Dr. Oğulcan ÖzdemirCardiac and Vascular Surgeon
Bitlis · Tatvan

How to use compression stockings for varicose veins

A varicose vein (compression) stocking works when it is chosen at the right pressure and worn correctly. This page explains what you need to know, from choosing a stocking to daily use. For the pressure and duration recommended for you, your physician's instructions apply.

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What do stockings do?

A compression stocking applies pressure to the leg that decreases from the ankle upward. This pressure supports the dilated veins from the outside, reduces blood pooling in the leg and makes it easier for blood to return to the heart. In this way, swelling, heaviness and evening pain decrease.

A good stocking starts with the right size.

Step-by-step use

  1. SizeMeasure in the morning, before your legs have swollen. Choose by measuring the ankle, calf and, if needed, thigh circumference rather than picking a ready-made size number.
  2. PressureStockings come in pressure classes. Your physician decides after the examination which class and which length (below the knee, thigh-high, or pantyhose) you should use.
  3. Putting onPut it on in the morning, right after getting out of bed and before your legs swell. Turn the stocking inside out down to the heel, place your foot in it, then unroll it upward while pulling. Rubber gloves make it easier to grip and prevent slipping.
  4. During the dayWear it all day, and make sure it does not roll up or form a constriction band. Unless your physician tells you otherwise, take it off at night before bed.
  5. CareWash in lukewarm water with a mild detergent, and dry without wringing and without direct heat. Because its elasticity decreases over time, it needs to be replaced every few months.

Who should be careful?

In people with narrowing or blockage of the leg arteries (peripheral artery disease), a stocking can reduce circulation further. If you have calf pain when walking, a cold foot or a wound that does not heal, do not use a stocking without consulting your physician. If there is an open wound, redness, or numbness or bruising under the stocking, remove the stocking and seek care.

This page was prepared by Dr. Oğulcan Özdemir (Cardiac and Vascular Surgeon). Last updated: October 2026.

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