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Treatment · Medical Vein Care

VarithenaFoam Sclerotherapy

One or two needle sticks. No incisions. Under one hour, in-office.

Varithena foam treats varicose veins and venous insufficiency without incisions, surgery, or general anesthesia. An FDA-approved microfoam is injected directly into the diseased vein under ultrasound guidance, and the vein closes — with blood naturally rerouting through healthy veins nearby. Especially useful for varicose veins that are too tortuous or branching for a laser fiber to reach.

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Relief from varicose veins.

Varicose veins are the visible result of underlying vein-valve failure. As the valves in the great saphenous vein (or its branches) weaken, blood pools and pressure builds, and the veins downstream balloon outward. Patients notice bulging ropy veins, aching that worsens through the day, swelling at the ankles, and night-time restlessness.

Varithena targets the diseased vein directly. The foam fills the vein, causing the wall to contract and seal closed. Blood naturally reroutes through deeper, healthy veins — and the body gradually absorbs the closed vein over weeks to months. The visible varicosities shrink as the elevated pressure resolves.

Compared with traditional liquid sclerotherapy, Varithena foam holds its position in the vein much better, which lets us treat longer segments and larger varicose tributaries with a smaller volume of medication.

What happens at your visit.

Before treatment

Every patient starts with a venous reflux ultrasound. The ultrasound shows which veins have failed valves and exactly where the diseased anatomy sits — which is what determines whether EVLT, Varithena, or a combination is the right approach.

Our billing team verifies your insurance benefits before scheduling. Most commercial plans, Medicare, and Medicaid cover Varithena when venous insufficiency is medically documented and conservative therapy (compression) has been tried first.

The procedure itself

Performed entirely in our Lake Charles office. No surgical center. No general anesthesia.

  • A small needle is placed into the affected vein under ultrasound guidance — typically one or two needle sticks total.
  • Varithena foam is injected slowly while the surgeon watches the vein close on the ultrasound in real time.
  • Compression is applied immediately.
  • Total time: usually 30 to 45 minutes, occasionally up to an hour.

After the procedure

  • Walking is encouraged immediately. Plan a 10–15 minute walk every 1–2 hours for the first day.
  • Compression stocking on during all waking hours for two weeks. May come off to shower and sleep.
  • Most patients return to work the same day or the next.
  • No heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for one week. No air travel or long road trips for two to four weeks.
  • Follow-up ultrasound at 1–2 weeks to confirm vein closure.

Detailed recovery instructions and a printable PDF are on the Patient Info page.

Is Varithena right for me?

Varithena is often the best choice when:

  • The diseased veins are tortuous or branching — laser fibers can't easily navigate them, but foam can
  • The great saphenous vein has incompetence above the knee, in a location that's anatomically challenging for thermal ablation
  • You have varicose tributaries that remain after a prior EVLT closed the main trunk vein
  • Your anatomy or medical history makes thermal energy less suitable
  • You prefer a needle-stick-only approach with the simplest possible procedure

For straight, accessible trunk veins, EVLT is often the first-line choice. Many patients ultimately receive both treatments at separate visits — EVLT to close the source, Varithena to clean up the downstream tributaries. The treatment plan comes out of your venous reflux ultrasound and a conversation with one of our surgeons.

Ready to find out what your veins actually need? Call (337) 425-9300 to schedule a consultation.

Why Lake Area Vein Center

Vein care from a surgical group.

01

Board-certified surgeons

Drs. Devin Seale, Stephen Castleberry, and Matthew Ayo perform every procedure. Same surgeons who operate at the local hospital.

02

In-office diagnostic ultrasound

Venous reflux ultrasound by a vascular technologist in our Lake Charles office. Surgeon reviews findings at a clinic visit about a week later.

03

50 years caring for SW Louisiana

The dedicated vein program of Sulphur Surgical Clinic — locally owned, family-run, serving Calcasieu, Beauregard, Allen, and Cameron parishes.

Frequently asked

Questions patients ask about this treatment.

What is Varithena and how does it work?

Varithena is an FDA-approved prescription microfoam — a precisely formulated mixture of polidocanol and carbon dioxide/oxygen. Under ultrasound guidance, a small amount is injected directly into the diseased vein through one or two needle sticks. The foam displaces the blood, causes the vein wall to spasm and close, and the treated vein is gradually absorbed by the body while blood reroutes through healthy adjacent veins.

Is Varithena a surgery?

No. There are no incisions, no general anesthesia, and no hospital stay. The procedure is performed entirely in our Lake Charles office under local conditions — typically just one or two needle sticks.

Does it hurt?

Most patients describe Varithena as well-tolerated. There's a small pinch as the needle goes in. Some mild cramping can occur in the treated area as the foam works. Soreness afterward is generally mild and resolves within a few days. No anesthesia is required.

How long does the procedure take?

Typically 30 to 45 minutes, sometimes up to an hour for more extensive work. You walk in, get treated, and walk out the same morning or afternoon.

What's recovery like?

Walking is encouraged immediately after the procedure. You'll wear a compression stocking during all waking hours for two weeks (you can take it off to sleep and to shower). Most patients return to work the same day. Avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for about a week, and no air travel for two to four weeks.

How soon will I see results?

Many patients notice visible improvement in bulging varicose veins within days to a few weeks as the treated veins are absorbed. Symptom relief — aching, heaviness, swelling — often begins within days. Full cosmetic results develop over the following weeks to months.

Who is a good candidate?

Varithena is especially well-suited to: patients with tortuous (twisty) varicose veins that lasers can't easily navigate; above-knee great saphenous vein incompetence; varicose tributaries that remain after prior EVLT or other ablation; patients with anatomy or medical history that makes thermal ablation less suitable; or patients who simply prefer a needle-stick-only option. The right call depends on what your venous reflux ultrasound shows.

How does Varithena compare to EVLT and sclerotherapy?

EVLT uses laser heat and is best for straight, accessible trunk veins. Varithena uses chemical foam and is flexible enough to reach branching or tortuous veins that lasers can't. Traditional liquid sclerotherapy (like Asclera) is best for small spider veins near the skin surface. Many patients benefit from a combination — EVLT to close the main trunk vein, then Varithena for residual tributaries, then Asclera for any remaining cosmetic spider veins.

Will insurance cover Varithena?

Yes, in most cases — when venous insufficiency is medically documented with symptoms, reflux on ultrasound, and a trial of conservative therapy (compression). Our billing team verifies benefits and handles prior authorization before your procedure so there are no surprises.

Are there side effects?

Common: temporary bruising or tenderness at injection sites, sometimes a brown or pinkish discoloration along the treated vein that fades over weeks to months, a firm cord-like feeling as the vein closes. Less common: transient visual disturbances or headache (typically within minutes of injection and self-limited), superficial blood clot in the treated vein. Rare: deep vein thrombosis (the reason we have you walk frequently and follow up at one to two weeks).

From the Journal

Read more from our team.

Ready to schedule?

Most patients are seen within two weeks.

An in-office vein ultrasound is the first step. Our front desk verifies your insurance and walks you through scheduling.

Lake Charles · (337) 425-9300 Sulphur · (337) 527-6363