Varithena for Varicose Veins in Chicago
Varithena (polidocanol injectable microfoam) is a medicated foam injected through a small needle under ultrasound guidance. It fills the diseased vein and closes it, with no heat and no incision. It suits leaking leg veins that twist, sit close to the skin or are hard to reach with a catheter. Dr. Nidal Elbaridi performs every procedure in the office at our South Loop and Streeterville locations.
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Workers’ Comp, HMO referral or complex insurance? Call (312) 414-1088.
Why a leg vein needs closing
Varicose veins develop when the valves that keep blood moving toward the heart stop working correctly. Blood pools inside the vessel and causes it to stretch and bulge. The underlying problem is called venous insufficiency. It is the source of both the visible veins and leg symptoms such as aching, heaviness, swelling and night cramps.
Varithena treats that underlying problem. It closes the great saphenous vein, the main surface vein of the leg, and the visible varicose veins connected to it, when ultrasound shows their valves are leaking. This is varicose vein treatment without surgery.
Also called
Varithena, polidocanol injectable microfoam or polidocanol microfoam. It is a form of foam sclerotherapy: a sclerosing medicine closes the vein, with no heat and no numbing fluid along the vein.
Other ways to close the same veins are radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which uses heat, and VenaSeal, a medical adhesive.
Find out whether Varithena is right for your veins
Every visit starts with a venous duplex ultrasound, so treatment is matched to what is actually happening in your veins.
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Workers’ Comp, HMO referral or complex insurance? Call (312) 414-1088.
It starts with a duplex ultrasound
A visual exam alone isn’t enough. Your evaluation begins with a venous duplex ultrasound, a non-invasive study that measures blood flow direction and velocity, identifies which vessels have valve failure, and shows whether the problem starts in the deep or superficial venous system.
Dr. Elbaridi reviews your ultrasound with you and performs your procedure himself. The right approach depends on the size and location of the affected veins, the severity of venous insufficiency, and your health history. Varithena is one of several ways to close a vein, and the ultrasound shows which one fits.
Who Varithena is for
- Patients with varicose veins or venous insufficiency
- Leg pain, aching, heaviness, swelling, fatigue or cramping
- Venous reflux in the great saphenous vein or its branches, confirmed by duplex ultrasound
- Veins that twist, sit close to the skin or are hard to pass a catheter through
- Veins that came back or stayed open after an earlier treatment
Dr. Elbaridi often chooses Varithena for these twisting or hard-to-reach veins, where a catheter for RFA or VenaSeal is harder to place. For a long, straight vein, RFA or VenaSeal may fit better.
Who it isn’t for
Varithena may not be appropriate if you:
- have a known allergy to polidocanol
- have an active blood clot (deep vein thrombosis or a clot in the lungs)
- are unable to walk or stay mobile after the procedure
- have an active skin or soft tissue infection near the treatment area
- are pregnant (treatment is usually put off until after pregnancy)
- have symptoms mainly caused by a condition other than venous insufficiency
Not being a candidate for Varithena doesn’t mean vein treatment isn’t possible. RFA, VenaSeal, ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy or microphlebectomy may fit better.
How Varithena is done
Vein closure procedures (EVLT, RFA, VenaSeal and Varithena) are done under ultrasound guidance, in the office.
1. Numbing
Most patients need only a little local anesthetic where the needle goes in. Because Varithena uses no heat, there is no tumescent anesthesia, the numbing fluid placed along the vein for RFA, and sedation is not usually needed.
2. The injection
Dr. Elbaridi places a small needle or a short, thin catheter into the vein under ultrasound guidance. No incision is needed, and there are no stitches.
3. Closing the vein
He injects the foam while watching it on the ultrasound. The foam fills the vein, pushes the blood out and acts on the vein wall, so the vein collapses and closes. Your leg is then wrapped or a compression stocking is put on before you stand up.
How long it takes
The procedure itself usually takes about 20–30 minutes per leg. Plan on about an hour in the office in total, including the ultrasound mapping, preparation and your aftercare instructions.
Getting home
Varithena is done with local anesthetic only, so most patients drive themselves home and walk right away. Most return to normal daily activities the same day.
Recovery and what comes next
Walking, work and exercise
Walk right after the procedure and several times a day after that. Most patients return to desk work the same day or the next day. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for about a week.
