GAE is done with numbing medicine and often light sedation. Some people have more knee pain for a short time afterward.

GAE side effects and recovery

Get urgent care for heavy bleeding where the catheter went in, a cold, pale, or numb leg or foot, calf swelling, shortness of breath or chest pain, or a knee that is suddenly hot, red, and very swollen with a fever.

Key facts

Skin color change over the knee happened in about 16 in 100 people in a review of 23 studies¹. It usually goes away within a month⁴.
Short-term knee pain after the procedure happened in about 10 in 100 people¹.
Rare risks include a small skin sore over the knee, a blood clot in a leg vein, and bleeding where the catheter went in^4,5.
Most people go home within a few hours. Many teams advise avoiding heavy lifting and hard exercise for 1 to 2 days³.
Your care team's instructions come first.

Common, usually temporary effects

Skin color change over the knee. This is the most common side effect. The skin over part of the knee can look red or discolored. It happened in about 16 in 100 people in a 2025 review of 23 studies¹, and in 10 to 30 in 100 across the studies SIR reviewed. It is seen more often with permanent particles, and in most people it goes away completely within a month⁴. In one study that used particles that dissolve over time, it happened after about 6 in 100 procedures⁶.

Knee pain for a short time. Some people have more knee pain for a short time after GAE. In the same review, this happened in about 10 in 100 people¹.

Bruising where the catheter went in. A collection of blood under the skin at the groin (a hematoma) happened in about 2 to 3 in 100 people in one review⁷.

Questions to ask

Which particles do you use, and how often do your patients get skin color changes?
What should I do if my knee hurts more after GAE?
Will the catheter go in at my groin or my wrist?

Less common but important risks

Across reviews, serious problems were rare, and most side effects went away on their own^2,8. Still, ask about these:

Non-target embolization. This means some particles travel to a small artery that was not meant to be treated, most often one that feeds the skin over the knee. Most skin changes are mild, but rarely the skin can be badly damaged³. SIR reports a small skin sore (ulcer) in about 3 in 1,000 people⁴.
Bone problems. Very rarely, a small area of bone loses its blood supply. SIR reports this in fewer than 1 in 1,000 people⁴.
Blood clot or bleeding. In the GENESIS study of 46 people, one person had a blood clot in a leg vein and one had a hematoma at the groin⁵.

Questions to ask

How do you check the arteries before placing particles, to lower the chance of non-target embolization?
Do I have any health conditions, such as kidney problems or an allergy to X-ray dye, that change my risks?
Should I stop any medicines, such as blood thinners, before GAE?

Typical recovery timeline

Your care team's instructions come first. These steps are typical in reports, not rules for you.

The day of GAE. GAE is usually an outpatient procedure. It often takes about 1 to 2 hours, and most people can go home within about 4 hours³.
The first 1 to 2 days. Many teams advise avoiding heavy lifting, straining, and hard exercise for at least 24 to 48 hours³.
Hours to weeks. If relief comes, it may be felt within hours to weeks³.
The first month. Skin color changes usually fade within a month⁴.
Follow-up. Ask when your follow-up visit is and how your pain will be measured.

Is GAE painful?

GAE is done with numbing medicine at the skin, often with medicine to help you relax (minimal or moderate sedation)³. Some people have more knee pain for a short time afterward¹. Ask what pain medicine you can take after GAE.

When to call your care team or seek urgent care

Call your care team if you notice:

skin color change over the knee that spreads, gets darker, blisters, or opens into a sore;
knee pain or swelling that keeps getting worse;
swelling, a growing lump, or oozing where the catheter went in;
a fever.

Get urgent care for bleeding where the catheter went in that does not stop with firm pressure, a cold, pale, numb, or weak leg or foot (or hand, if the catheter went in at the wrist), calf swelling or pain, shortness of breath, or chest pain.

Common questions

What are the side effects of GAE?

The most common are a temporary color change in the skin over the knee and short-term knee pain. In one review, these happened in about 16 and 10 in 100 people¹. Serious problems are rare².

How long is recovery after GAE?

Most people go home within a few hours, and many teams advise no heavy lifting or hard exercise for 1 to 2 days³. Your care team's instructions come first.

Is GAE painful?

GAE is done with numbing medicine and often light sedation³. Some people have more knee pain for a short time afterward¹.

Why does the skin change color after GAE?

Some particles can reach small arteries that feed the skin over the knee³. The color change usually fades within a month⁴. Tell your care team if it spreads, darkens, or opens into a sore.

Can GAE harm the bone or skin?

Rarely. SIR reports a small skin sore in about 3 in 1,000 people and bone problems in fewer than 1 in 1,000⁴. Ask your doctor how they lower these risks.

Bring questions to your visit

A printable list of questions about GAE, with background notes from the sources. Talk with your doctor about these questions.

Questions to ask before GAE

Talk with your doctor before you decide. This information does not replace personal medical advice. Read the medical disclaimer.

GAE side effects and recovery: what should you expect?

Key facts

Common, usually temporary effects

Questions to ask

Less common but important risks

Questions to ask

Typical recovery timeline

Is GAE painful?

When to call your care team or seek urgent care

Common questions

What are the side effects of GAE?

How long is recovery after GAE?

Is GAE painful?

Why does the skin change color after GAE?

Can GAE harm the bone or skin?

Bring questions to your visit

Sources