Preparation for the operation at home

You should fast and not eat anything from midnight unless other arrangements have been discussed. You can drink clear liquids up to two hours before the operation. Do not smoke on operation day.
Take a shower in the morning and use regular soap to wash your body.
Do not use any creams on your legs. It s advisable to buy a compression stocking that reaches up to the knee prior to the operation. It is not necessary to bring the compression stocking with you as the stocking will not be used until the bandage has been removed after two days.
You will get relatively bulky bandages after the operation. Therefore is it advisable to be dressed in soft loose trousers and to use shoes that are wide and which it is easy to put on and remove.

Before the operation

You will get some painkiller (paracetamól 1.5 grammes) and sedative medicine during the operation. You will therefore not be able to drive after the operation. You will change clothes and rest in a comfortable chair prior to the operation.

In the operating room

All varicose veins and spider veins are marked with a marking pen and ultrasound scanning is performed. During the operation local anaesthesia is applied which you will sense as small needle prickling. It only takes a short time to apply the local anaesthesia (3 to 5 minutes) and after this you should not notice any pain. You should alert the staff if you feel any pain it is always possible to add some more local anaesthesia.
The operation takes about one to two hours depending on what needs to be done. After the operation the area will be covered with bandage that will be wrapped rather tight. This bandage is kept for a period of 48 hours following the operation. One hour after the operation you will return home but before this you will receive a light meal.

Laser treatment

RVC is using a state of the art laser device (ELVeS Radial 2ring™) which is internationally recognised as being one of the best and there has been a lot of experience gained in its use. The operation is performed under local anaesthesia and there is no need for general anaesthesia. The operation is performed under ultrasound scanning (Mindray DP-50). The treatment is endovenous which means that the vein is not opened in a usual way instead treated using a laser fiber that is inserted into the vein and only the defective part of the vein is treated. The vein is closed with this technology and it will not be observable with ultrasound scanning few months later. There are no incisions made.

Crochet hook treatment

The varicose veins are removed after the laser treatment. A needle hole (1.0-1.2 mm) is made in the skin and varicose veins are extracted with a tool that looks like a crochet hook. There are small or no scars visible and with respect to cosmetic appearances the result is very good.

Spider veins treatment

There is an injection made into the spider vein area using a certain compound that causes the vein to collapse and become non-functional. The name of the compound is Aethoxysclerol and is available in two solutions of different strength; 0.5% or 1% depending on the size of the varicose vein which solution is used. In the case of large spider vein and of lesser types of varicose veins sometimes foam solutions are used that are made by combining air and Aethoxysclerol. Occasionally this treatment needs to be repeated at a later time but normally the next treatment is given 4 months later.

Side effects

After the operation, you might experience some numbness or “needles and pins” feelings around the area you have been operated on. Usually this condition very temporary but in some cases, it can last a little longer. Infections are very rare because the puncture holes that are made are quite small. If you notice any redness, heat or discomfort, please contact us.
Blood clots (thrombosis) are extremely rare after an operation like this. It helps to be active, walk and move around, you reduce the odds of blood clots if doing so. Blood clots symptoms can be a sudden pain in you calf, you feel like it is tight and hot.
If you have any symptoms that you find unusual following an operation then you should contact us. Two weeks after the operation you might feel a slight pain where the laser treatment was given. It is usually on the inner side of your thigh or the back of you calf. That is not dangerous at all and it is enough to take in some painkillers. It is common that people experience swollenness around the holes that disappear in a couple of days. The bruising will disappear within days/weeks as well.