Treatments

Varithena® Foam Sclerotherapy

An FDA-approved microfoam that closes diseased veins without heat, catheters, or surgery — ideal for twisted veins other treatments can't reach.

Medically reviewed by Satish Tadepalli, MD, MPH, DABVLM · Last reviewed 7 July 2026

What Is Varithena?

Varithena® is a prescription microfoam made from polidocanol, a medication used in vein care for decades. It is FDA-approved to treat the great saphenous vein system — a common source of varicose veins — and the visible varicosities connected to it.

Unlike thermal ablation, Varithena uses no catheter and no heat. A small volume of fine, uniform foam is injected into the diseased vein under ultrasound guidance. The foam displaces the blood, treats the vein wall, and the vein closes. Blood reroutes to healthy veins, and the treated vein is gradually absorbed by the body.

Because foam flows where a stiff catheter cannot, Varithena is especially useful for tortuous (twisted) veins and for some veins that have returned after earlier treatment.

Who It's For — and Who It's Not For

Varithena may be a good fit if:

It is generally not the first choice for tiny cosmetic spider veins (visual sclerotherapy handles those), and it is avoided in patients with a known allergy to polidocanol or an active blood clot. Some very large, straight saphenous veins may still be better served by thermal ablation. Your duplex ultrasound — performed personally by Dr. Tadepalli — determines which tool fits your anatomy.

What to Expect

Before

You'll have a consultation and a duplex ultrasound to map your reflux, followed by insurance verification and pre-authorization before any treatment is scheduled. No referral is needed. Because coverage criteria for Varithena vary by plan, we confirm your benefits up front — costs made clear up front.

During

Treatment is a 30–45 minute office visit. After a small numbing injection at the access site, Dr. Tadepalli places a fine needle or tiny cannula into the vein and injects the microfoam while watching it move through the vein on ultrasound in real time. Gentle pressure and leg positioning help direct the foam. There is no heat, no tumescent anesthesia, and no incision.

After

A compression stocking is applied and you walk out the same day — walking immediately afterward is part of the protocol. Back to life the same afternoon.

Recovery

Most patients return to light normal activity right away. We ask you to wear compression as directed, walk daily, and avoid heavy exercise and long periods of inactivity for a short time after treatment — your specific plan will be reviewed with you at the visit.

Some firmness, tenderness, or lumpiness along the treated vein is common for a few weeks as the vein seals and is absorbed. A follow-up ultrasound checks the result, and some patients benefit from an additional session or a complementary treatment such as ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy for smaller branches.

Risks & Considerations

Varithena is well tolerated, but results vary and risks exist. The most common effects are temporary: bruising, aching, tenderness, and firmness along the treated vein, plus possible skin pigmentation (a brownish staining that usually fades over months but can persist). Superficial phlebitis can occur. Rarer risks include allergic reaction to polidocanol, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and — very rarely with any foam sclerosant — visual disturbance or migraine-like symptoms shortly after injection, which typically resolve. Ultrasound guidance and careful foam volumes are the main safeguards.

If a non-thermal option appeals to you but foam isn't the right match, VenaSeal™ adhesive closure is another heat-free alternative we offer in the same office.

"Varithena earns its place in my practice on the difficult cases — the twisted, branching veins a catheter can't follow. Watching the foam trace the whole vein on ultrasound is exactly the precision I want."— Dr. Satish Tadepalli, MD, MPH, DABVLM
This page is for education and is not a substitute for a personal evaluation. Individual results vary. Insurance coverage for Varithena® depends on your plan's medical-necessity criteria; we verify benefits and handle pre-authorization before treatment. Varithena® is a registered trademark of its manufacturer.
Ready to find out if Varithena is right for your veins? Book Your Vein Consultation or call (862) 342-0220

Frequently Asked Questions

Varithena is a prescription microfoam made from polidocanol, a sclerosant medication with a long history in vein care. The foam is generated in a controlled canister system, giving it a consistent, fine-bubble texture designed to treat the vein wall evenly.
No tumescent anesthesia is needed because there is no heat involved. Treatment usually involves only a small amount of local numbing at the injection site, and most patients describe the procedure as very comfortable.
Yes. Varithena is an FDA-approved treatment for incompetent great saphenous vein systems and associated visible varicose veins.
Foam treatments are typically 30–45 minute visits. You walk in, are treated under ultrasound guidance, and walk out the same day with a compression stocking.
Many plans cover Varithena when it is medically necessary, though criteria vary by insurer. We verify your specific benefits and handle pre-authorization before treatment, so you know where you stand — costs made clear up front.
Often, yes. Because the foam flows through twisted and branching veins that a straight catheter cannot navigate, Varithena is frequently a good option for recurrent varicose veins after earlier procedures. An ultrasound evaluation determines whether it fits your situation.
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