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Compression stockings after surgery | CION Cancer Clinics
Compression stockings gently squeeze the legs so blood keeps moving back to the heart while you are less active, which lowers the chance of a blood clot after surgery. They work alongside injections and early walking, not instead of them, and only when they fit well. This page shows how to put them on, who should not wear them, what to check daily, and when to call. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
MI
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohammed ImaduddinConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Surgical Oncology) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- Why are you asked to wear compression stockings after surgery?
- How do you put compression stockings on?
- Who should not wear compression stockings?
- What should you do, and what should you avoid?
- Do compression stockings really work?
- What should you look for when you check your skin?
- How long will you wear them, and what can this page not tell you?
- Common questions about compression stockings
The short answer
Why are you asked to wear compression stockings after surgery?
Compression stockings squeeze your legs gently to keep blood moving back towards the heart while you are less active, which lowers the chance of a blood clot. They are one of several ways clots are prevented after surgery, and they only help if they fit well and are worn properly.
How they work
The stockings are tightest at the ankle and looser towards the thigh. That graded pressure stops blood pooling in the deep veins of the legs when your calf muscles are not doing their usual work. Stockings used in hospital to prevent clots are often called anti-embolism stockings, or TED stockings. They are different from the firmer stockings some people wear for long-term vein problems.
They are part of a plan, not the whole plan
Most people having cancer surgery also get blood-thinning injections, leg pumps in bed or both, and are helped to walk early. Stockings add to those measures. They do not replace injections, and wearing them does not mean you can stay in bed.
Stockings are measured for your legs. A pair that is too tight or too loose can do harm rather than help.Step by step
How do you put compression stockings on?
Start with dry legs
Put them on in the morning or after a wash, once the skin is fully dry. Remove rings and watches that could snag the fabric.
Turn the stocking inside out
Put your hand inside, hold the heel and pull the leg part inside out down to the heel. Slide your foot in as far as the heel.
Roll it up gradually
Ease the stocking up over the ankle and calf a little at a time. Check the heel sits in the heel patch and the toe opening is under the toes.
Smooth out every wrinkle
Run your hands up the leg to remove folds. Never roll the top down or turn it over, because a band of extra pressure can stop blood flow.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistNot for everyone
Who should not wear compression stockings?
The team checks your legs before fitting them. Tell them about any of these, because another method may be safer for you.
Poor circulation in the legs
If blood already struggles to reach the feet, stockings can reduce it further. Cold feet, cramping pain when walking or weak pulses in the feet are warning signs to mention.
Numb feet from diabetes
Nerve damage means you may not feel a stocking rubbing or cutting in until the skin is already hurt. Some people can still wear them with daily checks.
Fragile or broken skin
Ulcers, fresh skin grafts, severe eczema, open wounds or very thin skin on the legs can be damaged by the pressure and friction.
Legs that are hard to fit
Very swollen legs, unusual leg shape or a size outside the range mean a stocking cannot give the right graded pressure.
Often used instead
- Leg pumps while in bed
- Blood-thinning injections, if suitable
- Walking and ankle exercises
Side by side
What should you do, and what should you avoid?
Do
Avoid
Wear them day and night unless the team says otherwise
Taking them off for long stretches without asking
Keep the fabric smooth and the heel in place
Rolling the top down or folding it over
Take them off once a day to wash and check the skin
Putting them on over damp legs or thick cream
Ask for a fresh pair if they are loose or stretched
Cutting holes or trimming the tops to fit
Tell the nurse if the toes turn pale, blue or cold
Wearing a pair measured for someone else
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Commonly believed
Do compression stockings really work?
"Tighter is better, so we bought a smaller size."
A stocking that is too tight can cut into the skin and slow blood flow, which is the opposite of what you want. The size comes from measuring your legs. Use the size the team fitted.
"It is too hot here to wear these."
