What is recovery like when you have a vein removed from your leg for bypass operation?

Depends on Approach: The recovery depends greatly on whether the vein is harvested via an "open" technique or an "endoscopic" technique. Surprisingly vein harvest incisions using the "open" technique often break down or become infected. Sutures don't come out sometimes for two weeks. The "endoscopic" technique requires shorter incisions and has fewer complications.

3-to 7 days in hospi: 3 to 7 days in hospital. Complete recovery will take about 4-6 weeks. Depends on the nature of bypass consult with your surgeon.