Mini Phlebectomy

Venous insufficiency is a considerably common disease in the legs. It is more common in older ages, women, and overweight people. If the valves in the vein system in the legs get destroyed and become dysfunctional, the blood flows backward from top to bottom, namely, the opposite of normal flow. This condition is called "venous insufficiency" or "venous reflux."

The amount of blood and pressure increase in the superficial vein, side branches become noticeable, and thus varicose veins occur. The microsurgery or "mini phlebectomy"  treatment method for varicose veins is the surgical removal of varicose veins, which look bulging and twisting on the skin surface, through tiny skin incisions. Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlker Kiriş successfully applies the mini phlebectomy treatment method in line with high aesthetic standards in the province of İzmir.

Venous insufficiency adversely affects the patients' quality of life, causing complaints such as aching and swollen legs due to blood circulation disorder. Also, the poor appearance caused by varicose veins accompanying venous insufficiency adversely affects the patients' psychology. In the mini phlebectomy method, swollen and noticeable varicose veins are surgically removed from the skin with the least amount of scars, resulting in aesthetically beautiful results.

Development of Mini Phlebectomy Treatment Method

This pretty effective treatment method is selected for the treatment of swollen varicose veins on the skin, which are larger than 2 millimeters in diameter and which develop as a result of venous insufficiency. The 'phlebectomy' operation, which was first described centuries ago by Aulus Cornelius Celsus, is the oldest varicose veins treatment method. It is the surgical removal of swollen varicose veins on the skin, turning into pouches. The disadvantage of the phlebectomy method, used in the old times, is that the skin incisions are relatively large and that it leaves noticeable scars after the operation due to the stitches put in to close these incisions at the end of the surgery. Therefore, it creates a problem, especially in cosmetic terms. This varicose treatment method, been applied for centuries, is still used along with some changes today.

Robert Müller, a Swiss physician, revised the 'phlebectomy' surgery, which started to be called "mini phlebectomy" or "ambulatory phlebectomy" in 1966. Small incisions are created on the skin after numbing only the region to be treated, that is, by "local anesthesia." Varicose veins are removed from these small incisions and taken out. In the current mini phlebectomy method, some developments have been obtained in terms of the surgical technique and instruments used. Thus, after the surgical removal of varicose veins, nearly no scar is left on the skin, and almost perfect aesthetic results are obtained.   

How is the New Generation Mini Phlebectomy Applied?

• The varicose veins on the legs are marked with a special pen before the operation, while the patient is standing.
  
  
• The patient is placed on the operating table in a suitable position. "Local anesthesia" is applied only to numb the region encompassing the varicose veins to be removed. Since the anesthesia procedure is local, the patient does not lose consciousness. This anesthesia procedure takes a short time without creating any side effects. The injection during this anesthesia procedure helps separate varicose veins from the skin and remove them more easily.
  
  
• Incisions of 1 - 3 millimeters in size are made on the skin, through which the varicose veins will be removed. Varicose veins are removed from these incisions using special surgical micro hooks and taken out.
  
  
• The tiny incisions made on the skin are not stitched, merely the tops are covered with small surgical bands. Thus, it is ensured that there are no scars.

During the mini phlebectomy procedure, sterilized ultrasonography is made available in the surgical field as well. The ultrasonography device allows spotting the exact location of varicose veins under the skin, and it is difficult to reach them through tiny incisions. Performing the mini phlebectomy treatment method with ultrasonography enables the complete removal of varicose veins.

This whole process is painless and takes approximately one hour. an elastic bandage is wrapped around the processed leg after the procedure. The patient can walk immediately and, after some rest, he/she can be discharged. It is advisable to dress the operated region for one to two days. The patient can return to routine daily activities and work within a few days.

Recovery in a Short Time

The most practical method among varicose treatment methods is mini phlebectomy. Although foam sclerotherapy method is used for varicose veins, it poses a risk of dark scars on some skin types. Also, when foam is delivered into large varicose veins, the drug causes clot formation when it comes into contact with blood. In this case, pain and palpable mass are observed in the treated regions. As a result, the mini phlebectomy method is a good alternative to the foam sclerotherapy method in the treatment of bulging and large varicose veins.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlker Kiriş is highly experienced in the treatment of varicose veins with the microsurgery or mini phlebectomy method, and he provides high-level aesthetic results. If you also suffer bulging and noticeable varicose veins, you can get opinion from Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlker Kiriş.