What procedures are available to treat varicose and spider veins?
Varicose veins are frequently treated by eliminating the “bad” veins. This forces the blood to flow through the remaining healthy veins. Various methods can be used to eliminate the problem veins, including, most commonly, surgery or sclerotherapy. Less commonly, laser or electro-cautery treatments have been used to treat the smallest spider veins, especially on the face. Surgery to treat varicose veins, commonly referred to as “stripping,” is usually done under local or partial anesthesia, such as an “epidural.” Here, the problematic veins are “stripped” out by passing a flexible device through the vein and removing it through an incision near the groin. Smaller tributaries of these veins also are stripped with this device or removed through a series of small incisions. Those veins that connect to the deeper veins are then tied off. This stripping method has been used since the 1950’s.
