Varicose veins are a condition where superficial veins have become enlarged. Veins have valves to prevent blood from flowing backwards. When the valves do not function, blood flows backwards and the veins enlarge even more. Varicose veins are most common in the superficial veins of the lower limbs, especially the calf and the thigh.

Because so often varicose veins do not cause pain, one can easily overlook it. However, as blood does not circulate properly in the veins of the lower limbs, venous pressure will increase, and varicose veins will become more severe. As time passes, the skin around the varicose veins and soft tissue may be affected. In addition these conditions may follow: edema, skin discoloration, stasis dermatitis, recurrent or chronic cellulitis, thrombophlebitis, skin ulceration and bleeding from varicose veins.

It is very important to obtain an accurate diagnosis before an operation for varicose veins. In most cases, varicose veins can be easily diagnosed by examining symptoms as well as the blood vessels of the legs. However, as treatment of varicose veins relates to important blood vessels, performing safe and effective treatment requires detailed information on deep veins, perforating veins, communicating veins, the insufficient function of superficial veins and arrhythmia.

A duplex ultrasound exam enables accurate anatomical analysis by confirming the place and shape of the blood vessels. We can analyze the amount, direction and speed of blood flow and detect the blood reflux of veins, which is main cause of varicose veins. The success of the treatment of varicose veins is totally dependent on detection of the blood reflux.

Fasting is required at least six hours before the operation. If your operation is scheduled in the morning, please do not take any food or water after midnight the night before. For an afternoon operation, you may have a light breakfast at about seven o’clock in the morning; but please do not consume any food or water after that.

Please let us know if you are on any medications. It is allowed to take antihypertensives. However, please stop taking diabetics medicine from the evening of the day before operation, aspirin from one week before, and anticoagulants three days before the operation.

Bathing is not allowed for three to seven days after the operation, depending on the result of the operation. Therefore, please bathe before the operation and do not apply any lotion or oil to your body. Please also shave the area of the leg which will be operated on.

Some tests such as blood test, urine test, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray are carried out before the operation.

1) Anesthesia
Spinal anesthesia is administered as it lasts for over six hours. Local anesthesia is administered if the condition is not severe.

2) Position
Operation is performed in supine or prone position, depending on the affected area.

3) Operation time
Varicose veins usually occur only on one leg. But generally both legs are operated on. At GIBBEUM Hospital, we operate only on the affected leg. The operation takes 40-60 minutes, depending on the affected area and the severity of the condition.

4) Method of operation
The operation is performed using Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT). This method uses a laser to destroy the inner walls of the blood vessels directly. 1-2mm of laser fiber is put into the veins. The inner walls of the vessels are injured and the thickness of the veins becomes reduced. The blood reflux of the veins is then obstructed. This is different from the existing method of treatment. The advantages of this method are that the operation does not leave a scar, does not require a hospital stay and allows patients to resume a normal life.

If required, the operation and sclerotherapy are used simultaneously.

Sclerotherapy works by injecting sclerosing agents to enlarged blood vessels in the veins or to blood vessels causing varicose veins. This method is mainly used to treat varicose veins which are not severe or for varicose veins under the knees. The therapy is given three to five times, depending on the severity of the varicose veins. It is used on its own or in addition to EVLT.

1) Will I feel any pain?
With the help of a painkiller, you will feel virtually no pain and can resume normal life.

2) Will I need a hospital stay?
With just a bit of rest after the operation, you may leave the hospital on the day of the operation. Elderly patients and those suffering from blood vessel illnesses may require one night stay before being discharged from the Hospital.

3) Follow-up
Attached materials

Laser treatment – one leg	US $ 910	Two days’ hospital stay
Laser treatment – both legs	US $ 1,640	Two days’ hospital stay
Sclerotherapy – one leg	US $ 460	Day surgery clinic
Sclerotherapy – two legs	US $ 730

The above costs are estimations only. The actual costs may vary.
If you undergo an ultrasound test, additional costs will be added.
If you select a higher class of hospital room, additional costs will be added.
When you get a surgery in our hospital, the cost will be much lower than that in the States even if air travel cost is included. So come and get it. You'll be greatly benefitted.

With the latest duplex ultrasound equipment, GIBBEUM Hospital accurately diagnoses and determines the most suitable treatment. Operations are performed with state of the art laser equipment and sclerotherapy, and removal of varicose veins is carried out according to the patient’s condition.

Operations are carried out according to the patient’s condition leaving only a minimal scar. This gives patients great satisfaction and enables them to resume normal life on the day of the operation. A scar of only 2-3 mm in size remains where the varicose veins have been removed. In time, the scar will fade and will become virtually invisible to the eye. For very thick varicose veins, a slightly bigger scar may remain after the operation.

If blood reflux occurs in veins treated with laser treatment, there may be a case for recurrence of varicose veins. Recurrence rate, however, is very rare at GIBBEUM Hospital - it’s at around 1%! Reflux occurring in veins that are not operated on is a sign of a new condition rather than recurrence.

As such, at GIBBEUM Hospital we boast very low recurrence rate.

At Varicose Veins Clinic of GIBBEUM Hospital, our professionally trained surgeons perform operations using the latest medical technology and equipment with minimum costs to patients.

Come and see what we can do for you to relieve your conditions.

Please call us at 822-570-1234 to make an appointment between 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Our staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Or you may make an appointment online. Visit us at www.GIBBEUMhospital.com

Come and see what we can do for you for your health.