What should I expect during my spider vein treatment recovery?

During your recovery from spider vein treatment, you may be instructed to wear support hose to help your legs heal.

The treated sites will appear bruised and you may feel some cramping in your legs for the first day or two after treatment. This discomfort is temporary and usually doesn't require prescription medication.

Although every patient heals at a different rate, most are back to normal activities quickly.

You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for your legs following treatment, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection and when to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.

You can expect that your spider vein treatment recovery will follow this general time line:

Within one week

• You may be instructed to wear support stockings for three to six weeks
• You should avoid squatting, heavy lifting and running
• The tape, cotton balls or any other dressings (if used) will be removed from the treated areas when recommended by the plastic surgeon
• The treated sites will appear bruised
• You will be discouraged from sitting or standing in one place for more than an hour or two
• You will be encouraged to walk

Within one month

• The bruises at the treated sites will diminish
• You will begin to feel more comfortable wearing leg-baring fashions
• You can resume most exercise
• One month after the first treatment, spider veins are distinctly lighter, yet still somewhat visible
• You will be discouraged from sitting or standing in one place for more than an hour or two

After two months, your veins treatment should have completed its healing. At this point, you and your plastic surgeon will decide if any additional treatment is necessary.