Aftercare Instructions After Varicose Vein Treatment

These are general instructions for patients treated with EVLT , duplex-guided sclerotherapy or sclerotherapy at LEDAS. Your doctor may adjust them for you. Where your personal instructions differ, follow those.

What should I do on the day of treatment?

• Walk for a few minutes every hour or two while you are awake.
• When resting, raise your legs above heart level on pillows.
• Keep your compression stocking on as instructed.
• Drink water normally.
• Take pain relief only as advised by your doctor.

Why is walking so important after treatment?

Your calf muscles act as a pump. Each step squeezes the deep veins and pushes blood back toward the heart. After treatment, keeping that pump working helps prevent blood from pooling and lowers the risk of clots in the deep veins. It also eases the pulling sensation that is common after laser treatment.

LEDAS advises light walking for two to four weeks. That means regular, comfortable walks rather than long hikes or runs. Gentle ankle exercises, pointing and flexing your feet 10–20 times, are useful whenever you have to sit for a while, for example on a flight. See can I walk after treatment?

How do I wear and care for compression stockings?

Medical compression stockings apply the most pressure at the ankle, decreasing up the leg. After treatment they help treated veins narrow, reduce bruising and swelling, and support absorption of the closed veins.

• Wear them for the period and hours your doctor specifies.
• Smooth out wrinkles; folds can dig in and cause marks.
• Do not roll the top down; it creates a tight band.
• Wash by hand in lukewarm water and dry flat away from direct heat.

Practical tips are in our guide to choosing and wearing compression stockings .

What should I avoid, and for how long?

Heat

Avoid saunas, hot baths, hot springs and very hot showers for a while, because heat widens veins. Lukewarm showers are usually fine once your doctor allows the stocking to come off for washing.

Strain and immobility

Avoid heavy lifting and intense exercise at first, and avoid standing or sitting still for long periods. Build up exercise gradually; see when can I exercise again?

Long journeys

If you are flying home, wear your stockings, drink water, avoid alcohol and walk the aisle regularly. See flying after vein treatment .

What is normal during healing?

• Pulling pain along the treated vein for one to two weeks after laser treatment.
• Bruising that fades over two to three weeks.
• Firm, dark veins after injections; this is part of normal healing and fades over weeks to months.
• Brief chest heaviness or a dry cough right after foam sclerotherapy, which usually settles quickly.
• Mild ankle swelling in the evenings.

When should I call the clinic or seek urgent care?

Contact LEDAS (+82-70-4895-5086) if you have pain that keeps getting worse, increasing redness or warmth, discharge from a puncture site, fever, or numbness that does not improve.

Call emergency services immediately if you develop sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing blood, fainting, or sudden weakness, numbness or speech problems. Seek urgent care for a calf that becomes swollen, hot and painful. These may signal deep vein thrombosis or a pulmonary embolism.

What follow-up will I need?

You will be given a date for a check-up to confirm the treated veins have closed. After that, LEDAS recommends ultrasound every one to two years, or whenever overseas patients return to Korea, as part of its relapse prevention program .

Aftercare do's and don'ts

Aftercare – frequently asked questions