What comes to your mind when you hear surgery? Most of us think about operating rooms, a lot of doctors and expensive fees. Actually, surgery can also be performed even for small concerns in the arm. Let’s take a look at this option.

Medical Problem

About 4 years ago, I noticed a small bump in my right arm. It was in the vein, the greenish color vein that you see on the underside of the arm. The bump was very small and disappears when I reposition my hand (raise up).

However, there came a time when it got swollen in a matter of hours. I didn’t know what the cause was but I got worried. I consulted a surgeon and told me it was a blood clot.

Preparation for Surgery

I was advised to get an ultrasound for proper imaging and preparation. The price of the ultrasound was not my main concern but the surgery. After all, I paid only Php 900 for the procedure. You see, I haven’t had any surgeries before so I didn’t know what to expect.

Honestly, I got scared, thinking about confinement, doctors and surgery room instruments. Fortunately, the doctor told me it was going to be a day- surgery, meaning I could go home as soon as he is finished.

How Long Did It Last

The whole procedure lasted only 30 minutes. We were in a surgery room but there were only the three of us. Me, the surgeon and a nurse. The process is really quick. He administered anesthesia and we waited for 10 minutes.

When I confirmed that I no longer felt anything on my arm, he went on to slice 1 centimeter in my arm. In a few seconds, the blood clot was located and removed.

He applied antiseptic (Betadine) and stitched the small cut. A gauze was applied and that’s it. Done. Overall the procedure only took 15 minutes.

Price of Blood Clot Surgery

I went to a private hospital inside a mall which I expect to be expensive. It is the most accessible to my location. The price of surgery to remove the blood clot was Php 5,000.

It included the surgeon’s free operating room and consumables (anesthesia, cotton, antiseptic, gauze pad). I didn’t have a health card back then so I had to pay cash. Philhealth was also not used for the procedure.

Results and Recovery

The doctor advised me to come back after two weeks or when the wound completely healed up. The threads had to be removed for complete recovery of the skin tissues. Was it painful? Not at all.

I thought droplets of blood would come out but there was none. He gently pulled the thread and it felt ticklish. It took him only 10 seconds to complete the process. I was not billed for the service anymore.