Medicare and most major insurance accepted. Coverage depends on medical necessity and your plan.
Varithena® Treatment in Kansas City & Missouri
The region's leading provider of FDA-approved polidocanol microfoam therapy for varicose veins and great saphenous vein disease.
Duration
30–60 min
Anesthesia
Local only
Downtime
Same day
Insurance
Medicare + Most
Restore Muscle and Joint operates one of the most experienced Varithena® (polidocanol injectable foam, 1%) programs serving Kansas City, the greater Missouri and Kansas metro, and surrounding communities including Liberty, Gladstone, Parkville, Smithville, Leavenworth, and the Northland. Our board-certified vascular team performs Varithena foam ablation in a state-of-the-art outpatient Vascular & Vein Suite — no hospital, no general anesthesia, and most patients walk out within the hour.
Varithena is a non-thermal, non-tumescent ultrasound-guided microfoam treatment specifically engineered for the tortuous (twisted), large-diameter, and above- or below-knee great saphenous vein (GSV) segments that conventional laser (EVLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) cannot safely or effectively close. It is the only FDA-approved injectable foam for symptomatic varicose veins of the GSV system.
Why Varithena?
- FDA-approved for the great saphenous vein and accessory varicosities
- Treats twisted (tortuous) and large-diameter veins not suited for RFA or laser
- Non-thermal — no heat, no nerve injury risk, no tumescent anesthesia
- No incisions and only a single tiny needle entry point
- Procedure typically completed in under one hour
- Walk out the same day and return to most activities immediately
- Covered by Medicare and most major commercial insurance
- Performed by board-certified vascular specialists in our accredited vein suite
How Varithena Works
Under continuous duplex ultrasound guidance, your vascular physician injects a precisely measured volume of Varithena microfoam through a single small needle or catheter. The proprietary low-nitrogen microfoam displaces blood inside the diseased vein and uniformly contacts the vessel wall, triggering controlled endothelial damage and durable closure.
Blood is naturally rerouted to healthy deep veins, and the treated vein is gradually reabsorbed by your body over the following weeks and months. Because the procedure is non-thermal, it can safely treat segments near the skin, near nerves, or in tortuous anatomy where heat-based ablation is contraindicated.
Are You a Candidate?
Varithena may be the ideal treatment if you experience:
- Aching, heavy, throbbing, restless, or itching legs
- Visible bulging varicose veins along the thigh, calf, or behind the knee
- Leg swelling, skin discoloration, or healed/active venous ulcers
- Recurrent varicosities after prior vein stripping, RFA, or laser ablation
- Tortuous, twisted, or unusually large great saphenous or accessory veins
- Veins that are too superficial or close to nerves for thermal ablation
Every patient receives a comprehensive duplex ultrasound mapping study before treatment is recommended.
Medicare and most major insurance accepted. Coverage depends on medical necessity and your plan.
Varithena vs. Laser, RFA & Vein Stripping
| Feature | Varithena® | Laser / RFA | Vein Stripping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat used | No | Yes | N/A (surgical) |
| Tumescent anesthesia | No | Yes (multiple needle sticks) | General anesthesia |
| Treats tortuous veins | Yes | Limited | Yes (invasive) |
| Incisions | None | Catheter access | Multiple incisions |
| Recovery | Same day | 1–3 days | 1–3 weeks |
| FDA-approved foam | Yes | N/A | N/A |
Real Results with Varithena
Photos show results after one treatment with Varithena. Additional treatments may be needed depending on the number and size of veins treated.
What to Expect: Recovery
Patients wear graduated compression stockings for approximately two weeks and are encouraged to walk at least 10 minutes every waking hour for the first 48 hours. Most return to work, driving, and normal activity the same day. Strenuous exercise, hot baths, and long flights are avoided for 1–2 weeks.
A follow-up duplex ultrasound at 1–2 weeks confirms vein closure and screens for the rare risk of deep vein thrombosis. Additional touch-up sessions or visual sclerotherapy may be scheduled to address residual surface varicosities.
Clinical Evidence & Published Research
Varithena is one of the most rigorously studied minimally invasive vein therapies in the United States. Pivotal randomized controlled trials and long-term follow-up data have established its safety, durability, and quality-of-life benefit:
- VANISH-2 Trial — Todd KL, Wright DI. The VANISH-2 study: a randomized, blinded, multicenter study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of polidocanol endovenous microfoam 0.5% and 1.0% compared with placebo. Phlebology. 2014. PubMed
- VANISH-2 Long-Term Follow-Up — Durability of symptomatic and appearance improvement following polidocanol microfoam treatment. Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders. 2016. PubMed
- VANISH-1 Trial — King JT, et al. Treatment of truncal incompetence and varicose veins with a single administration of polidocanol endovenous microfoam. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. 2015. PubMed
- Gibson K, