Tips for Post Varicose Vein Surgery Patients

What to do and what to expect

• It is essential on the day of surgery, to maintain a moderate level of leg muscle activity by walking for a minimum of 2-3 minutes every half an hour.
  • Maintain until bedtime.
  • Resume normal activity the following morning.
• Heavy activities that involve sweating should not be resumed until 48-72 hours post-surgery.
  • Examples of these types of activities: aerobics, hiking, gardening, farming.
• Leave all dressing intact for two days following surgery.
• Keep your incision dry. Showering should be done with a plastic bag over your dressing to protect your leg from getting wet.
• Steri-strips should stay on until they start to peel off. Band-aids may be changed if they become stained.
• Tenderness and bruising along the incisions is normal.

Call Your Doctor If You Experience Any Of The Following Symptoms

• Signs of infection: fever, redness, or warmth along the treated segment
• Moderate or severe pain that prevents return to normal activity
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent swelling of the treated limb
• Continued bleeding 48-hours postoperatively

For More Information

To learn more about Vascular Surgery Department and to get information about the specialist taking care of you, please visit FletcherAllen.org or call us at (802) 847-4548.