Varicose Vein Surgery
What is Varicose vein surgery?
Varicose vein surgery refers to procedures that treat varicose veins—enlarged, twisted veins often in the legs—caused by venous insufficiency. These surgeries aim to remove or close off diseased veins, redirecting blood flow to healthier veins to relieve symptoms like pain, swelling, and cosmetic concerns. Options range from minimally invasive techniques like EVLT (which you’ve explored) to traditional open surgery like vein stripping. In India, these procedures are performed in vascular surgery or dermatology departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why do you need Varicose vein surgery?
Varicose vein surgery is indicated for:
- Varicose veins:
- Caused by venous insufficiency (e.g., great saphenous vein reflux); symptoms include leg pain, swelling, heaviness, or cosmetic issues.
- Prevalence in India: 15–20% of adults; higher in women, older adults, and those with prolonged standing jobs.
- Other indications:
- Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI): Skin changes, ulcers (5–10% of untreated cases).
- Failed conservative treatments: Compression stockings, lifestyle changes (e.g., weight loss, leg elevation).
- Types:
- Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT): Laser seals vein (covered in your prior query; 60–70% of cases in urban India).
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): Similar to EVLT, uses heat via radiofrequency (20–30% of cases).
- Vein stripping/ligation: Open surgery to remove vein (10–15%; used for severe cases).
- Sclerotherapy: Injection to close smaller veins; often combined with other methods.
- Associated treatments:
- Pre-op: Ultrasound to map venous reflux.
- Post-op: Compression stockings (20–30 mmHg) for 1–2 weeks; sclerotherapy for residual veins.
- Timing:
- Performed in adults (average age 30–60 years); elective, scheduled based on symptom severity.
The procedure aims to relieve symptoms, improve leg appearance, and prevent complications like ulcers, with high success rates for vein closure and symptom relief.
Why Do Varicose Vein Surgery Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹30,000 to ₹1.5 lakh per leg:
- Procedure Type: Sclerotherapy (₹30,000–₹50,000); EVLT/RFA (₹50,000–₹1.2 lakh); vein stripping (₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹20,000–₹50,000, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced vascular surgeons charge more.
- Additional Costs: Ultrasound (₹2,000–₹5,000), compression stockings (₹2,000–₹5,000), medications (₹1,000–₹3,000).
- Insurance: Coverage varies (often considered cosmetic unless symptomatic); confirm with your provider.
Varicose Vein Surgery Procedure
- Before Procedure Evaluation:
- Assessment:
- Duplex ultrasound: Maps venous anatomy, confirms reflux (>0.5 seconds in great saphenous vein).
- Physical exam: Assesses vein size, extent of varicosities, and skin changes.
- Preparation: No fasting (for minimally invasive); fasting 6–8 hours (for vein stripping); wear loose clothing.
- Consent: Risks, including bruising, are explained.
- Assessment:
- Procedure Technique:
- Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT):
- As covered previously: Local anesthesia, 30–60 minutes; laser fiber seals vein; outpatient.
- Vein Stripping/Ligation:
- Performed under general or spinal anesthesia, lasting 1–2 hours.
- Process:
- Incisions: Small incision in groin (2–3 cm) and lower leg (1–2 cm).
- Great saphenous vein ligated at saphenofemoral junction; vein stripped out via lower incision using a wire.
- Closure: Sutures (absorbable); compression bandage applied.
- Sclerotherapy (Adjunct):
- Local anesthesia, 15–30 minutes; sclerosant (e.g., sodium tetradecyl sulfate) injected into small veins; outpatient.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Ultrasound: Guides EVLT/RFA or confirms reflux.
- Stripping wire: Removes vein in open surgery.
- Compression: Applied immediately post-procedure.
- Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT):
- After Procedure:
- Hospital stay: Same-day discharge (EVLT/RFA/sclerotherapy); 1–2 days (vein stripping).
- Care: Wear compression stockings for 1–2 weeks; walk 10–15 minutes hourly on day 1 to prevent DVT.
- Pain management: Mild discomfort (EVLT) to moderate pain (vein stripping) for 1–5 days; managed with painkillers (e.g., ibuprofen).
- Instructions: Avoid prolonged standing for 1–2 weeks; no heavy lifting for 1–2 weeks (EVLT) or 4–6 weeks (stripping).
