Sapheno-femoral junction and long saphenous vein
Before the operation your surgeon will see you and mark the varicose veins to be operated on:
Surgery to the long saphenous system involves dissecting the sapheno-femoral junction in the groin and tying it off. This is done through a 1-2 inch incision in the groin. In the photograph LSV is the long saphenous vein and FV is the femoral vein:
The long saphenous vein is then stripped to below the knee. The photograph shows the stripper used and the vein that has been removed:
I now use an 'inversion' stripper. This turns the vein inside out, causing less injury to the surrounding tissues and less bleeding.
The above can be replaced by the minimally invasive technique of VNUS closure.
Any of the veins that were marked before the operation are pulled out (avulsed) through small stab incisions using a special hook:
The larger wounds are closed with dissolving stitches and the avulsion sites are closed with steristrips:
The leg is then bandaged for 1 week:
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