Prof. Dr. Ali Serdar Fak
Cardiac SurgeryVerified
- 29+years exp.
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Vascular Surgery
Varicose vein stripping
What varicose vein stripping is, how the faulty saphenous vein is tied off and removed, why guidelines now offer laser and radiofrequency first, who still needs open surgery, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, recovery by week, nerve and recurrence risks and how to check a clinic.
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Dr. Bülent İlçöl
Cardiac SurgeryVerified
- 25+years exp.
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Varicose vein stripping in Turkey: what is it and how does it work?
Varicose vein stripping is an open operation that removes the failing main superficial vein of the leg, usually the great saphenous vein, which runs from the groin down the inner thigh to the knee or ankle. In a healthy leg the valves inside this vein push blood upwards towards the heart. When the valves fail, blood falls back, pressure builds in the surface veins and they swell, twist and become visible. Stripping tackles the cause, the leaking trunk vein, rather than only the bulging branches. The surgeon ties off the vein where it joins the deep vein in the groin, threads a thin flexible wire down the vein and pulls the vein out through a small cut near the knee or ankle. Bulging side branches are usually removed through tiny punctures at the same sitting.
Today stripping is no longer the first choice for most people, because heat and foam treatments can close the same vein without removing it. It remains in use for very large or twisted veins, for veins that cannot be treated through a catheter, and in hospitals where surgery is the established method. This guide explains the operation, who needs it, the cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany, recovery, recurrence and risks.
Is vein stripping still recommended, or do laser and foam come first?
This is the question to settle before travelling. In England, the NICE guideline on varicose veins advises offering endothermal ablation first (laser or radiofrequency heat applied inside the vein), then ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy if that is unsuitable, and open surgery only when neither can be used. The reasons are less pain, a quicker return to normal life and similar closure rates. Open stripping is therefore a back-up option in many European health systems, not the default.
That does not make it obsolete. Some veins are too wide, too tortuous or too close to the skin for a catheter to pass safely, and some surgeons in Turkey still prefer a combined approach of tying off the groin junction and removing the trunk. If you have been offered stripping, ask whether endovenous laser ablation (see EVLA) was considered and why it was ruled out. A sound answer refers to your duplex scan, not to habit.
How do I know the vein needs treatment at all?
Not every varicose vein needs an operation. Treatment is usually advised when the veins cause aching, heaviness, swelling, itching, repeated superficial vein inflammation, skin changes such as brown staining or eczema, bleeding, or a leg ulcer. Purely cosmetic veins are treated more often with sclerotherapy. The deciding test is a duplex ultrasound performed standing or with the leg lowered, which shows which veins leak, how wide they are and where the leak begins. Without this scan nobody should recommend stripping, because the operation is planned from the map it provides.
Varicose vein stripping cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
These are approximate ranges for treating one leg, not quotes from any hospital. The final price depends on the type of anaesthesia, how many branch veins are removed, the length of stay and what the package covers.
| Country | Approximate cost range (one leg) |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €1,200 – €4,000 |
| United Kingdom | €3,000 – €7,000 |
| United States | €4,000 – €12,000 |
| Germany | €2,500 – €6,000 |
A package usually includes the duplex scan, blood tests, the operation, the anaesthetist, one night in hospital if needed, compression stockings, medication and airport transfers. Treating both legs, a stay of several nights or a pathology report on the removed vein will each add to the price. Ask for the list in writing, and ask whether a second scan before you fly is included.
Stripping, laser ablation or foam: which one suits which vein?
The three treatments solve the same problem in different ways. Stripping removes the vein; laser or radiofrequency heats the vein wall from inside until it seals; foam turns a sclerosant drug into a foam that irritates the lining and closes the vein. Read our guides to laser treatment for varicose veins and to varicose vein removal methods for the wider picture.
| Method | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Vein stripping with groin ligation | Very large, twisted or short-segment trunk veins; recurrences needing surgery | More bruising and a longer recovery; groin and nerve risks |
| Laser or radiofrequency ablation | Straight, moderately wide trunk veins | Not possible for very tortuous veins; heat can irritate nerves near the ankle |
| Ultrasound-guided foam | Smaller trunk veins, branches and recurrent veins | May need repeat sessions; slightly higher chance of re-opening |
What happens during varicose vein stripping, step by step?
Before surgery the surgeon marks the leaking vein on your skin using the duplex scan. The operation is carried out under general or spinal anaesthesia, and takes about 45 to 90 minutes per leg. A small cut in the groin crease exposes the junction, where the saphenous vein joins the femoral vein; the junction and its small tributaries are tied and divided to stop the vein refilling. A stripper wire is passed down the vein, a second small incision is made near the knee or ankle, and the vein is drawn out. Many surgeons strip only to the knee to lower the risk of damaging the nerve that runs alongside the lower vein.
The remaining bulging branches are removed through puncture holes of 2 to 3 mm (phlebectomy). Wounds are closed with stitches or adhesive strips, and the leg is bandaged firmly. Most people walk within hours and go home the same day or after one night.
