IVC filter placement is not a major surgery.
Instead IVC filter placement is actually a minimally invasive outpatient procedure.
IVC filter placement is done by an interventional radiologist or vascular surgeon making a tiny incision in your neck or your groin and then they guide the IVC filter into your inferior vena cava using a catheter as well as a real time X-ray imaging.
The procedure for IVC filter placement often takes between 20 minutes to 60 minutes and only uses local anesthesia or just mild sedation and it allows most people to go home the same day after the IVC filter placement.
You can often return to your normal activities within 1 to 2 days of the IVC filter placement surgery.
Recovery time after IVC filter placement is short.
You can usually go home the same day.
Expect to resume normal activities within 24 to 48 hours.
Avoid driving for 24 hours, and refrain from strenuous exercise and heavy lifting (over 10 pounds) for about 3 to 5 days.
Because IVC filter placement is minimally invasive, the recovery process is generally mild:
You will have a small incision in either your groin or your neck.
It is normal to experience some minor soreness, bruising, or discomfort for 24 to 48 hours.
This can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain medication.
Keep the bandage dry for the first 24 hours.
You should avoid taking baths or swimming for at least five days to prevent infection.
Your doctor will likely schedule a follow-up appointment in about 4 to 6 weeks to check on the placement and evaluate your overall recovery.
Many IVC filters are also designed to be temporary.
Your medical team will typically want to remove the IVC filter as soon as your risk for a pulmonary embolism decreases and you can safely resume blood thinner (anticoagulant) therapy.
The removal procedure for the IVC filter is similar to placement—usually done as a same-day, outpatient procedure.