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Varicose veins - surgical treatment
What does surgical treatment involve ?
If it is necessary for you to undergo surgery you will be admitted to hospital. When you arrive in hospital you will be seen by Mr Scurr and his anaesthetist. Mr Scurr will arrange to mark the position of the veins on your legs. Sometimes it is necessary for you to have further marks placed on the leg using duplex ultrasound imaging. The anaesthetist will ensure that you are fit for surgery. You will then be given a very light but full anaesthetic. The effects of the anaesthetic are instantaneous and wear off immediately once the operation is completed.The operation will involve making small incisions (2 cm in the groins between the top of your leg and your body). These incisions heal without leaving scars. Sometimes it is necessary to make small incisions behind the knees, but again these incisions are in the skin creases and heal without leaving scars. The remaining surface veins are removed through small incisions 1.5 mm in length. These incisions close on their own without the need for stitches and disappear again without leaving any scarring.
After the operation you will have a bandage on your leg which you wear for 12 hours. After a 12 hour period the bandage is replaced with a heavy elastic compression stocking which you wear for ten days. The elastic stocking can be removed every day so that you can have a shower (avoid having a bath as it makes the wounds soggy). At the same time the elastic stocking can be washed and dried.
After the first few days it is not necessary to wear the elastic stocking when you are in bed.
After the operation you will be encouraged to get up and to walk as much as possible. If you are not walking then you should sit on the settee with your feet up.
The operation is not painful, although you may require Panadol or Aspirin for discomfort. Sometimes after four or five days you will experience increasing discomfort, particularly in the thigh. This does not happen in all patients and is due to the blood reacting with the tissues. If you experience this pain please let us know and we will give you a different pain relieving tablet (Voltarol, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory).
You can return to driving the car as soon as you feel comfortable and you can return to work and normal activities again as soon as you feel comfortable. Some people will return to work within 48 hours, others preferring to take a full week to recover.
Following the surgical procedure you will be seen once in the outpatient department at about ten days to make sure the wounds are healing nicely. You will then be reviewed six weeks after this to assess the result. Most, if not all, of the large veins will have disappeared. Any residual veins, dermal flares and blushes can be treated by an injection technique. The treatment will continue until you are entirely satisfied with both the appearance and the feel of the leg.
Private consultations:
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road
London
SW1W 8RH
Tel: +44 (0)20 7730 9563
Fax: +44 (0)20 7259 9938
e-mail: