Compression Stockings on the Day of Ablation
You should wear compression stockings on the day of your ablation procedure, as compression therapy is recommended immediately after endovenous thermal ablation to reduce postoperative pain and improve outcomes. 1
Evidence-Based Recommendations for Compression After Ablation
Immediate Post-Procedure Compression
Compression should be applied immediately after thermal ablation procedures (such as radiofrequency or laser ablation) for varicose veins, with 99% of vascular surgeons applying compression right after the procedure. 1, 2
Compression providing pressures >20 mm Hg, together with eccentric pads placed directly over the treated vein, provides the greatest reduction in postoperative pain. 1
The most commonly used immediate compression includes 35 mmHg compression stockings (34.3% of surgeons), crepe bandages (26%), or 20-30 mmHg compression stockings (12.4%), typically worn for an average of 2.79 days. 2
Duration of Compression Therapy
Wearing compression stockings for 1-2 weeks after endovenous thermal ablation significantly reduces postoperative pain at 1 week and decreases recovery time off work compared to wearing them for only 24-48 hours. 3
After the initial 2-3 day period, 88.4% of surgeons prescribe additional compression therapy, predominantly using 20-30 mmHg stockings for an average duration of 39.3 days. 2
The American Venous Forum guidelines suggest using best clinical judgment to determine the exact duration of compression therapy, as convincing evidence for a specific timeframe is limited. 1
Clinical Benefits and Outcomes
Compression therapy immediately after sclerotherapy or thermal ablation improves treatment outcomes, though the evidence quality is moderate. 1
Studies show that wearing compression for at least 1 week reduces postoperative pain scores (mean difference 1.19 on visual analog scale) and shortens recovery time off work by approximately 1 day compared to shorter durations. 3
No significant differences in complication rates (including deep vein thrombosis, phlebitis, or paresthesia) were found between short-duration (24-48 hours) and long-duration (1-2 weeks) compression therapy. 4, 3
Practical Considerations
Proper sizing and application of compression stockings is critical, as 26% of hospitalized patients have incorrectly sized stockings and 29% have improperly applied stockings, which can cause skin harm or even increase thrombosis risk. 5
Knee-length compression stockings are generally more comfortable and have fewer application errors compared to thigh-length stockings, particularly in overweight patients. 5
The typical recommendation is to wear compression stockings continuously (except when bathing) for the first 1-2 weeks after ablation, then during daytime hours for several additional weeks based on your surgeon's specific protocol. 1, 2, 3