They can feel warm in Hyderabad weather, and that is a fair complaint. Tell the nurse rather than removing them. Keeping skin clean and dry and asking about a cooler fabric often helps.
"Now that I have stockings, I do not need the injections."
Stockings and injections work in different ways. For many people after cancer surgery both are advised together. Only your team can decide to use one without the other.
"Any pair from the pharmacy will do."
Stockings come in different pressures, lengths and sizes. The wrong type can do harm. Ask the team which type, length and size you need before buying more.
Once a day
What should you look for when you check your skin?
- Red marks or dents at the top of the stocking
- Blisters, sores or broken skin on heels and shins
- Toes that are pale, blue, cold or numb
- New swelling above or below the stocking
- Itching or a rash that could mean a reaction to the fabric
- Pain, warmth or swelling in one calf, which needs the team the same day
Being straight with you
How long will you wear them, and what can this page not tell you?
In hospital, stockings are usually worn until you are walking about as much as you normally would. Some people are asked to keep wearing them at home for a while, especially after operations on the abdomen or pelvis, or if they are slow to become active. Others stop before discharge. There is no single rule.
Getting help at home
Putting stockings on can be hard for older people or anyone who cannot bend easily after surgery. A family member can learn to help. Ask the nurse to show them before you leave, and ask for a spare pair so one can be washed. Wash them by hand in lukewarm water and dry them away from direct heat.
What we cannot tell you here
This page cannot tell you whether stockings are safe for your legs, which size and length you need, or how long you should wear them. Those decisions need someone to examine your legs and know your operation. Ask your team: do I still need these at home, until when, and what should I do if they stop fitting?
Stop wearing them and call the team if they cause pain, numbness or skin damage.Questions we are asked
Common questions about compression stockings
Do I have to wear compression stockings at night?
In hospital, usually yes, because you are lying still for long periods and that is when clots are most likely. Take them off once a day to wash and check your skin. At home, ask your team whether they want you to wear them day and night, only during the day, or not at all.
How long do I need to wear them after surgery?
Usually until you are walking about as much as normal. After some operations the team asks you to continue at home for a while. The length depends on your operation, your clot risk and how active you are. Ask for a clear stop date or sign before you are discharged.
The stockings keep rolling down. What should I do?
Pull them back up and smooth them out, then tell the nurse. Rolling usually means the size or length is wrong, or the stocking has stretched. A rolled band squeezes the leg too hard in one place and can slow blood flow. Never fold or roll the top down to make them comfortable.
My legs itch and sweat in them. Can I take them off?
Tell the nurse before removing them for long. Wash and dry your legs well each day, and avoid thick creams under the stocking. A light, unscented moisturiser at night when they are off may help. If you see a rash, blisters or broken skin, the team may choose a different method.
Can I wash and reuse the same pair?
Yes. Wash them by hand in lukewarm water with mild soap and let them dry away from direct sun or heat. Having a second pair means you always have a clean one. Replace them if they lose their stretch, develop holes or no longer stay up properly.
Are stockings enough without the blood-thinning injections?
For many people after cancer surgery, no. Clot risk is high enough that both are advised together. Some people cannot have injections because of bleeding risk, and then stockings, leg pumps and walking do more of the work. Only your team can decide which combination is right for you.
My father has diabetes. Is it safe for him?
It depends on the circulation and feeling in his feet. Diabetes can reduce both, and then stockings may not be safe. Tell the team about his diabetes and any foot problems before they are fitted. If he does wear them, check his skin and toes carefully every day.
Do I need to buy them, and where from?
In hospital they are usually provided and fitted as part of your care. If you need more for home, ask the team to write down the exact type, length and size, and buy that from a pharmacy or surgical supplies shop. Do not guess the size from a chart without being measured.
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Sources
- NHS — Compression stockings
- NICE — Venous thromboembolism in over 16s: reducing the risk of hospital-acquired deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (NG89)
- NHS — Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for cancer
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
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