You will need to take it easy at home for 3 to 7 days after the surgery. How long it takes for you to recover depends on how many veins were removed. After surgery, problems caused by the varicose veins may go away. Removing varicose veins usually doesn't cause circulation problems.
While vein surgery is a simple laser procedure that doesn't require hospitalization or general anesthesia, strenuous activity like high-impact aerobics, heavy weight training and Pilates should be avoided for at least the first week. Most people can resume walking right away and for at least 30 minutes a day.
Don't rush into exercise after your surgery. Take it slow to make sure that incisions don't open up and that blood flow returns to normal. There is no showering or bathing, at all, for at least two days after your surgery. You can take a sponge bath, as long as you avoid the incisions.
Your leg may feel stiff or sore for the first 1 to 2 weeks. Your doctor will give you pain medicine for this. You can expect your leg to be very bruised at first. This is a normal part of recovery and may last 2 to 3 weeks.
Each of these treatments is virtually painless. This is because veins have no nerve endings. The only sensation a patient typically feels is the poke of the tiny needle used to administer local anesthetic.
Surgery can very effectively relieve varicose vein symptoms: In more than 80% of people who have varicose vein surgery, it improves symptoms like pain, swelling and itching or makes them go away completely, and their legs look better afterwards.
This is minor surgery in which your varicose veins are removed through small incisions, under a local anaesthetic. It can be done in a day clinic and you can go back to work the next day. You may need to wear compression stockings, depending on the extent of veins removed.
When can I drive? The important thing is to be able to drive as safely following your operation as you did before it. You should certainly not drive for 48 hours after a general anaesthetic and I would recommend you not to drive for the first week while you have your bandage on.
The standard practice of the Veins Unit is to advise patients to wear class two compression stockings for four weeks post-operatively.
After the first 24 to 48 hours, you can take a hot shower (as long as the water isn't too hot), but until the surgical wound has completely healed, you'll have to avoid baths and swimming.
After our procedures, we ask that the patient refrain from heavy exercise such as jogging, jumping and heavy weight-lifting, but they should resume their normal activities. We want them walking, climbing stairs, doing their normal occupation and performing light cardio exercises.
Following EVLA treatment, we advise that you do not drive yourself anywhere until the following day. This is due to the local anaesthesia used to numb your skin during the procedure. Driving on the following day is perfectly fine, of course.
In general, 95%-100% of varicose vein conditions are eliminated following a single treatment. Sometimes patients choose to use injections esthetic reasons only, to hide small blue, red, or green veins that may appear 2-3 months after a laser or phlebectomy treatment.
The treatment
Varicose vein surgery is performed under general anaesthetic. A tiny needle is placed in the back of your hand. The anaesthetic is injected through the needle and you will be asleep within a few seconds.
Many patients experience excellent results from surgical procedures to get rid of many varicose veins, but sometimes varicose veins do reoccur. Up to 60 percent of patients may have their varicose veins return after treatment (ii) and this can be frustrating.
Higher risk for DVT at 30 days was associated with peripheral artery disease and concomitant stab phlebectomy. The risk for DVT after varicose vein treatment is generally thought to be quite low, as many studies have reported rates less than 1%.3,4,12.
Leaving varicose veins untreated can lead to skin ulcers from small cuts or minor wounds that refuse to heal. The area will swell, and the tension from the veins prevents the swelling from receding. In order to treat the veins, you'll have to first treat the swelling.
According to our own research and CHOICE Magazine, the average out of pocket cost for Endovenous Laser Ablation in Australia is between $2,500 and $4,000 per treatment, whilst vein stripping is around $2,000 (plus hospital and anaesthetic costs).
The two most popular procedures that are also the most effective include Sclerotherapy and Saphenous Vein Ablation.
Usually used to treat spider or small varicose veins, sclerotherapy and microsclerotherapy involve injecting a chemical into the vein that creates scarring, causing the treated vein to close and eventually fade. Laser surgery is completely non-invasive and uses a medical laser to cause the vein to fade.
The resulting twisted blue bulges, known as varicose veins, may cause your legs to feel heavy, tired or achy and make you feel self-conscious about their unsightly appearance, but they don't pose a major health threat. In general, ropy veins are not directly related to heart trouble.