The aim of this study was to assess early hemodynamic improvement after a stripping operation or saphenofemoral ligation by means of air plethysmography. This prospective study assessed 109 limbs of 71 patients treated between May 2000 and December 2001 for primary varicose veins due to greater saphenous insufficiency. Eighty-nine limbs were treated by stripping surgery (stripping group), and 20 limbs were treated with saphenofemoral ligation (saphenofemoral ligation group). To evaluate venous hemodynamic changes, air plethysmography was performed before surgery and 7-14 days after surgery. A significant decrease and normalization of the venous filling index and residual volume function was observed in the two groups. A decrease in venous volume was observed in the ligation group, but the change was not statistically significant. In contrast, a significant decrease in venous volume was observed in the stripping group. The ejection fraction was not improved in either of the groups. From these results we conclude that hydrostatic forces can be controlled by means of a stripping operation as well as by saphenofemoral ligation in the early postoperative period.