Thanks to advanced treatments, you can now get rid of spider veins without surgery. However, proper aftercare is necessary to ensure that your treatment will yield the best results. For the most part, after-sclerotherapy compression stockings can be a big help if they are used properly.
In this post, we’ll give you a quick glimpse on how compression stockings work and how it can do wonders on your spider vein treatment aftercare. Keep reading to know more!
Do compression stockings help spider veins after treatment?
In general, compression stockings are effective in boosting the circulation on your legs. This is regardless if you’re recovering from spider vein treatments or using it as a preventive regimen.
By wearing compression stockings, you can prevent blood and fluids from getting trapped in your legs. The mild pressure these stockings give keep your bodily fluids moving, which makes a world of difference if you have spider veins or varicose veins.
So, do you have to wear compression stockings after vein ablation? In most cases, yes, but it always depends on the advice of your treatment provider.
Here are some of the main reasons why experts like us recommend compression after sclerotherapy:
- Relieves post-treatment discomfort. Right after your spider vein treatment, you may feel short-term pain, which can be reduced by wearing compression stockings.
- Minimizes clots and bruising. Since compression stockings promote circulation, it will reduce the risk of clots forming on your treated spider veins.
- Reduces the risk of swelling. The same is true with minimizing the risk of clotting; compression stockings also help drain fluids that cause swelling. This way, you won’t get swelling on your legs and ankles, which can be worrisome for many.
- Promotes faster recovery. Since the blood and fluids around the treated area flows continuously, you’ll heal faster from the treatment.
How long to wear compression hose after sclerotherapy
Now, your next question is probably how long to wear compression stockings after sclerotherapy. The quick answer is it depends on what type of treatment you get. Here’s a quick preview of the most common treatments and how long you’ll need compression stockings:
1. Varicose vein surgery
This is the most invasive of all spider or varicose vein treatments, which will require lengthy recovery period. At the same time, you might be advised to wear compression stockings for about a month, depending on your specific condition.
Aside from that, you’ll have to limit physical activity and go through follow-up consultations to avoid infections or complications.
2. Sclerotherapy
Unlike varicose surgery, sclerotherapy is less invasive. It involves injecting a solution into the spider veins or varicose veins to help them shut and reabsorb into the body.
Asclera injection is the most common treatment under this type, which has minimal downtime and recovery period.
So how long to wear compression socks after sclerotherapy? For this condition, you may only need to wear compression stockings for about 1 to 2 weeks. And for those with minimal spider veins, compression stockings may not be needed at all.
3. Laser treatment
If you’re looking for a non-invasive solution, you can opt for laser spider vein treatment. With this procedure, we treat tiny spider veins located just under the skin’s surface. We use the laser to create tiny injuries on your skin to close varicose veins and stimulate skin healing.
Overall, this is non-invasive and we don’t usually require our patients to wear compression stockings. In fact, we may discourage you to wear these stockings as the tight fabric may chafe and irritate the treated skin.
Also, it’s important to note that laser treatment is only effective for those with minor and skin-level spider veins only. Those with a more severe case of spider veins or varicose veins can explore the other treatments we mentioned here.
4. Ligation and stripping
This treatment is surgical, but less invasive than a full varicose vein surgery. Under ligation and stripping, the doctor will create small incisions on the spider veins and pull them out of your legs. This is a permanent solution, but will require some recovery time.
If you underwent this procedure, you may need to wear compression stockings anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. It may be longer, depending on the extent of the treatment and the advice of your physician.
Do spider veins come back after treatment?
Unfortunately, spider vein treatments can’t guarantee that you won’t have more spider veins in the future. In general, the treated spider veins won’t recur, but new ones may surface.
You should know that some people are more likely to get spider veins than others. It’s due to factors like the following:
- Genetic predisposition. If anyone in your immediate biological family has spider veins, it’s likely that you’ll keep having them as well.
- Obesity. The excess body weight will put too much strain on your leg veins, which will make them more dilated and visible.
- Hormonal changes. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone hormones can also trigger spider veins. This is more prevalent during pregnancy, aside from the fact that the weight of the growing baby will also put a strain on a woman’s legs.
- Lifestyle. Those with jobs that involve a lot of standing or sitting are more predisposed to having spider veins.
- Leg injuries. Trauma to the legs, such as muscle tears or fractures, can weaken your vein walls, leading to the formation of spider veins.
- Birth control pills. Since birth control pills cause hormonal changes, it can also be a culprit as to why some women tend to develop spider veins.
Tips when using spider vein compression stockings
If your health provider recommended that you wear compression stockings after sclerotherapy or other treatments, here are some things you should remember:
- Get the right fit. Take note that compression stockings come in different sizes, materials, and compression power. It’s best to consult with your health provider to know which are the best compression stockings after sclerotherapy you should use.
- Don’t wear it far too long. Take note that wearing compression stockings longer than prescribed can have some side effects. It can cause skin irritation, restricted blood flow, or even nerve compression. It’s best to follow the prescribed duration instead.
- Wear them correctly. Make sure that there’s no bunching when wearing your compression stockings, as this may restrict proper blood flow.
- Beware of irritation. If you experienced any sort of irritation after wearing compression stockings, you should consult with your health provider right away. If not, it may worsen your spider veins or cause more problems in the long run.
Do you want to get rid of your spider veins?
Spider veins can take a serious toll on someone’s confidence and self-image. Many ladies – or even gents – often feel self-conscious about what they wear and would often go to great lengths just to cover up the affected area.
If you’re someone struggling with this problem, Pure Skin Laser Center is here to help. Our medical spa offers spider vein treatments to help you get rid of the problem without having to undergo painful and expensive surgery.
If you’re interested or ready to book an appointment, contact us at Pure Skin Laser Center today!
