What activities (and for how long) should be avoided after sclerotherapy?

Question

I'm a very active, late 30s female who unfortunately also has a propensity towards reticular and spider veins. I had my first treatment a few years prior, just treating small spider veins with great results. I know I'll need more, but I hate having to take time off of my workouts to get it done. I lift, hike, do HIIT, and hot yoga with other flexibility training. Do patients experience better results totally abstaining from working out for a period of time after the procedure?

Andres Zavala, DO · Answer

There is no consensus on specific instructions after sclerotherapy but most physicians have similar restrictions. You should follow your treating physicians recommendations.   I recommend avoiding heavy exercise and lifting for 1 week. Light aerobics are fine as long as you continue to wear compression.  Wear stockings for 48 hrs continuously and then for an additional 5 days during the day.  Avoid sun exposure for 3 to 4 weeks and avoid excessively hot showers, saunas, hot tubs, etc... for 2 to 3 weeks as well.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

It’s important to distinguish between varicose veins and spider veins when choosing between laser therapy, sclerotherapy, and vein surgery. With two board certified vein specialists, our center uses a combination of visual examination, functional flow measurements, ultrasound, transillumination, and infrared light to map out vein networks prior to therapy. Lasers can be used to treat deep varicose vein insufficiency, vein perforators, and varicose veins. Sclerotherapy is ideal for spider veins and reticular veins. Whereas surgery is reserved for severely incompetent varicose vein segments.

Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

J. Michael Leary, MD · Answer

We encourage exercise after simple visual sclerotherapy for spider and reticular veins.  Patients can return to most all their normal activity's immediately after treatment.  Light lifting, hiking, yoga and flexibility training are all fine.  We recommend light compression (15-20) for three days post treatment.  So wear compression while exercising.  Compression can be removed for showering and sleeping. I would avoid hot tubs and Jacuzzi for about a week post treatment, and maybe hot yoga. If your workouts are super strenuous, dial it back for a few days. Don't get a sunburn, but a little sun exposure should cause no staining problems. Do avoid the antibiotic Minocycline while having sclerotherapy treatments. This can cause irreversible staining.

Gregory P. Kezele, MD · Answer

I encourage my sclerotherapy patients to return to their normal activities immediately after treatment, but I have them wear a compression stocking for 2-3 days.

Lisa Perez, MD · Answer

It has been my experience that patients who avoid strenuous high impact aerobic exercise and weight training for at least a week after sclerotherapy get better results.  I also agree with avoiding hot showers, baths and hot tubs for a week due to the heat possibly reopening the closed spider veins.  Wearing compression stockings and avoiding the sun while undergoing treatment will also maximize your treatment results.

John Landi, MD · Answer

I encourage my patients to get back to all normal activities as soon as possible after sclerotherapy.  They can exercise the same day if they choose as long as they wear compression (even yoga or bicycle pants will do).  My only restrictions is that they do no soak in a hot tub for 2 days post treatment and that they wear compression for 2 days post treatment and avoid sun tanning for 2 weeks post treatment. In your case the only thing I would delay for 2 days would be hot yoga.

Michael Nguyen, MD · Answer

As general recommendation try to avoid strenuous exercise such as aerobics, weight training, bicycling, or running for one week. Avoid lifting more than 20 pounds for two weeks. Walking is encouraged. Wear compression stocking for a period of 1 week during the day, and stay out of direct sunlight for 3 weeks following the procedure or wear sun block or protective clothing if you are outdoors. Always follow your vein specialist recommendation regarding treatment plan and post procedure instructions. Best,

Ivan Brooks, MD · Answer

Depends on the caliber size on the vein treated. Generally it's best to limit weight lifting and vigorous lower extremity exercise for a short period of time .

Ralph Carullo, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

My standard recommendation for post-sclerotherapy activity is "no high impact aerobics and heavy weight lifting.  Also important to avoid extreme prolonged heat such has saunas, hot tubs or hot baths for 7 days, followed by avoiding full intense sun exposure for about a month". This regimen requires the use of adequate continuous compression stockings for the first 48 hours followed by daily wearing for two weeks after the procedure.  It is also important to wear compression stockings  to minimize the occurrence of any complications.
Always check with your phlebologist on their treatment and post-treatment recommendations

What activities (and for how long) should be avoided after sclerotherapy?

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