Recovery After Varicose Vein Surgery
- Hospital Stay: Same-day discharge (EVLT/RFA); 1–2 days (vein stripping).
- Post-Procedure Care:
- Pain: Mild (EVLT) for 1–3 days; moderate (stripping) for 3–5 days; resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Activity: Walk immediately (EVLT); light activities in 2–3 days (stripping); avoid strenuous activity for 1 week (EVLT) or 4–6 weeks (stripping).
- Compression: Wear stockings for 1–2 weeks (daytime); reduces swelling, promotes healing.
- Appearance: Veins fade over 4–12 weeks; bruising resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Symptoms: Pain, heaviness improve in 1–2 weeks; 80–90% report relief.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week (check healing), 1 month (assess relief), and 3–6 months (ultrasound).
- Ultrasound: At 1 month; 95–98% closure rate (EVLT/RFA) at 1 year.
Most resume normal activities in 2–3 days (EVLT) or 2–4 weeks (stripping); full recovery takes 1–2 weeks (EVLT) or 4–6 weeks (stripping). Success rate: 95–98% vein closure (EVLT/RFA); 80–90% (stripping); 5-year recurrence 5–10%.
Risks and Complications
- Procedure Risks:
- Bruising (20–30%): Resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Pain (10–20%): Mild (EVLT) to moderate (stripping); managed with painkillers.
- Infection (1–3%): Higher with stripping; treated with antibiotics.
- Post-Procedure:
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT, 0.5–1%): Minimized by walking, stockings (links to your thrombectomy query).
- Numbness (2–5%): Temporary nerve irritation; resolves in 1–3 months.
- Recurrence (5–10% at 5 years): New veins may form; may need repeat treatment.
- Skin discoloration (1–3%): Brown staining; fades in 6–12 months.
- Long-Term:
- Neovascularization (2–5%): New vein growth; may cause recurrence.
- Scarring (5–10%, stripping): More noticeable than EVLT; fades over time.
Report fever, severe swelling, chest pain, or shortness of breath (DVT/PE signs) promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes the need for varicose vein surgery?
Venous insufficiency causing varicose veins, leading to pain, swelling, or cosmetic concerns.
Can I avoid varicose vein surgery?
Yes, if mild: Compression stockings, leg elevation; surgery needed for significant symptoms or cosmetic goals.
Is varicose vein surgery painful?
Mild (EVLT) to moderate (stripping) pain for 1–5 days; managed with medication; resolves in 1–2 weeks.
How soon can I resume normal activities?
Light activities: Immediately (EVLT) or 2–3 days (stripping); full recovery: 1–2 weeks (EVLT) or 4–6 weeks (stripping).
Is varicose vein surgery covered by insurance in India?
Coverage varies (often considered cosmetic unless symptomatic); confirm with your provider; Ayushman Bharat may apply for severe cases.
Signs of complications?
Fever, severe swelling, chest pain, or shortness of breath.
How long do results last?
95–98% closure (EVLT/RFA) at 1 year; 5–10% recurrence at 5 years; new veins may form over time.
Lifestyle changes post-procedure?
Wear compression stockings, avoid prolonged standing, maintain healthy weight, exercise, and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
Varicose vein surgery, whether through minimally invasive methods like EVLT or traditional vein stripping, effectively treats varicose veins, offering symptom relief and cosmetic improvement. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, with variable insurance coverage. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach treatment confidently. Consult a vascular surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Varicose Vein Surgery
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Ahmedabad |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ajmer |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Aligarh |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Allahabad |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Amritsar |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Aurangabad |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bangalore |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Bareilly |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Belgaum |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bhopal |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bikaner |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Chandigarh |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Chennai |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Coimbatore |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Dehradun |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Delhi |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Dhanbad |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Durgapur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Faridabad |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ghaziabad |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Gorakhpur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Guntur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Gurgaon |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Guwahati |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Gwalior |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Hyderabad |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Indore |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jabalpur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Jaipur |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Jalandhar |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jamshedpur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jodhpur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
kanpur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Kochi |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Kolkata |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Kollam |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Lucknow |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Ludhiana |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Madurai |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Mangalore |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Meerut |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Moradabad |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Mumbai |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Mysore |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Nagpur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Nashik |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Noida |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Patna |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Pune |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Raipur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Rajkot |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Ranchi |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Surat |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Thane |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Vadodara |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Varanasi |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.