Treatments
How Varithena microfoam closes malfunctioning veins without heat or catheters, which patients benefit most from it, and what results look like after treatment.
Varithena is an FDA-approved prescription microfoam that treats venous reflux by filling and collapsing malfunctioning leg veins without the use of heat or a thermal catheter. At The Vein Clinic of Dallas, every Varithena procedure is personally performed by Dr. Husein Poonawala a Harvard-trained vascular and interventional radiologist with double board certification in venous and lymphatic medicine. It is recommended when evaluation confirms that a patient’s vein anatomy makes it the most clinically appropriate treatment choice, not as a default or convenience option.
Varithena is a non-thermal, non-tumescent treatment for chronic venous insufficiency, the underlying condition responsible for varicose veins, leg heaviness, aching, swelling, and the skin changes that develop as venous disease progresses.
Rather than using heat delivered through a catheter, Varithena works by introducing a small amount of specially formulated polidocanol microfoam directly into the target vein under ultrasound guidance. The foam displaces blood within the vessel, contacts the vein wall, and causes it to collapse and seal. The treated vein is then gradually absorbed by the body while blood reroutes naturally through healthy adjacent vessels. The non-thermal approach is meaningful in specific clinical situations, particularly for veins that are tortuous, branching, or located near nerves where thermal energy carries a higher risk of sensitivity.
20–30 minutes
Skin-level local only, no tumescent
Same-day return to activity
Covered by most plans
Continuous ultrasound
Varithena is recommended when a diagnostic duplex ultrasound confirms venous
reflux and the anatomy or location of the affected veins makes it a more
appropriate choice than thermal ablation.
Tortuous or highly branching varicose veins where a thermal catheter cannot be advanced reliably
Veins located near nerves or in below-the-knee segments where thermal energy carries a higher risk of sensitivity
Patients who have already undergone radiofrequency ablation of the source vein and evaluation confirms additional vessels warrant treatment
Patients seeking a non-thermal, no-catheter treatment option for confirmed venous reflux
Clinical situations where Varithena complements other treatments to achieve complete correction of what evaluation confirms needs to be addressed
Varithena is performed under continuous duplex ultrasound guidance to ensure
precise delivery and real-time monitoring throughout the procedure
Local anesthetic is applied at the skin level to numb the needle entry point. No tumescent anesthesia is required along the length of the vein.
A small needle is used to introduce the Varithena microfoam directly into the target vein under real-time ultrasound guidance.
The foam expands within the vessel, displacing blood and contacting the vein wall along its entire length.
The foam causes the vessel wall to collapse and seal, permanently closing the malfunctioning vein without heat or catheter advancement.
Blood flow reroutes immediately to healthy adjacent veins as the treated vessel seals.
The treated vein is gradually absorbed by the body over the following weeks, with continued cosmetic improvement as the vessel disappears.
Gradual fading. Lasting clearance.
Improvement in leg heaviness, aching, swelling, and discomfort typically begins within days as pressure in the treated vein is eliminated
Visible varicose veins in the treated area gradually flatten and fade over several weeks as the closed vein is absorbed by the body
Treated vein is permanently sealed. Results are durable when treatment is guided by thorough evaluation and proper patient selection
No heat, no thermal catheter, and no tumescent anesthesia required. Mild tenderness resolves within one to two weeks
When used to treat varicose veins caused by chronic venous insufficiency with confirmed venous reflux, Varithena is typically covered by insurance. Our team handles all prior authorization submissions and insurance communications on your behalf. Some plans require a conservative management trial before approving treatment. We will tell you exactly what your plan requires before anything is scheduled.
Plans accepted include BCBS, Anthem, Medicare, Aetna, Cigna, United
Healthcare and more.
Varithena is FDA-approved with a well-established safety profile. Mild tenderness or bruising resolves within one to two weeks. Allergic reactions to polidocanol are exceedingly rare. Our post-procedure protocol minimizes the very small risk of deep vein thrombosis associated with any vein procedure.
Dr. Poonawala personally performs every Varithena treatment under continuous ultrasound guidance. Precise delivery of the microfoam to the right location requires real-time imaging expertise that comes from his background in vascular and interventional radiology.
Varithena is offered when your specific anatomy and clinical picture make it the most appropriate treatment, not as a default or filler procedure. When other options are better suited, we say so.
Varithena is most often used as part of a sequenced treatment approach, complementing RFA or VenaSeal when anatomy and evaluation confirm it is the most appropriate tool for the remaining vessels.
Your Varithena treatment is part of an ongoing vein health relationship. Annual follow-up evaluations protect your results and detect any new disease before it progresses.
If your legs feel heavy by the end of the day, ache after standing, swell around the ankles, or have developed visible varicose veins that have not responded to other treatments, a comprehensive vein evaluation will determine whether Varithena is the right approach for your anatomy.
Schedule your consultation with The Vein Clinic of Dallas, serving Flower Mound, The
Colony, Allen, and Prosper.