Varithena®
Varithena® is an FDA-approved, minimally invasive medical treatment used to permanently close varicose veins and correct chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Unlike traditional surgery or heat-based treatments, Varithena® utilizes a specialized, prescription microfoam sclerosant injected directly into the diseased vessel. Performed right inside the Vein & Wound Center of LA, this quick in-office procedure offers a gentle patient experience with minimal downtime.
BEFORE
AFTER
Varithena® is highly effective at treating underlying vein valve failure and eliminating the painful, progressive symptoms that accompany advanced varicose veins, including:
Bulging, Rope-Like Varicose Veins: Prominent blue or purple surface veins that twist and protrude along the calves or thighs.
Chronic Leg Heaviness: A persistent, heavy, or sluggish sensation in the lower limbs that grows increasingly fatiguing by the end of the day.
Deep Muscle Throbbing or Aching: Continuous soreness or general leg discomfort that worsens during prolonged sitting or standing.
Nighttime Leg Cramping: Sudden, painful muscle spasms (“Charley horses”) that repeatedly disrupt your sleep.
Swelling and Skin Irritation: Chronic fluid retention around the ankles, often coupled with skin irritation over the affected veins.
The primary target of Varithena® is chronic venous insufficiency, a condition where the tiny one-way valves inside your leg veins weaken or fail. Instead of pumping blood efficiently upward against gravity, these broken valves allow blood to flow backward and pool heavily in your lower extremities, causing veins to stretch, widen, and bulge.
During a Varithena® session, our vascular specialist uses real-time ultrasound guidance to insert a small catheter or fine needle into the affected vein. The proprietary Varithena® microfoam is then precisely injected. Because of its foam consistency, it easily displaces the blood within the vessel, filling the cavity and causing the diseased vein walls to collapse and seal securely shut. Your blood flow is instantly and naturally rerouted through healthy surrounding veins, dropping deep tissue pressure and restoring proper circulation. Over time, your body safely and naturally reabsorbs the closed vessel.
Because Varithena® does not utilize heat to close the vein, it provides several unique benefits that distinguish it from thermal ablation methods like laser (EVLT) or radiofrequency (RFA):
No Tumescent Anesthesia Required: Thermal treatments require a series of numbing fluid injections along the entire pathway of the vein to protect surrounding tissues from heat. Varithena® requires only local numbing at the initial insertion point.
No Risk of Thermal Nerve Injury: Because there is no heat involved, there is absolutely zero risk of skin burns or thermal damage to adjacent nerves, making it exceptionally safe for treating a wide variety of vein sizes and locations.
Excellent Efficacy on Complex Veins: The expanding microfoam travels smoothly through twisted, tortuous, or winding vein segments that are otherwise difficult to navigate with rigid laser fibers or radiofrequency catheters.
Immediate Return to Daily Life: The entire procedure takes only 30 to 45 minutes, requires no surgical incisions, and allows you to walk right out of the clinic and return to your normal daily activities the same day.
Varithena® (microfoam)
Foam sclerosant injected via catheter
Local only
Same day
Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA)
Laser heat closes the vein
Local + tumescent
1–2 days
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Radiofrequency heat closes vein
Local + tumescent
1–2 days, minimal discomfort
Sclerotherapy
Liquid/foam injections into small veins
None
Immediate
Vein Stripping Surgery
Surgical removal of vein
General/regional
1–2 weeks
When it comes to your circulatory health, you deserve specialized, compassionate care. At Vein and Wound Center of LA, we focus entirely on your long-term relief and recovery:
Our vein specialists possess advanced training in vascular medicine and complex wound care, ensuring you receive the highest standard of medical excellence.
We utilize the latest in-office diagnostic ultrasound and a comprehensive array of modern, non-surgical vein closure systems.
We are uniquely equipped to treat everything from early-stage spider veins to advanced varicose veins and complex venous ulcers under one roof.
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all treatments. We analyze your unique anatomy and lifestyle to recommend the exact treatment pathway—whether Varithena®, thermal ablation, or alternative non-thermal systems—that fits you best.
Step 1: Consultation & Ultrasound Mapping: We perform a detailed duplex venous ultrasound to carefully map your leg anatomy, trace the exact source of your venous backflow, and confirm if Varithena® is the ideal match for your care.
Step 2: Virtually Painless Closure: The entry point is numbed, the microfoam is precisely administered under ultrasound guidance, and the target vein is sealed shut. The process takes less than an hour.
Step 3: Instant Recovery: A light bandage or compression wrap is applied, and you walk right out of our clinic to seamlessly continue your day.
No. It only requires local numbing at the insertion site, and most patients report feeling very little discomfort.
It uses no heat, which eliminates the need for multiple numbing injections and protects nearby nerves from thermal damage.
No. You can walk immediately after the procedure and resume regular daily activities the same day.
Usually no. Because these advanced systems do not use heat, post-procedure compression socks are generally not required.
Yes. When ultrasound documents that your veins cause medical symptoms like pain or swelling, it is covered by Medicare and private insurance.
Don’t let visible veins or self-consciousness hold you back from living your life to the fullest.
Schedule a consultation with our vein specialists today to receive a personalized treatment plan.
