Varicose veins can be removed by an operation known as vein stripping. Vein stripping is the only option for removing the saphenous veins (the largest surface veins in the legs) that serve as the major channels for blood among the superficial veins in the leg.
This procedure can be done either under general anesthesia or with local anesthetics. The surgeon makes two small incisions-one at the top of the leg and the other near the ankle. Then he ligates (ties off) the saphenous vein and its branches at the incision at the top of the leg. He then passes a flexible wire through the vein from the ankle incision. A number of small incisions in the skin are sometimes needed along the vein to guide the wire along the length of the entire vein. When the wire reaches the top of the leg incision, the surgeon pulls the wire out; bringing the entire vein with it (strips the vein out).
Many patients are able to leave the hospital on the same day as the surgery – or at most the day following surgery. It usually takes two to six weeks to recover from the operation.