How long is the recovery after varicose vein stripping?
Expect bruising from groin to ankle, tightness along the line of the removed vein and mild to moderate soreness for the first week. Compression stockings are worn day and night for the first few days, then by day for one to two weeks. Walk several times a day and keep the leg raised when sitting.
- Days 1 to 3: bandage on, short walks, bruising appears.
- Week 1: desk work is possible for many people after about a week; avoid long standing.
- Weeks 2 to 3: bruising fades; light exercise such as walking and swimming once wounds have healed.
- Weeks 4 to 6: running, gym work and heavy lifting if the surgeon agrees.
Plan to stay in Turkey for three to five nights so the surgeon can check the groin wound and the leg before you fly. A flight is usually fine after that, with regular walking and stockings.
What results should I expect, and can the veins come back?
When the leaking trunk is removed, the large bulging veins flatten over several weeks and aching and swelling often improve. Photographs taken after six to twelve weeks show smoother legs with faint scars at the groin, knee or ankle and tiny puncture marks. They do not show new veins that may appear later. Varicose veins are a chronic tendency, driven by inherited weak valve walls, pregnancy, long standing and age, so a person can develop new varicose veins elsewhere in the leg even after a technically perfect operation.
Recurrence has two common causes. In the groin, new fine veins can grow around the tied-off junction (neovascularisation), and incomplete removal of side branches can leave a route for blood to refill the surface. Be wary of any clinic that promises permanent results or says the veins cannot return.
Who is a good candidate, and who is not?
Good candidates have symptoms or skin changes linked to a leaking great or small saphenous vein shown on duplex scan, are fit for anaesthesia and can walk and wear stockings afterwards. Open surgery is chosen when the vein is unsuitable for catheter treatment. It is usually postponed or avoided if you have an active leg infection, a recent deep vein thrombosis, severe arterial disease in the leg, are pregnant, or take blood-thinning drugs that cannot be paused.
What are the risks and complications of vein stripping?
Bruising, swelling and tenderness are expected. Less common problems include wound infection, a collection of blood or lymph in the groin, numbness or tingling on the inner leg or foot from irritation of the saphenous nerve, thread veins appearing after surgery, and skin discolouration along the vein. Serious but rare complications include deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, injury to the femoral vein or artery, and anaesthetic reactions. The NHS notes that most people recover well and that complications are not common, but it advises discussing the specific risks with the surgeon. Moving early, wearing stockings and, for higher-risk patients, short-course anticoagulant injections all lower the clot risk.
How do I choose a surgeon and hospital for vein surgery, and what are the red flags?
Look for a cardiovascular or vascular surgeon (or a specialist in phlebology) in a licensed hospital with an anaesthetist and a duplex ultrasound unit. The same team should examine you, review the scan and explain why stripping rather than laser is recommended. Red flags include a quote given without a scan, promises of permanent cure, pressure to book in the same call, no named surgeon and no plan for follow-up. Read how our process works and see the cardiology treatments in Turkey overview. Questions worth asking:
- Which vein is leaking, and what does my duplex scan show?
- Why stripping rather than laser, radiofrequency or foam?
- Will the vein be removed to the knee or the ankle, and why?
- Which anaesthetic will be used and how long is the hospital stay?
- Is the post-operative scan and a follow-up call included in the price?
- What happens if a wound problem or clot is suspected after I fly home?
To request a written plan and price, use the free quote page: the hospital reviews your scan report and photos and replies in writing.
Hospitals with Cardiac Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
It is an open operation that ties off the great saphenous vein in the groin and pulls the leaking vein out through small cuts, so blood no longer refills the surface veins. Side branches are often removed through tiny punctures in the same procedure.
Yes, but less often. NICE advises heat treatment or foam first, with stripping kept for veins that are unsuitable for those methods, such as very wide or tortuous ones.
Approximate ranges are €1,200 to €4,000 per leg in Turkey, against about €3,000 to €7,000 in the UK. The price depends on the anaesthetic, the number of branches removed and the stay; the hospital confirms it in writing.
Many people return to desk work after about a week, wear stockings for one to two weeks and resume heavy exercise after four to six weeks if the surgeon agrees. Bruising can take several weeks to fade.
You are asleep or numbed during the operation. Afterwards expect soreness and tightness along the vein, usually controlled with simple painkillers and easing within one to two weeks.
Yes. New veins can grow near the groin or appear elsewhere in the leg, because the tendency to weak valves remains. A complete groin ligation lowers the chance, but no clinic can promise permanent results.
Both are generally safe in qualified hands. Stripping involves more bruising and a slightly higher risk of wound problems; laser usually has a quicker recovery. The right choice depends on the shape and size of your vein.
There is a small scar in the groin crease, one near the knee or ankle, and tiny puncture marks along the branches. They fade over several months in most people.
Usually yes after the surgeon has checked the wounds, typically three to five nights after surgery. Wear compression stockings, walk regularly and drink water during the flight.
Three to five nights is usual for one leg, which lets the surgeon check the groin wound and the leg before you travel. Both legs or other health issues may need a longer stay.
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