How to Keep Compression Stockings Up: Fit, Top Bands and Body Adhesive
Compression stockings that slide down, roll at the top or bunch at the ankle are more than an annoyance. A garment that keeps falling down cannot give the compression it was made for, as a Wounds UK best practice statement for clinicians puts it. The fix usually starts with the size and how the stocking is put on, not with glue. This guide works through the common causes in order: fit and placement first, then the top band, then roll-on body adhesive (often searched as body glue) for the cases where a well-fitted stocking still slips.
Why compression stockings slide down
Most slipping traces back to one of a handful of causes. Knowing which one you have saves you from buying a fix for the wrong problem.
- The size or length is wrong. Check the stocking's length and circumference against the product's size chart; the garment should fit well and not feel loose. Sizing comes from your measurements, not your shoe or clothing size.
- The top was folded over or rolled. NHS stocking instructions from Sandwell and West Birmingham say never to fold the stocking over on itself, because the fold applies double compression and is uncomfortable (SWBH NHS leaflet). A rolled or folded band also tends to keep rolling.
- The fabric is bunched. MedlinePlus advises smoothing out any wrinkles once the top is in place and not letting the stockings bunch up (MedlinePlus).
- Lotion went on just before. Wounds UK advises against applying emollients just before putting hosiery on, and suggests applying them about 20 minutes before instead (Wounds UK, 2021). Many people moisturise in the evening after taking the stockings off.
- The elastic is worn out. MedlinePlus recommends replacing stockings every 3 to 6 months so they keep their compression and support (MedlinePlus). An old pair that used to stay up may simply have stretched.
- Your leg has changed size. The SWBH leaflet notes that if you lose weight and your legs change shape, stockings may become too loose and may not work. Wounds UK adds that when a swollen leg goes down, stockings that start to loosen after a few weeks can be a sign the treatment is working, and a smaller size may be needed.
Check the fit and placement first
Before any accessory, check that the stocking fits and sits where it should. Measure in the morning, when the legs have the least swelling, at the points the product's size chart asks for, and match the numbers to the chart. If you fall between sizes, follow the chart's fit notes or ask a fitter rather than guessing. Our guide to choosing a compression level covers the pressure side of the choice.
Wounds UK lists what a good fit looks like (Wounds UK, 2021):
- the hosiery fits well and does not feel loose
- it is not twisted, rolled or folded down
- a knee high sits two fingers' width below the knee crease
- the fabric is spread evenly along the whole length of the garment
- it does not pinch the skin
For thigh highs, the top band sits a few fingers' width below the crease under the buttock. Published guidance gives slightly different distances (two finger spaces in the SWBH NHS leaflet, four fingers' width in the Wounds UK statement), so follow the instructions that came with your pair or ask your fitter. If you have pulled the stocking too far, the SWBH leaflet says to take it back down to the ankle and ease it up again rather than folding the excess over.
Putting the stocking on well also helps it stay up. MedlinePlus describes rolling the stocking down to the heel, putting the foot and heel in place, then unrolling it up the leg and smoothing it out (MedlinePlus). Wounds UK notes that rubber gloves with a soft lining give a better grip while you ease the fabric into place.
Top bands: silicone and lace
Thigh high stockings stay up because of the band at the top. Medical hosiery lines offer several kinds: the NHS Devon hosiery list includes dotted, sensitive and lace silicone top bands, and notes waist attachments on some lines (NHS Devon hosiery formulary). The Oxford Health NHS hosiery booklet lists thigh length styles with or without silicone top bands (Oxford Health NHS).
Grips the skin at the upper thigh, designed to hold the stocking up without a garter belt.
A decorative band that holds the stocking in place. Check the materials if you react to silicone.
Offered by some medical lines alongside lace bands. Ask a fitter which suits your skin.
Available on some medical lines; ask a fitter if bands do not suit you.
The store's sheer A102 thigh highs have a three-inch silicone lace top described as staying up without a garter, at 15-20 mmHg. For firmer support, the sheer lace A206 thigh highs are 20-30 mmHg with a decorative lace top, and the A108 lace grip top stockings are a light 8-15 mmHg option. For men, the A2017 thigh highs have a silicone grip top. Our thigh high compression stockings guide covers pressure levels and toe styles in more depth.
Put thigh highs on over clean, dry skin. Wounds UK advises making sure the legs are dry before putting hosiery on and not applying emollients just before, which is why many people moisturise in the evening after taking their stockings off (Wounds UK, 2021). If the band leaves a red, itchy mark that does not fade, or your skin reacts to it, stop and ask a pharmacist or fitter about a different band or style.
Body adhesive for compression stockings
Body adhesive, often sold as roll-on body adhesive or body glue, is a lotion you roll onto the skin where the top of the stocking sits. Once it dries, it helps the band hold to the leg. Wounds UK lists roll-on adhesive among hosiery aids, describing it as helping hosiery stick to the limb and as washing off with water (Wounds UK, 2021).
It is a second step, not the first. Wounds UK says that garments which keep falling down cannot provide therapeutic compression, and that if the garment fits and the fabric is right for the condition, a body glue or an added top band may help keep it in place. For thigh length hosiery whose fit has been checked, it suggests an adhesive designed to adhere compression garments to the limb. In other words, check the size first; adhesive holds a stocking that fits, it does not fix one that does not.
