Ambulatory Phlebectomy (Vein Micro-Extraction)
Treatment Information
In some patients it is beneficial to actually remove a segment of diseased vein. This is called ambulatory phlebectomy. The advantage of this is that the entire vein is treated at one time and there is less discoloration of the skin as occurs with sclerotherapy. The veins treated are typically on the surface and are visible as little blue-green ropes. The area treated is numbed with a local anesthetic before the treatment for comfort. Special surgical instruments called phlebectomy hooks are used to extract the vein. The veins are removed through tiny punctures in the skin that usually heal without much of a mark which are closed with sterile tape and usually do not require sutures.