VenaSeal for Varicose Veins: What to Expect During the Recovery Process

Blog Post
By BASS Vein Center
VenaSeal for Varicose Veins: What to Expect During the Recovery Process
October 19, 2023

Veins are the tubes with valves that carry blood from your body back to your heart. These valves are important. They ensure the blood from the extremities can return to the heart, even against the force of gravity.

When these valves become damaged, blood flow can be impaired. The veins can become enlarged and twisted, like the roots of a tree or the course of a river.

What are Varicose Veins?

We call these damaged veins varicose veins. While they can occur anywhere on the body, varicose veins typically appear on your legs. They are caused by the pressure standing and walking place on the veins of your lower body.

For most people, varicose veins are simply a cosmetic blemish. However, for other people they can be a source of pain and discomfort; in some instances, they can lead to serious health problems, such as blood clots or ulcers.

Varicose Vein Treatments

When varicose veins cause continual pain and discomfort, potentially life-threatening blood clots, become ulcerated, or are just too "ugly", there are many varicose vein treatments available.

Lifestyle changes, compression stockings, laser treatments, catheter-assisted heat treatments, ambulatory phlebectomy, or endoscopic vein surgery are examples of invasive and non-invasive varicose vein treatment procedures.

One of the most popular and effective varicose vein treatments is the VenaSeal procedure.

The VenaSeal Procedure

The VenaSeal procedure is a type of minimally invasive varicose vein treatment referred to as sclerotherapy. In these types of procedures, a vein doctor injects a varicose vein with foam or a solution that seals and closes the vein.

In the VenaSeal procedure, the vein doctor uses a special instrument to inject VenaSeal adhesive, a type of medical-grade glue, into the vein to seal it off.

VenaSeal procedures do not require large amounts of anesthesia, nor are there any medications a patient has to take before or after the VenaSeal procedure. And unlike heat-based procedures, there is no risk of skin burns or nerve damage.

What Happens After the VenaSeal Procedure?

Once the VenaSeal glue has been injected into the vein, your doctor will clean the injection site and apply a small adhesive bandage in case there's any minor bleeding. You won't have to worry about any bleeding, swelling, or pain after the VenaSeal procedure, although some patients may briefly experience a minor tenderness in the treated area.

Your body responds to the introduction of the VenaSeal glue by enclosing and encapsulating it with connective tissue, causing the vein to harden. The vein quickly becomes non-functional and will eventually be absorbed by the body, along with the injected VenaSeal adhesive.

You'll be able to resume all your normal activities immediately following your VenaSeal procedure. To hasten your recovery, your doctor will recommend that you engage in physical exercise like walking, biking, basketball, soccer that promotes healthy blood flow in the legs. You should avoid lifting heavy weights and standing for long periods for 5 to 7 days after the treatment to make sure the vein stays sealed off.

After a few weeks, the varicose vein will begin to fade, and eventually disappear.

Your vein doctor will schedule a checkup four weeks after the procedure to ensure the vein has properly healed.

VenaSeal and Other Varicose Vein Treatments

Are you embarrassed by your varicose veins? Are they beginning to ache and swell? The BASS Vein Center is here to help. We provide patients with the latest varicose vein treatments, including the VenaSeal procedure. If you live in the East Bay Area, call the BASS Vein Center to schedule an exam with an experienced vein specialist.

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