Varithena Microfoam Procedure Offers a Fast Alternative to Surgery for Varicose Vein Treatment
For a fast, minimally invasive procedure for treating your varicose veins, Varithena may be for you.
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2013, the treatment created by Boston Scientific involves delivery of a microfoam with 1% polidocanol solution into affected veins in the legs using ultrasound guidance. The cohesive microfoam fills the vein cavity to displace blood toward healthier, stronger vessels as well as treats the vein wall, restoring your unsightly, itchy, and aching veins to nearly normal in about eight weeks. The microfoam disperses as it comes into contact with blood in healthy veins. This non-thermal, non-surgical treatment has a 97% success rate on the treated vein, so most patients can say goodbye to repeat treatments.
In addition, the gentle Varithena procedure uses only one to two needle sticks with a local anesthetic and then an IV catheter or micropuncture set rather than multiple injections to numb the area and treat the vein. Varithena also avoids general anesthesia, so you can drive yourself home or to work afterward. With just 10 minutes to administer the treatment and a total visit often less than one hour, you can be back to most normal activities on the same day.
The most common side effects are leg pain or discomfort, injection site bruising or pain, and potentially serious blood clots in the leg veins, according to Boston Scientific. However, only 4% of patients reported pain at the injection or application site in clinical trials. While allergic reactions are rare, you will be monitored for adverse signs for at least 10 minutes directly after the procedure. Bandages will be applied for 48 hours, and compression stockings will need to be worn for four weeks. For about a month following treatment, you should walk at least 10 minutes a day and avoid long stretches of inactivity, such as flights or long car rides, to promote healthy blood flow.
Most insurance carriers will cover Varithena treatment. Contact Fitzgibbons Vein Center to schedule a consultation or treatment visit.
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