Please verify your email address to receive email notifications.

Enter your email address

We have sent you a verification email. Please check your inbox and spam folder.

Unable to send verification, please refresh and try again later.

  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    I have varicose veins on my left leg. Do I have to have surgery?

    I saw my GP after my vein on my left leg started hurting at work. I don't have any medical problems and have never had an operation. I was referred by my GP to a surgeon who wanted to operate on my leg "stripping". The vein doesn't always hurt just occasionally. My GP did mention laser but I don't think the surgeon does this procedure. Please advise.
    • 1 answer
    • Dr Shannon Thomas
    answer this question

  • Find a professional to answer your question

  • 5

    Thanks

    Dr Shannon Thomas

    Vascular Surgeon

    Dr Thomas is a Vascular Surgeon with over 10 years clinical experience in the field. He is a member of the Royal Australian College of … View Profile

    Thats a great and quite common question. 30% of humans have some form of Varicose Veins on their legs. That does not mean that all people require surgery to remove the veins on their legs. Symptoms can often be controlled with the application of a simple compression stocking.

    Reasons to have varicose vein surgery are variable and include the appearance of the legs (cosmetic appearance), vein inflammation and pain, leg swelling, leg pain, leg discoluration and ulceration.

    You are right in that stripping is a fairly antiquated procedure with significant post operative pain, time off work, and a 10-20% risk of vein recurrence at 5 years. Newer ablative techniques such as laser, radiofrequency and venaseal Glue are associated with much less post operative pain and less recurrence at 5 years. The major vascular societies in the United States and United Kingdom now recommend ablation rather than stripping for patients requiring vein surgery due to the above differences

    Reply to this post
     · 
    Report
answer this question

You must be a Health Professional to answer this question. Log in or Sign up .

Empowering Australians to make better health choices