Hi, just to add my two cents. I had bad varicose veins in both legs. A specialist took one look at them and recommended surgery. No cost to me. Thank you Canadian health system. Before the surgery my legs would swell up, very sore and very itchy. The surgery itself was not a problem. Numerous incisions from groin to ankle. I was off the bike for about 3 weeks. When I started training again I noticed a big improvement. A year later I have noticed the possibility of new varicose veins, so I will need to keep an eye on them. I did not wear compression socks during the months after the surgery, but for the last 4 months I have been wearing below the knee compression socks on a regular basis. I think wearing them is helping. My hope is that I can “control/contain” any new occurrence of varicose veins.