Varicose veins are often treated with a procedure called ambulatory phlebectomy. It is a procedure performed in the clinic and takes an hour or less. Once the leg has been prepared with a surgical cleaning solution, the clinician begins with local anesthesia to the area surrounding the varicose veins. The clinician then makes a small hole with a needle near the varicose vein and removes part of the vein with an instrument that looks a bit like a crochet hook. Due to the local anesthesia, the procedure is not typically painful.
After the procedure, your leg will be wrapped in bandages and some mild compression, which you will leave in place for 48 hours then take off yourself. Some bruising and soreness are normal after the procedure and can be managed with ice, gentle exercise, and over the counter anti-inflammatory medications. You may return to nearly all regular activities immediately after the bandages are removed. We recommend avoiding heavy lifting for at least a week following the treatment.
This procedure may be done in combination with other vein treatments to address the underlying problematic veins.
