The best choice in the advanced stage of varicose vein disease
Classic vein surgery is one of the therapeutic methods for treating varicose veins on the legs. Varicose veins or varicose veins of the legs are caused by a decrease or loss of functionality of the venous valves.
In healthy veins, venous valves ensure normal blood flow to the heart and prevent blood from returning to the feet.
In the case of damage to the venous valves or thinning of the venous walls, blood accumulates in the veins of the legs, especially when standing or sitting for a long time. Due to the accumulation of blood, the walls of the veins are permanently stretched, which is how varicose veins disease occurs.
In the initial stages of the disease, the most pronounced symptom of varicose veins of the legs are sinuous, protruding veins of blue color, so patients mostly assume that it is an exclusively aesthetic problem.
However, varicose veins are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also a potentially dangerous health problem. They increase the risk of thrombosis and can cause serious concomitant diseases.
Depending on the stage of the disease, the overall clinical picture and the history of the disease, treatment can be performed with vein surgery or one of the less invasive methods such as sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation or laser vein surgery.
In the event of significant symptoms or complications caused by varicose veins, it is necessary to consult a vascular surgeon who will recommend some of the therapeutic procedures.
In the later stages of the disease, when the symptoms are advanced and the risk of serious complications of varicose veins is significantly higher, classic leg vein surgery is the best, and often the only solution. Vein surgery is a surgical procedure that lasts about 1 to 2 hours and is one of the easier surgical procedures with a small number of complications.
The procedure is performed by a surgeon, a subspecialist in vascular surgery. In performing classic vein surgery, two techniques are used: ligation and stripping. Ligation involves ligating a large vein in the leg called the saphenous vein, and stripping means removing part of the varicose vein through an incision in the groin or at the back of the knee.
Leg vein surgery is one of the most performed therapeutic procedures despite the existence of less invasive options in the treatment of varicose veins. It is a routine procedure whose value lies in the possibility of performing varicose veins in patients in the later stages of varicose veins disease. Despite the fact that it is a surgical procedure, complications of vein surgery are relatively rare, and after the procedure, as a rule, no visible scars remain.
Varicose veins are a progressive type of disease. In the initial stages, this disease causes predominantly aesthetic problems in the form of protruding, winding veins on the legs of blue color. In the early stages, patients do not have to have additional accompanying symptoms and usually do not feel pain.
At this stage of the disease, varicose veins can be treated by changing lifestyle habits, that is, controlling diet and reducing body weight. One of the therapeutic procedures in the initial phase is wearing an elastic compression stocking , which helps maintain normal blood circulation in the legs and reduces symptoms such as swelling of the ankles and a feeling of heaviness in the legs.
If the treatment of varicose veins is carried out for an aesthetic requirement, our doctors often recommend some of the modern therapeutic methods of less invasiveness. However, in the presence of more serious symptoms of the disease such as leg pain, venous ulcer and the like, the best recommendation is varicose vein surgery.
The progression of varicose vein disease can lead to a complete loss of functionality of venous valves. The best therapeutic procedure for the treatment of varicose veins at this stage of the disease is classic vein surgery. After diagnostic procedures, the vascular surgeon will determine whether it is necessary to remove part of the vein or the entire vein, if it has lost functionality along its entire length.
Before deciding on any of the therapeutic procedures, it is necessary to perform an examination of varicose veins. Examination of varicose veins is a diagnostic method for determining the presence of varicose veins disease performed by a vascular surgeon.
During the examination, the doctor will determine the existence of symptoms and signs of the disease and the presence of a genetic predisposition. Examination of varicose veins also allows the vascular surgeon to determine the stage of the disease.
Namely, depending on the stage to which varicose veins disease has progressed , a recommendation is made for further diagnostic procedures and the determination of an appropriate therapeutic method of treatment. If the disease is in one of the later stages, the vascular surgeon may recommend additional tests such as ultrasound of the color Doppler veins to determine the degree of damage to the venous valves and vein walls.
You have undergone an examination and consultation and our vascular surgeon has recommended vein surgery as the best therapeutic procedure to achieve the desired health and aesthetic goals, what next?
During the consultation, the doctor will instruct you in additional procedures that need to be done before the procedure itself to ensure the success of the operation and minimize the occurrence of possible complications.
Since it is a surgical procedure, it is necessary to do laboratory tests before the vein surgery itself, perform an examination by an anesthesiologist and often an internist. If you are taking anticoagulant medication or have allergies to any of the medications, it is definitely necessary to emphasize this when consulting with our surgeon.
Be sure to inform our professional staff and surgeon if you are taking medications, dietary supplements or other preparations obtained without a prescription. It is also necessary to inform the doctor about the possible use of hormone therapy.
Classic vein surgery is one of the most widely used methods of treating varicose vein disease.
During the procedure, ligation (ligation) is performed at the mouth of the large vein of the leg, the saphenous vein in the groin area or above the lower leg at the back of the knee. This is followed by the extraction of parts of the vein that have lost functionality and their removal (stripping).
Vein surgery is performed under general or spinal anesthesia and lasts an average of 1 to 2 hours. After the procedure, it is usually necessary to spend 1 to 2 days in a health institution for postoperative treatment.
After vein surgery, your leg will be wrapped in an elastic bandage to prevent swelling and bleeding. It is necessary to wear an elastic compression bandage for 6 to 8 weeks after the procedure to ensure normal blood flow and prevent possible complications.
After leg vein surgery, it is common for pain and transient swelling to occur in the treated area. For the first 10 days after vein surgery, the intensity of pain is the highest, and then gradually decreases.
To relieve pain and swelling, it is necessary to raise your legs to an elevated position, above the level of the heart, when resting.
Postoperative care involves wearing an elastic compression bandage on the leg for several weeks after the procedure. Wearing a compression bandage or stocking is a key recovery factor in the postoperative period after vein surgery as it helps maintain normal blood flow in the legs.
During the recovery period, it is recommended to rest while maintaining light physical activity.
For the first week after vein surgery, it is necessary to take up to 12 short steps every day, 5 to 10 times a day. Avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time, and when lying down, prop up your legs with a pillow so that they are in an elevated position.
Although recovery after vein surgery takes slightly longer than with less invasive treatment methods, the expected return to daily activities is still relatively fast, on average 2 weeks after vein surgery.
However, heavier exertion and sports activities should be avoided for a minimum of 3 to 6 weeks after the procedure.
Complications after vein surgery are usually rare, and the possibility of scarring from the incisions made is also minimal.
In order to ensure a successful recovery and prevent the occurrence of possible complications, it is necessary to follow the instructions of our vascular surgeon in detail during the postoperative period.
These complications of vein surgery occur in a small number of cases and depend on the patient’s overall health picture.
The occurrence of complications in vein surgery is mainly related to the common side effects of any surgical procedure such as the occurrence of infection, allergic reaction to anesthesia or bleeding.
Most complications can be prevented by detailed communication with our vascular surgeon and proper adherence to the instructions of professional staff in the period before and after vein surgery.
The main goal of the LF Polyclinic is to improve the quality of life and health of our clients by providing them with a top-notch health service. For this purpose, we have gathered a top team of experts and subspecialists who are dedicated to providing quality services in our multidisciplinary centers and specialist clinics.
At every step of the process, we will take care of answering all your questions. You can contact us by phone at +3851 2444646 or via our online form. Working hours for appointments and consultations with medical staff are Monday to Friday from 10:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.
