Compression Before Laser Treatment

For years, patients suffering from varicose veins and other vein conditions had few options for treatment. Now, endovenous ablation, or EVLA for short, is considered the gold standard in vein treatment. EVLA is minimally invasive procedure that is done on an outpatient basis, and recovery time for most people is very quick.

Graduated compression stockings play an essential role before and after vein treatments, including EVLA. Anyone that undergoes EVLA, sclerotherapy or other treatments for venous insufficiency must wear graduated compression stockings immediately following the procedure and during the recovery period. What some may not realize is that there are reasons to wear compression before treatment too.

Before a vein procedure, wearing compression stockings gives a person a snapshot of what vein health feels like. Since compression alleviates symptoms, it becomes easier for a phlebologist (vein specialist) to tease out, or confirm whether the leg pain is due to muscular-skeletal issues, the nervous system, or venous disease. Another benefit to wearing compression prior to treatment is that it’s good to confirm that the patient can tolerate stockings, and/or that the stockings fit properly. (After the procedure is the worst time to discover that the stockings don’t fit!)

Alternatively, many who think that they could never tolerate compression stockings try on a modern stocking and find them quite bearable. Since compression prevents the progression of vein disease and controls symptoms, some people may even decide to take a more conservative approach, rather than proceed with definitive treatment.