Vein surgery

[wheresthehope]

Hi all.
I am most likely posting in the wrong place but I was wondering who here has had varicose vein surgery?
I am booked for surgery on the 22nd June. From what I understand they seal/burn them from the inside? Numb my legs with local injections?
I am hoping to get both my legs done at once so I don’t have to go back, but the doctor said it depends on my pain tolerance 😳
Anywho I’ll do my best to grin n bare it!

I had mine done, and it does sting! I'd say it's a bit like quick(ish) multiple bee stings, without the residual pain. But I had both legs done at one sitting, including a large vein on one calf, lots of thread veins and a few patches.

It was honestly worth every penny. I hated wearing shorts or short skirts, even though I have good legs (she says, modestly) and now I'm happy to show them off.

I’m having one leg done soon, but was given the option of general anaesthetic or lots of local. I’ve opted for general as it’s the entire length of my leg from crotch to ankle & for me that’s too much (have had about a dozen small local injections around an area that needed stitches after an injury in the past and it was very unpleasant and painful). Hopefully it all goes well for you.

I have awful veins but don't understand how if they take some out, how do the other veins cope?

Surely they are there for a reason and if the others have to take on the work of those removed surely they will get bigger over time too?

Also any idea on prices as I know NHS wont do them nowadays?

Thank you!
I am getting both of my legs from my crotch to my ankles.
I am looking forward to being able to wear shorts and skirts again

It stung a bit with the laser treatment but not too much. Unfortunately it didn't seal one of the larger veins so I had to have them manually stripped afterwards anyway. This was on the NHS but about 6 years ago now (and only one leg- I'm still quite young and had recurrent vein problems due to some damage).

I did, years ago when it was done under general anesthesia. I had no complications and was so happy I had it done.

I need it doing again as the vein returned during pregnancy so watching this thread with interest.

Also would love to know prices but totally understand if you don't wish to share that info.

I had an ultrasound of my vein and there are flaps that open and close to pump the blood through the vein, and the flaps on mine have broken so the blood isn’t pumping, it’s just blobbing about like a lava lamp. Therefore the other veins in my legs are doing all the work as this one has failed, hence removing/lasering it to reduce the swelling and aching pain I’ve had for years.

Following with interest - my veins are causing me such pain at the moment.

whereiwanttobe

How much May I ask ? I’m at the stage I don’t like to get one out also

I had mine done twice years ago , once on the NHS and once private and they still came back

I’m in NZ so I’m unsure the prices but I am very luckily going through public which they only do veins that are really bad. My veins at the top of my legs are 5 x larger than they’re meant to be so the lady who did the mapping said 😳

@Thisisworsethananticpated

I had to find the receipt! I had unilateral EVLA and bilateral foam sclerotherapy, which cost just over £2500, including a follow up where they did a few more injections. But I'm in the south east so it may be cheaper elsewhere. I went to a Veincentre clinic in London, which does just these treatments and the staff were really lovely.

I had mine done privately ( UK) about 8 yrs ago. I was fully asleep as the veins were burned and then pulled out!! I had my veins since my early 20's.

I had no pain or discomfort when i woke up. No scarring, they did a really fantastic job. Best thing i ever did and i can wear shorts, skirts and tan tights for work that sort of thing. I feel much more confident in myself now.

My treatment was approx £6k (both legs). Luckily, i was able to use my private healthcare. NHS did not deem them bad/painful enough to provide treatment - even though they were extremely painful and looked like large bunches of grapes dangling from me.

Following as DH will be getting his done later in the year under general. He's been told no exercise for 6weeks after and I'm wondering how he will cope with that as he exercises daily and we walk pretty much everywhere. His is bad at the top and in the calf.
Can anyone share if they had similar restrictions after and what the recovery was like?

Thanks

gosh I hope not 6 weeks off ?? I’m to go back to physical work 3 weeks later

Thanks 🙏

@spottygymbag

Following as DH will be getting his done later in the year under general. He's been told no exercise for 6weeks after and I'm wondering how he will cope with that as he exercises daily and we walk pretty much everywhere. His is bad at the top and in the calf. Can anyone share if they had similar restrictions after and what the recovery was like?

I’ve been told almost the opposite- I need to wear support stockings for 3-4 weeks following op and as soon as possible to be up and walking and being on my feet as much as possible to help with the blood flow and circulation. My day job is in an office so a lot of sitting but thankfully I can adjust my desk so I can stand if need to. was secretly hoping for 2 weeks bedrest but I’m never that lucky

I've had endovenous laser surgery 3 or 4 times on each leg over recent years and lots of sclerotherapy injections in between surgeries. My veins were very bad and have improved big time but my legs are stained and scarred after getting leg ulcers.

I was sedated for the surgery but didn't feel a thing, I didn't need painkillers apart from the evening after one surgery on a deep vein in my thigh and was back working 2 days after surgery. Wearing the compression stockings afterwards is not nice, very uncomfortable where they crease.

My surgeon advised that genreral was advisable for both legs at once. I had it done privately, about three and a half years ago, came in at just under 3K. Done on Friday afternoon, back at work on Monday, but no driving for three weeks. Of course that depends on your job! My were really ugly and had become painful, potentially might have become ulcerous, but the NHS didn't want to know.

Worth every penny.

I had laser coagulation of the deep vein and one ablation ( removal of the surface vein) about a year ago. This was under local with no sedation. The treatment of the main vein was painless, I didn't realise he'd started when he'd finished! The ablation was more unpleasant. The local was inserted every couple of inches and stung a bit. I didn't need to take painkillers afterwards though.

I had to wear support bandages for 48 hours then full length support stockings for a further week. I could get back to normal mobility as soon as I felt like it but to be honest it was a good 6 weeks before all the discomfort in my leg went. Don't overdo it like I did!

Worth every penny and I wish I'd had it done years ago

I am a little worried about my return to work as I will be rearing calves starting 3 weeks post surgery. I am having endovernous ablation or something??
Calves kick and of course you use your legs to hold on to them Aswel as being on your feet for several hours a day. Hopefully it doesn’t ruin the results

I’ve just had surgery done. I was put under and have had both legs done through private medical insurance at work.
Bandages for 2 days which are super tight actually cut into my legs at top then stockings supplied which I have to wear for 2 weeks.
Stockings fall down and cut into already bruised areas I managed for about 5 days but then went online and purchased some compression tights which are much easier cost me about £30
Strange as legs and bruises clearing up nicely by second week I’ve managed to peel off incision strips and wash off black marker pen used to mark out veins before op but legs feel very tired and heavy and I get pain in back of knees and back of thighs, feels bit like a puppet on a string and it pulled real tight.
It’s starting to ease slightly after 10 days , I walk regularly (not too far just round block a couple times ) three times a day to promote new blood flow and prevent dvt and pe been doing this since back from hospital.
Received two week sick note from hospital I have needed this I’m worried I may need to get another week as due to go back Monday.
You need to keep your legs quite high when resting otherwise throbbing comes back.
Relatively painless when resting.
Regarding how they look well I’m in shock my legs look flat and lovely again , quite a few little incisions which have scabbed and will hopefully fade in time. Bruising now yellowing in most places.
I hope it will be worth it as I get better. Cannot wait to have a bath again. I just don’t think I was mentally prepared for the repair process after.

The op itself was completely painless and I was literally so scared. I breathed in oxygen they told me to think of something nice then I panicked, the doctor then added some sort of sedative then I could hear them saying now something to sleep , then I woke up finished.

I’ll post some pics next week if it helps anybody else.