Do I Need Vein Stripping to Fix My Varicose Veins?

Our vein practice sees many different types of patients with unique medical issues, family history of venous issues, and a very common discussion point with new patient consultations revolves around a parent having had severe vein disease.  When a patient has such family history, we see an almost predictable, regular, and consistent mention of, “My mother had bad veins, she got them stripped, and it was AWFUL.”

This reference is to a largely abandoned surgical procedure called saphenous ligation and stripping.  This would involve treatment being performed in an operating room, under general anesthesia, incisions made over the ankle and groin, and running a large stripping device through the vein, removing it along the course of the vein in the leg.  If you are a golf fanatic like me, it is pretty much the John Daley ‘grip it and rip it’ of vein care. 

The many patient’s comments regarding the painful memories of their parents’ leg treatments are deserved…the treatment was quite painful, required a few weeks of recovery time, missed work and recreational activities as well.  Not exactly a highly technical procedure, but at the time had its place.  It remains in the memories of patients and their families, and since the internet is forever, can be found with a simple Google search, and the less than stellar reviews the treatment’s reputation has earned.  And this can sometimes prevent people from seeking treatment!

Today, it is extremely rare to require such an invasive procedure.  Modern catheter-based techniques allow this vein to be adequately and safely treated in an office-based setting, with little discomfort and minimal to no recovery or down time.  These days, radiofrequency, laser, and surgical adhesive methods have replaced conventional ligation/stripping and are available to obtain the goal of closing the saphenous vein in modern vein care practices.  There is virtually no need to undergo this antiquated procedure, much less require general anesthesia in an operating room for safe and effective treatment.

At Precision Vein Care, we offer the latest treatment modalities for the care of symptomatic superficial venous insufficiency.  We offer two locations, each with fully equipped procedure rooms that allow our team to perform expert vein care in a comfortable and convenient setting.  If you have seen another provider and are offered ligation and stripping, we welcome you to one of our locations for a second opinion.  Come and experience the difference at Precision Vein Care.

Minimally invasive therapy, maximum results. 

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