A phlebectomy is a procedure that treats varicose veins. Varicose veins are larger than superficial spider veins and are much more noticeable. As we age and mature, repositioning of tissue, an injury to a muscle or a drop in blood circulation force can result in a branching off of capillaries that become larger and closer to the surface. This is visually noticed as a bluish spot underneath the skin.
Removing varicose veins often involves only a minimally-invasive, simple procedure called a phlebectomy. To determine if you are a good candidate for a phlebectomy, a consultation with our specialist is necessary.
During a Consultation
We examine the vein and decide whether this minimally-invasive procedure is all that is needed to remove the vein. Among other things, it depends on the size of the vein and whether or not the vein can be removed with the special instrument the surgeon uses when performing a phlebectomy.
How a Varicose Vein is Removed
In a phlebectomy procedure, a tiny incision in the skin is all that is needed for the specialist to insert the surgical instrument. This tool gently and easily removes the vein from the body. The client is made comfortable during the procedure through numbing agents. Once the vein is removed, the tiny incision in the skin doesn’t require stitches.
The area heals in just a few days. The tiny capillaries no longer receive blood from the feeder vein, so the bluish tone disappears almost immediately. The other capillaries in the immediate vicinity continue to supply the tissue with nutrients, so there’s no risk of tissue degradation. A typical phlebectomy can be completed in less than one hour.
Benefits of a Phlebectomy
The major benefit of this procedure is that no large incision is made, and no adjacent tissue is disturbed. It is an outpatient treatment that requires little or no downtime afterwards. If the treatment is for a varicose vein in the leg, a compression stocking may have to be worn for a few days, but no other post-treatment care is needed.
Find Out if You are a Candidate
To learn more about how easy it is to remove varicose veins with a phlebectomy procedure, consult the well-trained experts at The Vein Center at Cardiology Consultants of Southwest Florida. During a consultation at our office in Fort Myers, we’ll answer all of your questions concerning risk factors, expected outcomes and alternate procedures. You can rid yourself of those bluish-red veins once and for all without the need for extensive surgery. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!
