Vein surgery is the most effective way to deal with varicose veins, spider veins, and other veins problems. Recovery time from vein treatment depends on a number of factors, including the type of procedure and the severity of your vein problems.
In the “old days,” people with varicose veins had to check into the hospital for vein stripping, a surgical procedure that involves removal of the diseased vein. The procedure usually required patients to stay one or more nights in the hospital and face a long recovery process.
Today’s vein treatment is minimally invasive, requiring local anesthetic instead of general anesthesia. Vein doctors perform varicose vein treatment in outpatient vein clinics; patients recover comfortably at home.
Vein Doctor Discusses Recovery from Varicose Vein Treatment
Vein doctors perform a variety of vein treatment procedures for varicose veins, spider veins, and other vein problems. These treatments include microphlebectomy, which involves the removal of the diseased vein through tiny holes in your skin, sclerotherapy that involves the use of a chemical to irritate and close veins, and laser treatments.
There is no downtime associated with many of today’s vein treatment strategies: you can get up and walk around immediately after most vein treatments. In fact, walking around promotes circulation that speeds healing. The more you walk, the faster your body will heal from vein treatment.
With most procedures, you can return to your normal activities within 24 hours. Depending on the procedure and the severity of your vein problems, your vein doctor may recommend that you avoid strenuous activity for a few days.
While you can get up and walk around immediately after vein treatment, your treated veins will continue to recover for several weeks. Sclerotherapy and laser treatments work by irritating the diseased vein, which causes the vein to swell closed. In time, the body routes blood through other veins. The treated vein breaks apart; nearby tissue absorbs the remnants of the vein. This phase of the recovery period will take several weeks.
During the extended recovery phase, your vein doctor will recommend that you wear compression hose until the treatment area has healed completely. Compression stockings are very tight, so they squeeze blood up and out of the treated veins to improve circulation and prevent blood clotting.
Certain factors, such as the number of veins treated per session, the severity of your vein problems, and your overall vein health, can affect the length of your recovery.
For more information about recovery from vein treatments, make an appointment with your vein doctor. During your appointment, you can also learn more about improving your vein health and preventing vein problems in the future.