The numbing works almost immediately. Next, he makes tiny incisions no bigger than a pencil dot and inserts a small hook that pulls up and removes vein sections. Each vein is is then clamped and the tiny incissions are stitched or bandaged. The patient elevates the leg for the rest of the day and keeps it wrapped and dry for the rest of the week, untill returning to have stitches or bandages removed. It usually leaves no lasting scars, except for possible tiny pin-like red dots, which fade gradually.
Blood reroutes itself into other healthy veins of teh leg's deeper vein system.
Seiger leaves healthy parts of the veins in case patients need them later for heart bypass surgery. A coupe of times i felt a little sharpness, that's all. And I felt a lot of pulling. He was back at work the next day, and except for some leg bruises, his recovery went smoothly, he reported a week later. And patients with high blood pressure, diabetes or severe medical problems aren't candidates, he says.