Restoring My Complexion

Faqs About Having Varicose Veins Surgically Removed

24 March 2023 by Dylan Owens

If you have varicose veins that are bothering you, having them surgically removed can be a good choice. For most patients with varicose veins, surgical removal puts an end to the itching, burning, and throbbing sensations that feel in their legs. Here are some questions you might have leading up to the procedure.

Will you have to be put to sleep for the surgery?

No, in most cases, patients are not given general anesthesia for varicose vein removal. It is a minimally invasive surgery without any large incisions, and it does not take very long. As such, putting you under general anesthesia would be more hassle and risk than it is worth. Surgeons generally have patients given a local or regional anesthetic, which makes your leg or legs numb. You may also be given a sedative to keep you calm during surgery. Some people feel very sleepy and even fall asleep after being given the sedative, but it does not render you unconscious like a general anesthetic would.

How long does it take to recover from varicose vein surgery?

Not long at all! You'll want to rest and recover at home for the rest of the day after surgery. People are often able to go to work the next day if their jobs are not too physically demanding. You will need to take a few days off from working out, but you can ease back into exercise when you feel comfortable doing so. 

Will the veins come back?

No. Once your varicose veins are removed, those veins are gone forever. Your body will instead send blood through the veins that remain — and there will be plenty. Occasionally, people do develop more varicose veins after they have their first set removed. But those are other veins that have become varicose — not the initial ones growing back.

Can you get an infection from varicose vein surgery?

Technically it is possible, but unlikely. Surgeons follow very strict sanitation procedures to avoid introducing bacteria into your surgical sites. After surgery, you will be given directions for changing your bandages, which further helps prevent infection. If you do notice early signs of infection, like warmth and redness around the surgical site, an antibiotic can be prescribed to clear things up. But rest assured that this rarely happens. 

With these questions answered, you should feel more confident in having varicose vein surgery performed. Good luck!

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