Long term
Thermal ablation (laser / radiofrequency)
Reviewed by Dr Amit KumarThe faulty vein was sealed with heat (and any bulging veins removed); your first check confirms it has closed.
About this treatment →About the condition →Also for this procedure: Day of discharge →
Where you are now
You have seen the doctor after your laser / ablation procedure. The post op visit shows that there is no DVT and that the vein you have had treated has been successfully closed. The early recovery is done.
This page covers the weeks ahead as bruising fades and you return to full activity and exercise.
Pain and medication
Regular pain relief should no longer be needed. Tightness or a pulling feeling along the vein can linger for a few weeks and eases on its own.
Your dressings & stockings
Phlebectomy nicks heal to tiny marks. There will not be any stitches to remove from them. The small dressings you have over the cuts shall fall off by themselves. You can wear a daytime stocking for a further period if you find it comfortable.
Moving and activity
- Walking
- Keep up daily walking.
- Driving
- Normal driving.
- Work
- Back to your usual work, including more physical jobs once comfortable.
- Exercise
- Gradually return to the gym, running and other exercise as the leg allows. Start gently and build up.
- Flying
- Long journeys are generally fine again by now. Move around, stay hydrated and wear compression stockings on long trips.
- Shower
- After your post operative visit, you can return to normal showering - with soap and water.
When will I be back to normal?
Most people feel back to normal within a few weeks. Bruising clears, tightness settles, and any brown marks fade over the following months.
What is normal
- Fading bruising and brown marks along the vein.
- A firm, cord-like feel along the treated vein that softens over weeks.
- Patches of numbness near the treated area that recover slowly.
What is not normal — contact us
Contact the clinic if you notice any of these:
- A treated area that becomes newly hot, hard, red and tender.
- A wound that reopens, discharges or smells.
- New or worsening swelling of the whole leg.
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 shall be given an appointment to see the doctor in 6 - 8 weeks for a final check. At that time you shall discuss the next step - foam sclerotherapy for the residual spider and varicose veins. New veins can appear at other places, over the years - it is a genetic disposition and can be treated.
Questions?
If anything worries you or you are unsure, it is always better to ask. Message the clinic on WhatsApp.