The removal of damaged veins is performed under spinal anaesthesia (a local anaesthetic drug is injected through a needle into the small of the back) or general anaesthesia. After the operation, the blood will start moving through other superficial and deep veins.

The largest superficial vein of the leg (great saphenous vein or vena saphena magna) is removed by making a 3–5 cm (1–2 in.) long incision in the groin area or a similar incision on the ankle or lower leg. The surgeon accesses the vein, ligates it and inserts a metal or plastic probe (a stripper). As the probe is pulled out, the vein wrinkles, branch veins are detached and, ultimately, the vein is removed. If the varicose veins are extremely twisted, or if the patient suffered from an infection or sclerosation, more incisions are necessary in order to remove the damaged vein.

The other large vein of the lower leg is the small saphenous vein or vena saphena parva, which runs down the back of the leg from the knee to the outer ankle. It is removed in the same way as the great saphenous vein, with one incision in the back of the knee and one on the outside of the ankle.

Side veins and small varicose veins are removed with special instruments inserted through tiny incisions.

If the valves of the veins that connect superficial and deep veins (perforating veins) no longer close properly, they may be ligated in different ways. If the skin surrounding varicose veins is severely damaged, a camera may be used, and with its help an incision is made away from the affected skin region. Such a procedure is technically more demanding and thus requires more time to carry out.

After the procedure has been completed, the leg is wrapped in elastic bandaging to reduce bleeding.

In laser and radio-frequency ablation treatments, the great and the small saphenous veins are not removed. The vein is closed off from inside by applying light energy from a laser or heat from a radio-frequency catheter. The way of accessing the vein is the same as in conventional surgery; however, such a procedure is less invasive, requires less recovery time and yields better cosmetic improvement.

Major surgeries usually require one-day hospitalisation. After the surgery, the patient stays at the Surgical centre over the night and, if there are no complications, they are given aftercare instructions and check out the next day. Having undergone a minor surgery under local anaesthesia, the patient is usually discharged from the hospital 6–12 hours after the procedure.

Patients are advised to bandage the leg treated or wear a compression stocking for two to four weeks, depending on the type of treatment. Full recovery, i.e. being able to continue your usual activities in the same way as before the procedure, is expected within four weeks.