Discharge Instructions

Everything you need to know post-procedure at IVC

Endovenous Thermal Ablation

  • You may experience significant bruising along the treated vein site after laser treatment. This bruising usually lasts for about one to two weeks and slowly resolves over time. This bruising will go from the proximal treated vein all the way along to the distal access site.
  • Along the treated vein you might experience redness that is warm to the touch along the vein tract. This is normal inflammation and means the skin is healing properly.
  • You may also notice a hard, palpable, cord sensation that feels like a pulled muscle in the medial thigh or distal calf area. This is the vein shrinking in length as well as in diameter. This sensation will soften up and resolve after two to four weeks normally.
  • Occasionally you may develop long, linear blisters, where the compression stocking rubs along the bandage. These are temporary. If you experience this, please remove the stocking and allow the area to heal.
  • Some patients experience numbness or paresthesia on the medial calf area, often times this is a temporary sensation, however, in a small percentage of patients this may become permanent. This sensation does not cause problems with mobility or function. It is a sensory nerve and light touch is what is most noticeably missing.

Download the full Vein Ablation Discharge Instruction PDF.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

  • You may experience significant bruising along the ambulatory phlebectomy site. This is normal and will resolve within one to two weeks typically.
  • Patients often experience significant redness and warm to the touch areas along the treated vein tract. This is normal inflammation and will resolve usually within one to two weeks.
  • Often times patients experience bleeding from an AP incision site. This can be quite significant. If you encounter significant bleeding or oozing, apply moderate, constant pressure for approximately five minutes. If you are unable to control the bleeding, please call IVC.
  • Often times after AP, there are hard focal lumps underneath the incision sites. These can be vein segment remnants that will soften up and dissolve over time.
  • Often times patients can continue to have small fiber, almost hair like strands from the incision sites. If this is noticeable to you, you may use some simple scissors to clip them as close to the skin as possible.

Download the full Phlebectomy Discharge Instruction PDF.

Sclerotherapy

  • Patients often encounter focal tenderness at the injection sites. This feels like a deep bruise and can often last for up to a month after the procedure.
  • Hard lumps are also associated with sclerotherapy at the treated vein sites. This is the vein essentially turning to scar tissue and waiting for the body to reabsorb this portion.
  • Often times, the sclerotherapy veins injected close to the skin can cause skin discoloration or a bronze stain. In most instances this is temporary lasting only three to four months, however, in a small percentage of patients, this staining can become permanent. This is a small risk associated with sclerotherapy.

Download the full Sclerotherapy Discharge Instruction PDF.

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