Varicose vein surgery

You may be a candidate for varicose vein treatment if your veins cause symptoms such as aching, burning, cramping, heaviness, or swelling in your legs, if they have led to skin changes, bleeding, or episodes of vein inflammation (superficial phlebitis), or if conservative measures — such as compression stockings, exercise, and elevating your legs — have not been enough. Some people also seek treatment because of how their legs look.

During your consultation, the specialist examines your legs while you are standing and lying down, and performs a Doppler ultrasound to see how blood is flowing, check how well the vein valves are working, and rule out problems in the deep veins. Your medical history and current medications are also reviewed; in situations such as pregnancy, treatment is usually postponed. Based on your case, the specialists at Healthcare by the Sea will help you decide which option is right for you.

The type of anesthesia depends on the technique chosen and your specialist's judgment: many catheter-based treatments are performed under local anesthesia, while other procedures may call for sedation, regional, or general anesthesia.

In endovenous ablation, the doctor threads a thin catheter into the affected vein under ultrasound guidance and applies heat — from radiofrequency or laser energy — to seal it from the inside; blood naturally reroutes through healthy veins. In ambulatory phlebectomy, superficial varicose veins are removed through tiny punctures in the skin. In selected cases, the saphenous vein is tied off and removed through small incisions (ligation and stripping). Techniques are often combined in a single session to treat both the main vein and its branches.

Afterward, you rest in a recovery room under close observation by the medical team, and in many cases you are encouraged to walk shortly after the procedure. As an outpatient setting, most patients return home the same day, wearing compression stockings and carrying clear instructions.

Everything starts with a consultation: your specialist reviews your medical history, examines your legs, and performs an ultrasound to map the affected veins and plan the treatment best suited to your case, talking through the available options and what you can expect from each one.

Your doctor may ask you to stop, with the appropriate lead time, medications that increase bleeding — such as blood thinners, aspirin, or anti-inflammatories — but only if he or she specifically instructs you to. If you smoke, stopping is recommended, since tobacco affects circulation and healing. You will also typically be asked to have your compression stockings ready ahead of time and to wear loose, comfortable clothing on the day of the procedure.

Arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure, especially if you will receive sedation. Our team in Puerto Vallarta can help you coordinate these details — especially if you are traveling from the U.S. or Canada.

After the procedure, it is normal to have bruising, mild swelling, and a feeling of tightness or a firm cord along the treated vein — discomfort that usually eases gradually over the first few weeks. You will generally be asked to wear compression stockings for the period your doctor indicates, walk several times a day starting the first day, and elevate your legs when resting.

In many cases, patients return to their everyday activities within a few days. For a week or two, it helps to avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, bathtubs or swimming pools, and long stretches of standing or sitting without moving. The appearance of your legs usually improves progressively as the swelling goes down, and your doctor may order a follow-up ultrasound to confirm that the treated vein closed properly.

Go to the emergency room right away if you develop a high fever, heavy bleeding that does not stop, leg pain or swelling that gets worse instead of better, or chest pain or shortness of breath, and notify the doctor who performed your procedure as soon as possible.

Medical reference source: Mayo Clinic.