typically, stripping is a blind procedure, but some surgeons will use ultrasound. The veins you describe are mostly likely reticular veins, and they can be treated cosmetically with sclerotherapy injections. It cannot be determined if these will increase in size and become varicose. People with little body fat can have more noticeable veins.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Center of Westlake Village

Published on Aug 12, 2015

You should be able to avoid new bulging varicosities by completing the job. A complete venous ultrasound evaluation is in order here. There may be additional problem(s) to correct and finding the culprits is mandatory.
If you see 'some blue veins near the area where your varicose vein was removed', there may be one or more incompetent veins remaining. We have found foam sclerotherapy the most useful tool to treat the remaining insufficient veins after stripping or phlebotomy.

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Answered by Vein Center of Westlake Village

You should be able to avoid new bulging varicosities by completing the job. A complete venous ultrasound evaluation is in order here. There may be additional problem(s) to correct and finding the culprits is mandatory.
If you see 'some blue veins near the area where your varicose vein was removed', there may be one or more incompetent veins remaining. We have found foam sclerotherapy the most useful tool to treat the remaining insufficient veins after stripping or phlebotomy.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Center of Orange County

Published on Aug 11, 2015

Regardless of fitness level, you have inherited varicose veins for which there is no cure. Thus, new veins will always appear slowly over time.

Whether the blue veins you are noticing after GSV stripping are normal or abnormal must first be determined, along with any possible connection to underlying problem veins. Duplex ultrasound examination can give you the answers you seek and confirm success of stripping. Since vein stripping is an outdated procedure in this day and age of non-invasive endovenous procedures, you might want to consult with an experienced vein expert.

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Answered by Vein Center of Orange County

Regardless of fitness level, you have inherited varicose veins for which there is no cure. Thus, new veins will always appear slowly over time.

Whether the blue veins you are noticing after GSV stripping are normal or abnormal must first be determined, along with any possible connection to underlying problem veins. Duplex ultrasound examination can give you the answers you seek and confirm success of stripping. Since vein stripping is an outdated procedure in this day and age of non-invasive endovenous procedures, you might want to consult with an experienced vein expert.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Advanced Vein Center

Published on Aug 07, 2015

It seems a little early to be developing this but new veins can form and can be treated early on with sclerotherapy.

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Answered by Advanced Vein Center

It seems a little early to be developing this but new veins can form and can be treated early on with sclerotherapy.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Susan B Fox, D.O. RPVI, FSVM

Published on Aug 04, 2015

When you are pre-disposed to forming veins at any time you can form more veins. You can have the veins treated at any time especially if they bother you

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Answered by Susan B Fox, D.O. RPVI, FSVM

When you are pre-disposed to forming veins at any time you can form more veins. You can have the veins treated at any time especially if they bother you

Published on Jul 11, 2012


The Sheen Vein Institute

Published on Aug 04, 2015

There are reasons why people should never have their veins stripped. The trauma that the procedure causes can result in something called REVAS. It is when you grow new vein structure in the distribution of where the stripping occurred. Unfortunately all of these new veins are bad. This may be what you are seeing. Your vein treatment, however, is incomplete from my standpoint. Only a small percentage of you vein issues have been addressed based on what you are relaying. Your new blue veins, of course, are also easily treatable.

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Answered by The Sheen Vein Institute

There are reasons why people should never have their veins stripped. The trauma that the procedure causes can result in something called REVAS. It is when you grow new vein structure in the distribution of where the stripping occurred. Unfortunately all of these new veins are bad. This may be what you are seeing. Your vein treatment, however, is incomplete from my standpoint. Only a small percentage of you vein issues have been addressed based on what you are relaying. Your new blue veins, of course, are also easily treatable.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


General Vascular Surgery Group

Published on Aug 04, 2015

Yes early veins can be treated. generally this is much less invasive as well. see your vascular specialist for more information and options like sclerotherapy etc.

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Answered by General Vascular Surgery Group

Yes early veins can be treated. generally this is much less invasive as well. see your vascular specialist for more information and options like sclerotherapy etc.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Published on Aug 04, 2015

What you describe appear to be blue or reticular veins and these can be treated by sclerotherapy. They will not turn into varicose veins and their cause is genetic more than anything else.

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Answered by Vanish Vein and Laser Center

What you describe appear to be blue or reticular veins and these can be treated by sclerotherapy. They will not turn into varicose veins and their cause is genetic more than anything else.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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