Vascular Care Center of Salt Lake Microphlebectomy vericose veins

Microphlebectomy is the name of a surgical procedure used to remove dilated veins from under the skin using small (2 mm) incisions. This is done under local anesthesia and is not painful. This is the best approach for veins that are larger than about 3 mm in diameter. The most common use of microphlebectomy is to remove branches of the saphenous vein after we have closed the saphenous vein with either the VNUS device or a laser. Unlike some practices, we do this at the same operation as the major vein closure. This is almost always the best way to do the two procedures. It saves the patient time, money and pain, and there is no good reason not to do the two procedures at the same operation.

Other times, we remove veins that are not branches of the saphenous vein using microphlebectomy. There are other sources of varicose veins, such as perforating veins, that require ONLY microphlebectomy to remove. Or sometimes the varicose veins arise from a branch of the saphenous vein that is not large enough or straight enough to close with a catheter base technique.