The store sells the VIRELLAQ roll-on body adhesive, a 2 oz roll-on sold for keeping stockings, hosiery and apparel in place. Follow the instructions supplied with it; the example in the next section is from a different maker.
JOBST roll-on adhesive: an example of manufacturer instructions
These directions are for JOBST Roll-On Adhesive, not VIRELLAQ. For VIRELLAQ or another adhesive, follow the instructions supplied with that product; if they are missing or unclear, ask the manufacturer or a pharmacist before use. JOBST's instructions for its own adhesive describe these steps (JOBST Roll-On Adhesive instructions):
- Start with clean, dry skin. Remove any adhesive left from the day before, from both the leg and the stocking.
- Put the stocking on first. Follow the stocking maker's instructions and get the fit right.
- Turn the top edge down and apply to the skin. Roll the adhesive onto the exposed skin where the band will sit, not onto the stocking. JOBST says one application around the leg is usually enough, and that for flat-knitted garments it goes on in two vertical stripes instead.
- Fold the edge back up and press it to the skin. On stockings with a silicone edge, do not apply the adhesive directly under the silicone.
- Reapply if it loosens. Sweat, water, skin care products and water activities can weaken the hold.
- Wash it off every day. After taking the stocking off, remove all residue from the leg with water, and wash the stocking as its maker recommends.
JOBST's instructions also list precautions for its adhesive; the instructions for your own product may differ. JOBST says not to use it on inflamed or oozing skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis, on open wounds, if you react to its ingredients, on skin areas undergoing medical or cosmetic treatment (such as nicotine patches, lotions, make-up, perfume or hair-removal products), or on piercings, tattooed skin or infusion lines. It also says not to apply it immediately after shaving, to avoid irritation, and to talk to your doctor before use if you take medicines that can affect skin reactions, such as steroids or antiallergics. If the skin reacts or you feel unwell, take the garment off and wash the skin with water.
Knee highs that roll down
Knee high compression socks slip for the same reasons as thigh highs, and placement matters just as much. Pull the top to two fingers' width below the knee crease, as MedlinePlus and Wounds UK both describe, and leave it flat (MedlinePlus). If you pulled the sock past that point, take it back down and ease it up again instead of folding the extra over.
If a knee high still slides, measure your calf and ankle again in the morning and compare the numbers with the size chart; Wounds UK's first check for hosiery that rolls or falls down is the size and placement. Socks that used to stay up and no longer do may be worn out or may no longer match your leg, and Wounds UK advises telling your clinician if garments get loose quickly. The store's sheer A101 knee highs have a soft top band and come in sizes Small through 7XL. Our compression socks for flying guide covers knee highs for travel.
When a different style is the answer
If thigh highs keep slipping despite a good fit, or bands and adhesive do not suit your skin, a garment that reaches the waist removes the problem: there is no band at the thigh to slide. The store's sheer A207 pantyhose and opaque A204 pantyhose are both 20-30 mmHg, and the A717 leggings are a footless option worn under clothes. Our pantyhose vs tights vs leggings guide compares them.
Some medical lines offer thigh highs with a waist attachment instead of a grip band. If neither bands nor a waist garment work for you, ask a fitter or your clinician which option fits your needs; the right format matters more than any accessory.
When to stop and ask
Talk to your doctor before wearing firm compression if you have:
- Peripheral arterial disease or poor arterial circulation in the legs
- Severe numbness or reduced sensation in the feet or legs, as with some diabetic neuropathy
- Fragile or broken skin, dermatitis, or recent skin grafts on the leg
- Severe swelling caused by heart failure
New swelling in one leg, especially with pain, warmth or redness, needs urgent medical advice before any garment or adhesive. If leg pain or swelling comes with chest pain or shortness of breath, call emergency services immediately (911 in the US).
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FAQ
How do I keep my compression stockings from falling down?
Check the size against the product's chart first, keep the top band flat and unrolled, smooth out wrinkles, and put the stockings on over clean, dry skin with no fresh lotion. If a thigh high fits and still slips, Wounds UK says a body adhesive or an added top band may help keep it in place.
Can I use body glue to keep compression stockings up?
Yes, if the stocking fits. Roll-on body adhesive is a recognised hosiery aid: it is applied to the skin where the top band sits, helps the band hold, and washes off with water. Use one sold for hosiery and garments, follow its instructions, and do not use it on broken, inflamed or irritated skin.
Should I put the adhesive on the stocking or on my skin?
Follow the instructions for your adhesive. JOBST's Roll-On Adhesive instructions say to apply it to the exposed skin, not the garment, and not directly beneath a silicone edge. These are JOBST's directions for its own product, not instructions for VIRELLAQ.
Why do my knee high compression socks roll down?
Usually because the top is in the wrong place or was folded over, the size is too large, or the pair is worn out. Place the top two fingers' width below the knee crease, keep it flat, re-measure in the morning, and replace pairs every 3 to 6 months.
My stockings are suddenly loose. Should I glue them?
Not before checking why. If your leg was swollen and has gone down, loosening can be a sign the treatment is working, and Wounds UK says a smaller size may be needed. Re-measure, and tell your clinician if garments get loose quickly.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether firm compression fits your situation, especially if you have a circulatory condition, diabetes, or are pregnant.
Lorea Lastiri is an SEO consultant who writes the medical-compression guides for Absolute Support, working from published clinical sources and the store's own sizing data. She also helps online stores capture the demand already searching for their products.