What happens when your vein valves and vein walls get weak? Instead of blood following the normal path and going back up your legs to your heart, your blood starts to pool in the veins, stretch them out, and the next thing you know, you’ve got bulging, twisting, sometimes painful varicose veins. And that’s where VenaSeal comes in.
Although it’s always a good idea to get varicose veins checked out by a vein specialist, they don’t always require medical attention. They do, however, often come with side effects like
- the inability to wear a bikini without feeling self-conscious about your legs
- having to leave the super fab, highly discounted designer mini skirt on the rack because you don’t want anyone to see the bulges in your legs
- having to skip that nice long hike along the river because you need to elevate your achy, swollen legs
If you’re sick of living with the side effects of varicose veins, you’ve probably been shopping around for the best vein treatment.
Luckily, there are many minimally invasive vein treatment options out there that don’t require vein stripping or surgery. But the question is, which one should you choose?
If you want a straightforward, simple procedure that has less downtime than the others, then it’s time to look at VenaSeal.
What’s VenaSeal?
You may not have heard of VenaSeal yet because it’s relatively new to the market, and it works a little differently than laser ablation therapy and radiofrequency. VenaSeal – in comparison – closes your veins using medical adhesive.
Intrigued?
The VenaSeal Closure System is the only FDA-approved procedure that uses an injection of medical adhesive to close varicose veins. Like other vein treatments, VenaSeal closes your vein and reroutes blood to nearby healthy veins.
The process works immediately, which means there’s no waiting for it to work, AND you don’t have to wear compression stockings after the procedure! That means you can throw on whatever you like, and you don’t have to mess with compression stocking during the hot summer months.
How Does VenaSeal Work?
We’re glad you asked. Here are the four steps:
1 The procedure starts with the application of a numbing agent to your skin, followed by a single needle prick that delivers a numbing agent to your leg.
2 Once you’re numb, your vein specialist will thread a catheter into the damaged vein using an ultrasound of your leg as their guide.
3 The catheter will deliver a specially formulated medical adhesive into the vein, which immediately closes the vein. It’s kind of like super glue for your veins! Just like with any adhesive, light external pressure applied to the vein ensures the vein walls adhere together for the entire length of the vein.
4 Then the vein specialist removes the catheter and places a single adhesive bandage on the vein access site.
That’s it! How easy is that?
What’s even better? We mentioned the lack of compression socks and less downtime in recovery. And we meant it. Many patients return to normal activity immediately after the VenaSeal procedure.
What Are the Benefits of the VenaSeal Procedure?
All kidding aside, the VenaSeal procedure has many benefits in its favor.
- The procedure itself is a simple outpatient one. VenaSeal has proven to have lasting results, with a 94.6% closure rate at five years.
- Recovery time after VenaSeal is faster than thermal ablation.
- Patients experience less pain and bruising after VenaSeal than thermal ablation.
- You need no tumescent anesthesia for the procedure.
- Typically, your provider can treat both legs in the same VenaSeal appointment.
- Recovery typically only involves the healing of the vein access site with little temporary skin and tissue irritation.
What else?
Treating varicose veins with the VenaSeal procedure can help alleviate
- Swelling
- Aching
- Skin irritation
- Inflammation
- Discoloration
- Restless legs
- Open sores or ulcers
- Leg cramps
These types of symptoms are caused by diseased superficial veins, which means that once these veins are closed, the symptoms will improve.
Are There Side Effects?
Adverse reactions to VenaSeal are limited. Some patients have experienced an allergic reaction, inflammation, phlebitis, deep vein thrombosis, and/or pulmonary embolism.
What Happens to the VenaSeal Procedure Adhesive?
Now, you may be wondering what happens to the medical adhesive that the vein specialist inserted into your vein. The VenaSeal procedure only requires a very small amount of adhesive to close a vein. Eventually, your body will naturally create scar tissue around the adhesive to keep the vessel permanently closed.
How is the VenaSeal Procedure Different From Thermal Energy or Laser Procedures?
Thermal energy and laser procedures use heat to close veins, whereas the VenaSeal procedure uses an adhesive to seal the superficial vein.
The VenaSeal procedure only requires one needle stick, whereas the other treatments require more than one needle stick.
Does Insurance Cover the VenaSeal Procedure?
As with any procedure, insurance coverage will vary depending on what the company policies are and what your policy covers. Our team at Denver Vein can help you determine whether your insurance policy covers the VenaSeal Procedure. If your policy doesn’t cover it, we offer reduced cash pricing and options in paying for the procedures, including CareCredit. Many patients have successfully used their HSA or FSA card to pay for these procedures as well.
Are you ready to show off your legs again? We can help!
We know veins! For over 15 years, our board-certified surgeon and specialized staff at Denver Vein Center have been committed to your care!
We also know that insurance can be so confusing! That’s why we include assistance with decoding insurance plans as a part of the service you receive from Denver Vein Center. Our team will work one-on-one with you to make sure you understand what’s covered by your insurance policy and what’s not – as well as ensure you have the best chance of getting your procedure approved and covered. Contact us for a consultation!