Elastic stockings are not for everyone. Wearing compression stockings in the early stages of varicose veins (when varicose veins are visible, or when they are not visible but edematous) is more effective in controlling the further development of varicose veins and relieving the symptoms of varicose veins. However, there is a prerequisite for wearing elastic stockings, that is, the patient’s arterial blood flow should be tested, and there is a special criterion for this – “ankle-brachial ratio” (ABI), that is, the ratio of lower extremity arterial blood pressure value to upper extremity arterial blood pressure value. If a patient with varicose veins has an ABI < 80%, he cannot wear elastic stockings in this case, because ABI < 80%; it means that the arterial blood supply to the lower limbs of the patient is insufficient, although wearing elastic stockings can promote venous reflux, it will also reduce the blood supply to the lower limbs, which is not good for varicose veins patients. How to choose compression stockings? Elastic stockings are divided into primary compression, secondary compression, tertiary compression, quaternary compression and health care type: patients with simple edema, capillary dilatation and CEAP grade C1 can wear primary compression stockings; secondary compression stockings are suitable for patients with obvious varicose veins or deep venous insufficiency (grade C2 to C4); tertiary compression stockings are suitable for patients with grade C4 and above. These patients tend to have heavy edema or vascular malformation; the compression stockings of grade 4 are for patients with severe skin ulcers and edema (grade C5~C6). As for the health care compression stockings, they are for people who are at high risk of varicose veins, and they are used to prevent the occurrence of varicose veins by wearing compression stockings. Different patients with varicose veins need different kinds of elastic stockings, and the specific wearing of long or short ones, as well as the degree of elasticity, are related to the degree and extent of varicose veins of the patients, which have to be determined by the doctor after examination. Some patients also ask whether they should buy imported or domestic ones, but I personally recommend buying imported ones, which are more effective than domestic ones. Where should I buy compression stockings? Most hospitals don't sell compression stockings, but they can provide patients with some purchase channels and tell them where to buy them, but you need to consult your doctor for details. Take for example the Vascular Surgery Department of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, because the number of patients with varicose veins in the hospital is relatively high, some of the manufacturers of compression stockings have their staff in the hospital for a long time, and the manufacturer in our hospital is a Swiss brand. But every hospital is different, and there may be other better brands in the hands of doctors, or in the surrounding pharmacies, so you have to ask your doctor which one to buy. Of course, if you know a good brand, you can buy it yourself. However, there are some risks in buying compression stockings online, so I don't advise patients to buy compression stockings online, because some companies label the compression stockings as secondary compression (the higher the pressure, the more expensive it is) in order to make money. How long should I wear the compression stockings? If you decide to start wearing them, you should wear them every day except for sleeping time (at least 8 hours), and they will be effective for about 3-4 months. If the patient does not feel discomfort wearing the elastic stockings, it is recommended that the patient wears them for a long time, and some patients even need to wear them for life. For patients who have had varicose vein surgery, I also recommend them to wear the stockings for a period of time. Patients who have had surgery in Chaoyang Hospital are usually discharged from the hospital after 3 days, when the elastic bandage is removed and the patient is instructed to wear the stockings for 3 months. Secondly, the rash improves and finally the hyperpigmentation disappears). If the patient had compression stockings before the surgery and they fit, it is fine to continue wearing them after the surgery, but if not, you need to consult your doctor.