Endovenous Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins (one leg) in Barcelona

Endovenous laser treatment for varicose veins involves inserting a thin laser fibre into the affected vein. The heat generated by the laser allows the vein to be closed off without the need for removal and with minimal tissue damage. 

The procedure typically lasts around one hour, depending on whether one or both legs are treated and the severity of the condition.

This procedure, also known as endovenous ablation, uses laser energy to cauterise and close off varicose veins in the legs.

Key reasons for undergoing Varicose Vein Surgery

• Aesthetic concerns: While spider veins may already be distressing for cosmetic reasons, large varicose veins are even more visually prominent. Many patients seek treatment to improve the appearance of their legs. However, it is often the associated discomfort and swelling that drive the decision to proceed, as they significantly affect quality of life.
• Symptoms: These include pain upon light contact, night-time cramps that interrupt sleep, tingling when inactive, and swelling in the feet and ankles.
• Preventing complications: Such as deep vein thrombophlebitis (formation of blood clots), varicorrhagia (bleeding following minor injury to the vein), or venous ulcers, which are prone to infection and often appear around the ankles.

These are compelling reasons to undergo varicose vein surgery, regardless of the chosen method. However, the benefits of endovenous laser surgery make it a particularly appealing option.

Benefits of Laser Varicose Vein Surgery

The main goal of any varicose vein procedure — laser or conventional — is to eliminate the symptoms and prevent further complications. However, laser treatment offers additional advantages:

• Both legs can be treated in a single session: Unlike conventional saphenectomy, endovenous laser surgery allows simultaneous treatment of both legs.
• Outpatient procedure: Performed under local anaesthesia, this minimally invasive surgery allows you to return home shortly after the procedure — walking out on your own.
• Quick return to work: Most patients resume daily activities or return to work within 24 to 48 hours.
• Short recovery period: While results are immediate, full recovery is typically achieved within a week.
• Minimal pain or discomfort: As the affected vein is closed rather than removed, postoperative discomfort is significantly reduced.

First and foremost, you need to request a surgical assessment consultation with the Dr. José María Fuentes Pérez through our website.

You can do this by calling at +34 91 141 33 56, using our contact form, or by simply clicking on the "Request Appointment" button in the image below:

Get your surgery date to eliminate your varicose veins

Request now a free consultation with our specialists in Vascular Surgery in Barcelona.

Make an appointment

Once your appointment has been requested, our Patient Service Team will get in touch with you to welcome you, address any additional questions you may have, and confirm that the date and time of the appointment suit your needs.
Of course, you are welcome to contact us before booking the appointment if you have any questions.

After scheduling the appointment, you will receive an email with all the relevant information about your consultation, including the date, time, address, and more. 

If you are unable to attend or encounter any issues, please contact our Patient Service Team — they will assist you throughout the entire process and help manage any unforeseen circumstances.

On the day of your appointment, you must go to the address indicated on the medical voucher, bringing any medical records you may have so that the the Dr. José María Fuentes Pérez can review them during the consultation.

In the case of varicose veins, it is necessary for the doctor to perform an Eco-Doppler scan during the consultation to determine the exact points where the problem is located and to know how to carry out the surgery precisely.

As previously mentioned, this is an essential test to determine surgical indication, as well as to plan the surgical intervention itself. You can purchase your Eco-Doppler test via the following link, or if you prefer, you can resolve any doubts or request assistance by contacting our Patient Service team here.

An Eco-Doppler is a type of ultrasound scan that studies the blood flow through the veins and arteries, allowing its volume, speed, and consistency to be known.

In addition to the above, during the consultation the specialist will explain what the surgery will involve and address any questions you may have.

After the consultation, our Patient Service Team will get in touch with you and, if you decide to proceed with the procedure, all the necessary arrangements for the surgery will be initiated.

Usually, the time between the consultation and the surgery is around 7 to 10 days, depending on the availability of the operating theatre.

In the case of laser varicose vein surgery, as it is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure, there is no need for preoperative testing.

On the day of your surgery, you will go to the Clínica Ntra. Sra. del Remei with the required documentation. Don’t worry — your personal Patient Service Advisor will have informed you of everything you need to bring, which you’ll need to hand in at admissions.

Once you’ve identified yourself and submitted your documents, you’ll be taken to a waiting area for a short time before being called into a pre-operative room where you’ll be given your surgical clothing.

In the operating room, you will meet the specialist and a member of the nursing team who will assist the surgeon during the procedure.

The specialist will explain how to position yourself on the surgical table, and then the procedure will begin:

1. Initially, the anaesthetist will administer local anaesthesia to the leg by giving a series of small injections in the area. Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, the surgical procedure will begin.
2. After confirming that the anaesthesia is working, the surgeon will make a small incision at the top of the leg, near the groin, to access the affected vein. This incision is minimal — just a few millimetres — and only as large as necessary to introduce a fine laser fibre, which will be used to treat the problem.
3. Through this incision, the laser fibre is inserted into the vein and guided to the section that has become enlarged, forming the varicose vein.
4. Once the fibre is in place, the surgeon will activate the laser. The heat it emits will cause the vein to collapse and contract, effectively sealing it shut. Over time, the vein will gradually disappear. There’s no need for concern — the blood will naturally reroute through the remaining healthy veins in the area, thereby eliminating the pooling that caused the varicose vein and alleviating the symptoms.
5. It’s worth noting the laser’s ability to work in reverse — that is, the surgeon inserts the fibre to the far end of the vein and then treats it while withdrawing the fibre. This allows for greater precision and prevents the fibre from becoming lodged.
6. Once the varicose vein has been successfully treated, the surgeon will remove the fibre through the same incision. If necessary, a stitch may be placed at the incision site, although this is not usually required.
7. If the surgery is being carried out on both legs, the second leg will be treated immediately after the first.

The type of anaesthesia used for varicose vein surgery is generally local.

As for the duration of the procedure, it varies depending on whether one or both legs are being treated, as well as the severity of the condition. 

Typically, the surgery lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, although this may vary slightly.

After the surgery, you can walk home unaided. In fact, it is important that you walk for at least 30 minutes to reactivate circulation. You may spend some time at the hospital before leaving, but this won’t be long, thanks to the use of local anaesthesia and minimal discomfort.

Before leaving the hospital, you will likely be given a date for a follow-up appointment to review your progress.

Once at home, you can return to work after one or two days without any issues, achieving full recovery within a week.

A week after varicose vein surgery, most patients are fully recovered.

It is advisable to take several 20 to 30-minute walks over the following weeks, in addition to wearing compression stockings.

The price of endovenous laser varicose vein surgery in Barcelona is 2.990 €. 

It is an all-inclusive fixed price, meaning it covers everything necessary to carry out the surgery with the highest possible safety, further guaranteed by the quality of the Dr. José María Fuentes Pérez and the expertise of the specialist.

This price includes:

• Operating theatre reservation and use
• Postoperative visits
• Medical fees
• Anaesthetist fees
• Nursing team fees
• Surgical materials required for the procedure, including laser.
• Anaesthesia and recovery room reservation
• Medical complication insurance, which covers any unlikely eventualities

Regarding the Eco-Doppler test, as mentioned in the previous sections, it must be purchased on the website before the day of your appointment with the specialist, since undergoing this test is essential for the surgical assessment consultation for endovenous laser varicose vein surgery on one leg.

If you would like more information about this surgery or how Operarme.es works, please do not hesitate to contact us via our contact form, by calling at +34 91 141 33 56, or by requesting a free surgical assessment consultation with our specialists in Barcelona at the Dr. José María Fuentes Pérez by clicking below: