In the past, and to this day, many surgeons still perform vein surgery on varicose veins, namely 'vein stripping'. In the majority of cases, it is performed under general anesthesia; a surgical incision is made in the groin area as well as below the knee. The vein is removed from the leg. This may be accompanied by many tiny incisions overlying the lower leg thus removing surgically the smaller veins. There is always a possibility of nerve injury as the nerve to the skin runs very close to the vein. In addition, post surgical 'downtime; may extend up to 10 days with possible bruising and achiness. Patients are left with surgical scars, possibility of nerve injury as well as significant downtime. Later, laser energy (endovenous laser therapy) and radiofrequency energy was used to 'zap' or ablate the main vein of the leg that is contributing to the reflux and varicose veins. There are numerous reported disadvantages, namely the use of high energy with the possibility of skin burns or nerve damage, recurrence or 'opening up' of the treated vein and the use of catheters and probes, making those choices more invasive.