If you’ve been living with the pain and embarrassment of varicose veins, but you’re afraid of painful vein-stripping surgery, Varithena treatment may be exactly what you’re looking for. Varithena is an FDA-approved microfoam treatment that is gentle and nearly-painless. At One Vein Clinic, this non-surgical, outpatient procedure is performed right here in our office, not a hospital. No general anesthesia, sedation, or incisions are required. The procedure usually takes less than one hour and there’s no downtime afterward. You can get right back to whatever you had planned that day. Learn more about Varithena and feel free to call us to ask any questions you may have after reading this blog article.
What Is the Procedure Like?
With Varithena, treatment is usually just one or two needle sticks and is nearly painless. In fact, in clinical trials, only 4% of patients reported pain at the injection or application site. Our staff is very patient and caring. The treatments have a good track record of effectiveness. Most people only need one treatment. However, additional treatments may be needed, depending on the number and size of veins being treated.
How Does Varithena Treatment Work?
Dr. Farha will inject a small amount of the microfoam into the problem veins. The microfoam fills and treats the desired section of the vein. The diseased vein collapses and the foam is diluted in the bloodstream and flushed out. When the malfunctioning vein collapses, blood flow shifts to healthier veins nearby.
Is Varithena Covered by Insurance?
Yes, Varithena is covered by most Medicare and insurance plans. Coverage is determined by the severity of your varicose veins and your symptoms. We can help you verify your insurance coverage when you call. For patients whose vein treatment costs are not covered, we also offer financing options including CareCredit, HELP card, and HSA or FSA accounts.
Am I a Candidate for Varithena?
Varithena can treat a variety of varicose veins including:
- Veins of all sizes (including small, medium, and large diameters
- Veins previously treated by other medical methods
- Twisted veins (also called tortuous veins)
Dr. Farha will examine your legs, look at your medical history, and determine if you are a good candidate for Varithena treatment. We have various options to treat varicose veins, so together, we can decide which one is right for you.
Is Varithena Effective?
In clinical studies, the majority of patients treated with Varithena experienced improvements in symptoms and appearance. Leg heaviness, achiness, swelling, throbbing, and itching improved after just one treatment. Clinical studies also found that the majority of patients experienced improvement in vein appearance in assessments by both patients and physicians. The good news is that the majority of patients treated with Varithena experienced these results after just one treatment.
What Should I Expect After Varithena Treatment?
You should be able to do most ordinary activities after your treatment. Avoid heavy exercise for one week. You will have some post-treatment bandages on the treated leg(s). Keep them dry for 48 hours. Compression stockings should be worn on the treated leg(s) for two weeks. For the next month, keep moving and avoid long stretches of inactivity. You should walk a minimum of ten minutes a day.
What Are the Side Effects of Varithena?
The most common side effects are leg pain or discomfort, injection site bruising or pain, and potentially serious blood clots in the leg veins. These are not all of the possible side effects of Varithena treatment. Because it is a medical procedure, we always schedule a followup appointment after treatments to check on your legs and make sure all is well.
