Treatments · Conservative care
Medical Compression Stockings for Varicose Veins
Quick answer: Medical compression stockings are medical devices that squeeze the leg most at the ankle and progressively less higher up, helping blood flow back toward the heart. For varicose veins they relieve symptoms, may slow progression and support healing after treatment. They do not repair faulty vein valves, so LEDAS uses them as supportive care, not as the main treatment.
Key facts at a glance
- Definition: a medical device applying graduated compression, tightest at the ankle and decreasing up the leg.
- Not the same as fashion or "slimming" stockings, which do not provide controlled, graduated pressure.
- Uses: symptom relief, slowing progression, after-treatment support and DVT prevention on long flights.
- Who benefits: pregnant women, people who cannot have timely treatment, travelers and patients after treatment.
- Limit: supportive (conservative) care; they do not cure varicose veins.
- At LEDAS: nurses fit stockings and train you to wear them before discharge.
What are medical compression stockings?
Medical compression stockings are elastic garments made to apply a specific, graduated pressure to the leg. The pressure is highest at the ankle and becomes gradually lower toward the knee or thigh. This gradient helps push blood upward against gravity, supporting the work normally done by vein valves and the calf muscle pump.
They are different from ordinary support tights or cosmetic "slimming" stockings. Those may feel tight, but they are not designed to deliver a measured pressure gradient, and some can even squeeze more at the top than at the ankle.
How do compression stockings help varicose veins?
In varicose veins , failing valves let blood flow backward and pool in the lower leg. This raises pressure in the veins and causes heaviness, aching, swelling and night cramps. Compression stockings:
- Narrow the widened veins slightly, so valves close better.
- Speed up blood flow in the deep veins.
- Reduce fluid leaking into tissues, easing ankle swelling.
- Relieve heaviness and fatigue, especially at the end of the day.
Can compression stockings cure varicose veins?
No. Stockings act only while you are wearing them. When you take them off, the faulty valves are exactly as they were. LEDAS describes medical compression stockings as a conservative treatment: they relieve symptoms and can slow progression, and they can make the main treatment more effective, but they are not a main treatment in themselves. If you suspect varicose veins, it is worth having a specialist check with ultrasound rather than relying on stockings alone. Read more in do compression stockings cure varicose veins? and compression stockings vs treatment .
When are compression stockings recommended?
After vein treatment
After laser treatment or sclerotherapy, stockings help treated vessels narrow and be absorbed, and they reduce bruising. At LEDAS, stocking fitting and training is a standard step before discharge.
During pregnancy
Pregnancy increases blood volume and hormones relax vein walls. Treatment is usually postponed until after delivery, so stockings are a practical way to ease symptoms. See varicose veins in pregnancy .
On long flights
Sitting still for hours raises the risk of deep vein thrombosis, sometimes called "economy class syndrome." Stockings, together with walking and hydration, help reduce that risk. See long-haul flights and DVT prevention .
When treatment must wait
If you cannot have treatment soon, for health, timing or travel reasons, stockings can control symptoms in the meantime.
Who should not wear compression stockings?
Compression is not right for everyone. Check with a doctor before wearing them if you have poor arterial circulation in the legs (peripheral arterial disease), significant nerve damage or numbness in the feet (for example from diabetes), fragile or infected skin, or heart failure with leg swelling. See varicose veins and diabetes .
How do I choose the right stockings?
Fit matters more than brand. Stockings come in different lengths (knee-high, thigh-high, tights) and pressure levels, and they must be sized to your measured leg. A poorly fitting stocking is uncomfortable and can do more harm than good. Our guide to choosing and wearing compression stockings walks you through sizing, putting them on and caring for them.
What compression stockings can and cannot do
| Situation | Role of stockings | What else is needed |
|---|---|---|
| Symptomatic varicose veins | Relieve heaviness, aching, swelling | Ultrasound and treatment of reflux |
| After EVLT or sclerotherapy | Help veins close and be absorbed; reduce bruising | Walking, follow-up |
| Pregnancy | Main symptom control until after delivery | Assessment after pregnancy |
| Long-haul flights | Lower DVT risk | Aisle walks, water, ankle exercises |
| Cure of faulty valves | Not possible | Closure of refluxing veins |
Medical compression stockings – frequently asked questions
Do I need a prescription for medical compression stockings?
Rules vary by country; some stockings are sold over the counter while higher pressures may require a medical recommendation. Either way, it is wise to have your legs examined first, both to confirm stockings are safe for you and to find out whether an underlying vein problem needs treatment.
Should I wear compression stockings at night?
Generally no, unless your doctor specifically tells you to, for example in the first period after treatment. When you lie down, gravity no longer pulls blood into your legs, so compression is less needed. Follow the schedule you are given after treatment.
Are compression stockings useful for people who stand all day?
Yes. People whose jobs involve long hours of standing or sitting often find stockings reduce evening heaviness and swelling. They work best combined with regular movement and breaks. If symptoms persist, have a vein check. See leg health for office workers.
Will LEDAS provide stockings after treatment?
Stocking fitting and training are part of the LEDAS treatment day: nurses show you how to put them on, how long to wear them and how to care for them before you are discharged. Ask the coordinator what is included in your treatment fee.
About this page
Clinical information:
LEDAS Varicose Vein Clinic, led by
Dr. Kim Byoung Joon , thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon, founding member of the Korean Society for Phlebology.
Medical reviewer:
Dr. Kim Byoung Joon ·
Review status:
Pending ·
Last updated:
October 2026
This page is general information and not a diagnosis. Treatment is decided only after an in-person examination. Read our
editorial policy .
Related: Choosing & wearing stockings · Stockings vs treatment · Do stockings cure? · Aftercare · Leg care in pregnancy
Stockings ease symptoms; an ultrasound finds the cause
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