In-office vein treatment
Varithena foam treatment for varicose veins
Varithena is a minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided foam treatment for varicose veins and incompetent saphenous veins. Performed in-office without surgery, the microfoam collapses the treated vein so blood redirects to healthier vessels, often in a single session with little downtime.
Who Varithena is for
Varithena is for varicose veins caused by a saphenous vein that no longer closes properly. It treats the main trunk vein and its tributaries at the same time, so it is often chosen when the veins are twisted or hard to reach with a laser fiber. It is also an option for patients who have already had a vein treated and have new varicosities.
Conditions treated: Varicose veins, Chronic venous insufficiency
Every plan starts with an ultrasound
Before any treatment is recommended, we map your leg veins with an in-office ultrasound. It shows which veins are refluxing and which treatment fits. The consultation and ultrasound are usually covered by insurance.
The procedure
How Varithena works, step by step.
Most visits take under an hour, and you walk out afterward.
- Step 01
Map
The physician maps the vein with ultrasound, and a little local anesthetic numbs the skin.
- Step 02
Fill
Through a tiny catheter, microfoam is placed into the vein under ultrasound guidance.
- Step 03
Seal
The foam displaces blood and irritates the vein wall, so the vein seals.
- Step 04
Reroute
Blood reroutes to healthy veins. A follow-up ultrasound confirms the vein has closed.
Simplified, not to scaleSimplified drawings of each step. Your physician will walk you through your own treatment at your consultation.
What happens during the visit
You lie comfortably while the physician maps the vein with ultrasound. A small amount of local anesthetic numbs the skin. Through a tiny catheter, the microfoam is placed into the vein under ultrasound guidance. The foam displaces blood and irritates the vein wall so it seals. Most visits take under an hour, and you walk out afterward.
After the procedure
You will wear a compression stocking for a short period and are encouraged to walk right away. Most people return to normal activity the same day or the next. Bruising and tenderness along the treated vein are common for a week or two. A follow-up ultrasound confirms the vein has closed. Blood reroutes to healthy veins, and symptoms like heaviness and swelling usually ease over the following weeks.
How Varithena compares
Most patients with varicose veins need one of the vein-closing treatments, sometimes followed by sclerotherapy or micro-phlebectomy for the branches. The ultrasound decides which.
| Treatment | Best for | How it works | Anesthesia | Typical downtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varithena This page | Varicose veins fed by a saphenous vein that is not working | Ultrasound-guided microfoam closes the vein | Local, if any | Walk out the same day; light activity right away |
| Laser ablation (ELAS) | A refluxing greater saphenous vein | A thin laser fiber seals the vein from the inside | Local | Walk out the same day; compression for a short period |
| Sclerotherapy | Spider veins and smaller varicose veins | A solution injected into the vein makes it fade over weeks | None | None; several sessions may be needed |
| Micro-phlebectomy | Bulging surface veins | Tiny incisions remove the vein segment | Local | Walk out the same day; compression afterward |
Cost and insurance
Varithena is usually covered by insurance when the ultrasound shows reflux and you have symptoms such as pain, swelling, or skin changes. Many insurers require a trial of compression stockings first. We check coverage and submit for prior authorization before your procedure is scheduled.
You get the number before you commit
Before anything is scheduled, we tell you in writing what your plan covers and what it leaves to you. Nothing goes on the schedule until you have that in hand.
Varithena questions
Is Varithena painful?
Most patients describe pressure or mild discomfort, not pain. The skin is numbed before the catheter is placed, and no general anesthesia is used.
How long does it take for Varithena to work?
The vein closes during the procedure. Visible veins fade over several weeks as the body absorbs the treated vein, and leg symptoms usually improve within days to weeks.
What should I expect after Varithena?
Compression for a short period, walking right away, and a follow-up ultrasound. Bruising and tenderness are normal. Call the office about worsening pain, swelling, or redness.
Does insurance cover Varithena?
When treatment is medically necessary, most plans cover it after prior authorization. We submit a pre-determination with your ultrasound findings before scheduling. See our cost and insurance page.
Where and with whom
Varithena is performed in the office at both locations: with Dr. Thomas Drost in Oak Park (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday) and with Dr. Kristen Hayes in Wilmette on Thursdays. The physician who performs your ultrasound and consultation is the physician who treats you.
Thomas Francis Drost, M.D.
Board Certified Surgeon
Dr. Drost is a board certified surgeon who performs in-office, non-surgical vein treatments at our Oak Park office.
Kristen Hayes, M.D.
Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
Dr. Hayes is a board certified physician with more than two decades of clinical experience who treats varicose and spider veins at our Wilmette office.
Related treatments
Sclerotherapy
Quick injections that fade spider veins and small varicose veins.
Laser Therapy (ELAS)
A thin laser fiber seals the vein that causes most varicose veins.
Micro-Phlebectomy
Bulging surface veins removed through tiny nicks. No stitches.
Your legs have places to go.
Two offices in Oak Park and Wilmette, serving Evanston, Berwyn, River Forest, Skokie, Glenview, and all of Chicagoland. All procedures are performed in the office without surgery.