While varicose veins typically don’t pose any serious health risks, there are some instances in which they need to be addressed. In particularly extreme cases, surgery may be required to cure varicose veins. This typically involves your doctor making small incisions your leg and removing offending veins. This is, no doubt, an effective way of dealing with the problem, but keep in mind it’s not for everyone. If you’re considering the procedure but are still unsure, here are the most important things you need to know about varicose vein surgery.
Making the Decision
You should consider surgery if:
- Your varicose veins are causing you pain. This is the number one reason why doctors recommend that their patients undergo the procedure.
- Your varicose veins are causing skin ulcers. These are a rare but potentially serious side effect of varicose veins and require medical attention.
- Your varicose veins are causing blood clots. Like skin ulcers, these are a rare but potentially dangerous symptom of varicose veins that can lead to complications that include heart attack or stroke.
You should avoid surgery if:
- You’re worried about varicose veins for cosmetic reasons. If your varicose veins aren’t causing you any problems besides being unsightly, then it might be best to avoid surgery. Insurance plans rarely cover the procedure for this reason, which means you’ll be paying out-of-pocket.
- You haven’t tried other ways to improve your varicose veins. Surgery should be seen as a last resort for eliminating varicose veins. Before you go under the knife, try making lifestyle changes, such as getting more exercise or wearing compression stockings, to see if they resolve the problem.
Understanding the Risks
You should understand the risks of varicose vein surgery. Luckily, there aren’t too many potential complications associated with varicose vein surgery. The process is minimally invasive and is typically considered an outpatient procedure. However, this surgery is not risk free.
The most common problems have to do with anesthesia. Obese patients or patients with a history of respiratory problems may face breathing challenges under anesthesia, and some people may have an allergic reaction to the medicines used. However, these risks are universal across all surgeries requiring general anesthesia.
After surgery, there is a risk of bruising and bleeding at the incision site, but that should diminish as you begin to heal. Infection is also a possibility, but it shouldn’t be a problem with the proper care of your wound.
