Day of discharge
Thermal ablation (laser / radiofrequency)
Draft — pending clinical reviewA thin fibre was passed inside the faulty vein and gentle heat was used to close it from within. Bulging surface veins may have been removed at the same time (phlebectomies).
About this treatment →About the condition →Also for this procedure: Long term →
Today and tonight
This is usually a walk-in, walk-out or day-surgery procedure. You can go home the same day.
Keep the leg moving with short, frequent walks, and raise it when resting. Avoid long periods sitting or standing still today.
Pain and medication
Some tightness, bruising and a pulling sensation along the treated vein is expected, and any phlebectomy sites may feel tender.
Simple pain relief such as paracetamol is usually enough. [VERIFY] Ask the clinic before using anti-inflammatory painkillers. [VERIFY]
Your dressings & stockings
You will usually go home in a compression stocking (sometimes over a light bandage) worn as instructed — often continuously at first, then daytime only. [VERIFY the exact durations]
Keep dressings clean and dry. You will be told when the first dressing can come off and when you can shower. [VERIFY] Small paper strips over phlebectomy nicks can get damp in the shower and are peeled off later. [VERIFY]
Moving and activity
- Walking
- Walk regularly from today — this is important after ablation to keep the blood moving. [VERIFY]
- Driving
- Do not drive home yourself. You can usually drive again once comfortable and able to brake hard safely. [VERIFY the timeframe]
- Work
- Many people return to desk work within a few days. [VERIFY] A more physical job may need longer. [VERIFY]
- Exercise
- Avoid the gym, heavy lifting, running, hot baths and saunas for the first period. [VERIFY the duration] Walking is encouraged throughout.
- Flying
- Avoid long-haul flights for a period after treatment because of the clot risk. [VERIFY the timeframe]
When will I be back to normal?
Most people are back to everyday activity within days. Bruising and tightness along the vein settle over the following weeks.
What is normal
- Bruising along the inner thigh or calf, and around any phlebectomy sites.
- A tight, pulling or cord-like feeling along the treated vein for a few weeks. [VERIFY]
- Numb or tingling patches of skin near the treated area, which usually recover. [VERIFY]
- Small lumps or brown marks that fade over time.
What is not normal — contact us
Contact the clinic if you notice any of these:
- Increasing redness, warmth, swelling or spreading pain in the leg or calf.
- A temperature, or fluid, pus or a bad smell from a wound.
- Calf pain and swelling that worsens rather than eases.
- Wounds that gape open or bleed persistently.
Emergency — go to hospital now
Call an ambulance or go to the nearest hospital emergency department straight away if you have:
- Chest pain or tightness, or sudden shortness of breath.
- Coughing up blood.
- A sudden, very swollen, cold, pale or intensely painful leg.
- Bleeding from a wound or vein that does not stop after 10 minutes of firm, continuous pressure with the leg raised.
- Fainting or collapse.
Your follow-up
You will be given a follow-up appointment, usually with an ultrasound scan, to confirm the vein has sealed. [VERIFY the timing]
Questions?
If anything worries you or you are unsure, it is always better to ask. Message the clinic on WhatsApp.