Seventh in a series of articles by Mark Whiteley of The Whiteley Clinic, about Varicose Veins and the treatments available for them. Here he explains the operation of Phlebectomy – literally the removal of varicose veins.

In people who have “Varicose Veins”, the bulging veins seen on the surface are being filled by large veins lying deeper in the leg that have lost their valves. These large veins are called the “Venous Trunks” (usually the Great Saphenous and Small Saphenous veins). Being deeper they cannot be seen on the surface in most people.

A Duplex Ultrasound is used to find which of the Venous Trunks are causing the bulging varicose veins. In the past, these would then be tied and stripped away – the old “Tying and Stripping” operation. Nowadays, we use Radiofrequency VNUS Closure® or Laser EVLT® to close these Trunks through a single 3mm cut on the thigh or below the knee. This can often be done under Local Anaesthetic as a “Walk-in, walk-out” procedure.

Once the Venous Trunk has been closed, the pressure in the bulging varicose veins is reduced and sometimes they reduce in size. However, they don’t usually disappear completely by themselves and, if left, can get clots inside them. This causes a painful condition called “Phlebitis”- the veins go hot, red and lumpy.