Fast from midnight or at least six hours before surgery. You can drink clear drinks up to two hours before varicose vein surgery. Do not smoke operation day. Take a shower in the morning and wash with regular soap. Do not use cream on your feet. It is a clever idea to buy elastic knee-high socks that you can use for two weeks after surgery during daytime. You will receive bandages on your legs after varicose vein surgery which are quite bulky. It is therefore good to wear soft, wide trousers and shoes that are roomy and easy to put on and take off.

You take a regular painkiller (paracetamol 1.5 grams or similar) before you leave home. You will receive sedatives and painkillers during the operation and therefore you cannot drive a car on the day of the operation.

All varicose veins and spider veins are marked with a pen and an ultrasound scan is performed. During the procedure, a local anesthetic is applied, which you may feel like a small needle stick. It takes a brief time to apply the anesthesia (3 to 5 minutes) and after that you should not feel any pain.

The procedure takes about one to two hours, depending on how much needs to be done. After the operation, bandages are applied that are wrapped tightly. These dressings are kept on for 48 hours after surgery. Half an hour to an hour after the operation, you go back home, but before that you get a light meal.

Reykjavík Venous Center uses a state-of-the-art laser (ELVeS Radial 2ring™), which is internationally recognized as one of the best. The varicose vein operation is performed under local anesthesia and general anesthesia is not required when the procedure is performed in this way. It is an endovascular operation, which means that the vein is not opened in the usual way, but instead it is treated with the laser that is inserted into the vein and positioned so that only the part of the vein that is with reflux is treated. The vein is closed with this technique and is no longer visible on ultrasound after a few months.

The varicose veins are removed after the laser treatment. A needle hole (1.0-1.2 mm) is made in the skin and varicose veins are caught with a tool that looks like a hook. Little or no scars will be visible.

The need for medication after treatment is unusual. Two weeks after varicose vein surgery, you may feel a slight pain in the area where the laser treatment was performed. There is nothing dangerous and it is enough to take regular painkillers if necessary. Bruising of the skin where the varicose veins were will disappear in a few days or weeks.

After varicose vein surgery, it is important not to just lie down when you get home. Blood clots after varicose vein surgery are extremely rare. By staying active, you reduce the chance of blood clots.

Bandages are removed 48 hours after the operation. It is best to take a shower and remove all bandages in the shower. Then put on the elastic sock. The elastic sock should be worn every day for the next two weeks (it is okay to wear it longer) during daytime. Where varicose veins have been removed, there will be small holes and bruises. These small holes may be visible for months after surgery.

You can start exercising after the bandage is removed but remember to use the elastic sock for the first two weeks. Do not go swimming or use the bathtub for the first two weeks after surgery. Postoperative pain is rare and pain medication is rarely needed.

If you have pain, it is good to take regular painkillers, e.g., paracetamol 500 mg, two tablets three times a day.