What is vein stripping?

Vein stripping is the surgical method of treating varicose veins to not only improve the skin’s appearance but also reduce the pain and health risks associated with large varicose veins.

Do you suffer from varicose veins?

Varicose veins are gnarled, enlarged veins that most commonly appear in the legs and feet. These veins can develop due to constant standing and walking, which increases the pressure within the veins. Varicose veins can appear as bulging and twisted with a dark purple or blue color.

Some people want to get rid of varicose veins for cosmetic reasons, but others seek medical help due to aching pain and discomfort. Painful symptoms include an achy or heavy feeling in the legs, itching around one or more veins, burning, throbbing, swelling, and hardening of the vein.

Is vein stripping the best way to get rid of varicose veins?

At Ideal Body Institute, we offer less invasive techniques for varicose vein removal, and we urge you to visit our luxury, private outpatient surgery center in Atlanta before undergoing any varicose vein removal treatment.

Why choose Ideal Body Institute for spider vein removal?

At Ideal Body Institute, you will be under the care of a skilled medical professional, with your treatment performed in our luxury, private surgical center. We offer quality patient care – at rates you can afford. If you suffer from spider veins, we offer fast, same-day services at our state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center.

How much does sclerotherapy cost?

To get information on cost, visit our pricing page. The fees listed are self-pay, all-inclusive. The price can vary based on the number of spider veins being treated. We offer financing options to assist you. Enroll in the SurgiCare Rewards Program to save money on treatments.

How does vein stripping work?

During the vein stripping procedure, the surgeon makes small incisions near the top and bottom of the damaged vein. A thin, flexible plastic wire is then inserted into the vein through the top incision, tied to the vein, and pulled out through the bottom incision. After pulling out the varicose veins, the surgeon will close the incisions with stitches.

At Ideal Body Institute, we can help you get rid of varicose veins.

The traditional technique to strip veins is called “ligation and stripping.” Ligation and stripping involve tying off the abnormal vein (ligation) and physically removing it (stripping).

Ligation and stripping are performed in a hospital setting or outpatient surgical center under local, spinal, or general anesthesia. The surgeon makes a small incision in the groin to expose the diseased GSV, which is tied off. The surgeon then makes a series of incisions along the leg from the thigh to a point just below the knee. Using a specialized stripping tool that is inserted and threaded through the incisions, the surgeon strips out the diseased vein.

Advanced varicose vein removal treatments at Ideal Body Institute.

A more recent variation on this technique is PIN (Perforate Invaginate) stripping. This technique involves inserting an instrument called a PIN stripper through a small incision in the leg. The stripper is advanced through the vein, its tip is sewn to the end of the vein, and the vein is pulled in on itself as it is stripped from the leg. PIN stripping is performed in a hospital operating room or outpatient surgical center under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with IV sedation.

Are there side effects?

During stripping, branch veins attached to the GSV are broken, causing blood to leak into surrounding tissues. The treatment causes postoperative pain, soreness and bruising. Other potential complications include numbness from damage to surrounding nerves, chronic leg swelling from damaged lymphatic tissue, incision scars and allergic reaction to anesthesia. Although the patient is usually able to return home the same day, recovery from vein stripping surgery typically takes up to four weeks, with patients sidelined for several days in the beginning.

Vein stripping vs. VenaCure

Surgical vein stripping is far more invasive than the VenaCure EVLT™ procedure. Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery in 1999 revealed that vein stripping surgery was 71% effective in eliminating varicose vein, compared to a success rate of up to 98% for the VenaCure EVLT™ procedure. Endovenous laser vein therapy also causes less bruising and numbness and leaves minimal to no scars as compared to surgical ligation and vein stripping.

FAQ

How long does the procedure take?

On average, the vein stripping procedure takes about 60 to 90 minutes.

How long is the recovery?

Recovery times depend on how many veins were removed and on what parts of the body. However, it usually takes about two to four weeks to recover from a vein stripping procedure.

Are there any risks associated with the vein stripping procedure?

Risks include allergic reactions to anesthesia, heavy bleeding, blood clots, bruising, scarring, and nerve injury.

How much does the procedure cost?

For information about the cost of vein stripping, visit ourpricing page. We have financing options available for qualified patients.

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Vein Stripping