Vein stripping is a surgical procedure used for the treatment of varicose veins. This is a more extensive procedure than phlebectomy and is used in treatment of larger surface veins. Under general anesthesia, all or part of the vein is tied off and pulled out. The legs are bandaged after the surgery, however, swelling, bruising, and pain can last from days to weeks. Vein stripping should be regarded as a procedure of the past. It carries higher risk, greater pain, greater disability, longer recovery, greater cost, and less effective results than minimally invasive procedures such as VNUS or EVLT. Vein stripping causes a lot more bruising and pain which results from tearing the side branch veins while the saphenous vein is pulled out.