Development of Scarless Varicose Vein Surgery

Abstract

Stripping of the greater saphenous vein (GSV) through its ligation at the saphenofemoral junction, combined with multiple avulsions has been suggested to bring about the best outcome when primary varicose veins are in the distribution of the GSV. However, it has several disadvantages. Varicectomy may result in nerve injury, often with manifest postoperative pain and numbness. Although the scars of varicectomy or stab avulsion are small, the appearance of treated limbs tends to be damaged. In this paper, we describe that the calf saphenous vein can be preserved in GSV stripping, that concurrent varicectomy can be deferred in most of the patients undergoing GSV stripping, and that residual varicose veins can be treated by sclerotherapy. We also report the excellent preliminary result of our scarless varicose vein surgery using the InvisiGrip® vein stripper.