If you are one of the many who suffer from the varicose curse, you are not alone. Fortunately, there are now more ways to find treatment for your ailment. Technology and medical expertise have come a long way toward specializing in vascular treatment. However, as treatments become more common and more centers open up, you have to make decisions and choose from the best options. This is especially important if you are going to have surgery. Find out what to expect after varicose vein surgery so you decide if it’s the best option for you.
Complications
Whether for cosmetic or medical reasons, many people receive vein treatment with positive results. Keep in mind that like any other surgery, varicose vein surgery will also have some of its complications and side effects that you can expect after having varicose vein surgery.
The most significant complication that arises from varicose vein surgery is that of a blood clot forming in the veins. This blood clot that breaks off and travels to the lung veins, causing deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism is one of the complications of varicose veins.
But good news, this complication can be minimized if you choose a good and efficient doctor for varicose vein surgery. A good doctor or surgeon will use ultrasound guidance to visualize the veins during the procedure.
Possible Side Effects
Talking about the possible side effects of varicose vein surgery, then these are as following:
- Slight soreness
- A tingling sensation or numbness over the thighs and calves. These sensations are often temporary and can be relieved by medication.
- In rare cases, patients may develop some darkening (pigmentation) in the area of the skin which has been treated. This darkening can be effectively treated with skin creams.
- Bruising and tenderness – After EVLA, the patients may have some discomfort, which is typically alleviated by wearing a compression stocking.
- A small chance of infection – Infection has been reported in less than one in 1,000 cases after varicose vein surgery, and it can be successfully treated with antibiotics.
- Damage to the blood vessel – This includes bruising or bleeding at the puncture site and infection. However, extraordinary precautions are taken to mitigate these risks.
- Thermal (heat) damage to nerves – A few instances of this side effect have been recorded in patients after varicose vein surgery, but they are rare and usually go away in a short period of time.
- Thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the vein) – Not uncommon, this side effect may cause pain and redness to the treated area. Thrombophlebitis usually responds well to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Recovery
Once you are done with varicose vein surgery then it will take 2 to 4 weeks to recover completely. However, your recovery will depend on the intensity of your varicose veins. Fortunately, you can walk and keep all your daily activities normal because walking keeps blood moving through normally functioning veins.
But there are certain things you can experience after varicose vein surgery and on the top, you can expect your leg to be bruised at first. You may need to wear a tight bandage called compression dressing on your legs for the first few days after surgery.
As part of the healing process, you should avoid prolonged standing and wearing shoes that can interfere with the quality of your blood circulation. In addition to this, make sure you provide your feet with enough rest and wear medicinal socks if recommended by your surgeon. An important disadvantage is that varicose veins cannot be prevented completely, especially if the disease exists in the family.