Compression stockings
You’ll wear compression stockings afterward. They are usually worn day and night for the first 2 days, then during the day for about 2 weeks. Dr. Elbaridi may adjust this for your procedure and recovery.
Follow-up ultrasound
A follow-up duplex ultrasound within the first week confirms the treated vein has closed and that the deep veins are healthy and free of blood clots.
What happens to the vein
The treated vein closes and is gradually replaced by scar tissue. Blood is redirected to healthier veins nearby. For a few weeks the treated vein can feel firm, tender or lumpy, and the skin over it may look bruised or darker. This usually fades over the following weeks to months. Some veins need a second treatment session. A vein that has been successfully closed usually stays closed. However, new varicose veins can develop over time if the underlying tendency toward venous insufficiency continues.
Keep moving
Compression stockings, regular movement, and periodic follow-up help manage long-term recurrence. Walking is encouraged after treatment and helps circulation. The warning signs are the same as after RFA.
Call the office if you have:
- pain that keeps increasing instead of improving
- significant swelling in the treated leg
- redness, warmth or tenderness along the vein that keeps getting worse
- fever or other signs of infection
- questions about your stockings or recovery
Go to the emergency room right away if you have:
- sudden chest pain
- shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- coughing up blood
- severe leg swelling that gets worse quickly
- vision changes, weakness, numbness or trouble speaking
- signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as facial swelling
Other ways we close a vein
Dr. Elbaridi performs each of these in the office. The ultrasound, and your own preferences, decide which one fits.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
Radiofrequency heat delivered through a thin catheter closes the vein, which is gradually replaced by scar tissue.
More about vein RFA Adhesive closureVenaSeal
Most patients need only local anesthetic; sedation is available if you want it. You’ll wear compression stockings afterward.
More about VenaSeal All treatmentsEVLT, sclerotherapy and microphlebectomy
Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT), ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy and microphlebectomy are covered in our varicose vein treatment guide.
Varicose vein treatment in Chicago
Dr. Nidal Elbaridi, MD
- Harvard Medical School phlebology training (2015)
- Medtronic VenaSeal and radiofrequency ablation certification (2019)
- Boston Scientific Varithena certification (2023)
Insurance and pre-authorization
Medical vein treatment is covered by most insurance when ultrasound confirms venous insufficiency. We verify benefits and pre-authorize before your procedure, so there are no surprise bills afterward. We do not charge out-of-network rates.
Most insurance accepted, including Medicare, Medicare Advantage, PPO and HMO plans. Coverage depends on medical necessity — we verify before your visit.
Before insurance approves Varithena
Many plans, including Medicare, cover Varithena when medical necessity is documented. Like RFA, they often first require documented symptoms, a reflux ultrasound and a trial of compression stockings. We check your plan’s requirements and handle the prior authorization before you choose.
What Chicago patients say about Loop
Dr. Elbaridi and the entire team are truly exceptional. Their bedside manner and genuine care make you feel like more than just another patient…
I’ve been coming to Loop Medical Center for my vein procedures with Dr. Nidal, and I couldn’t be more impressed…
Varithena questions, answered
Is Varithena the same as sclerotherapy for spider veins?
Both use a sclerosing medicine, but they treat different veins. Varithena is a medicated microfoam made to close larger veins, such as the great saphenous vein, under ultrasound guidance. Spider vein sclerotherapy treats small veins at the surface and is cosmetic, so it isn’t covered by insurance.
Does Varithena hurt?
Most patients feel only the small needle stick and some mild pressure or cramping in the leg. Tenderness and bruising along the vein are common for a few weeks and usually mild.
How long do I wear compression stockings?
You’ll wear compression stockings afterward, usually day and night for the first 2 days, then during the day for about 2 weeks.
Will I need more than one treatment?
Often one session is enough, but some veins need a second treatment. Your follow-up ultrasound shows whether the vein has fully closed.
Can I drive myself home?
Yes. Varithena is done with local anesthetic only, so most patients drive themselves home and walk right away.
Can the vein come back?
A vein that has been successfully closed usually stays closed. However, new varicose veins can develop over time if the underlying tendency toward venous insufficiency continues.
Related pages
Book your vein evaluation at Loop Medical Center
Same-week appointments at our South Loop and Streeterville locations.
Opens our secure booking calendar — this page stays open.
Workers’ Comp, HMO referral or complex insurance? Call (312) 414-1088.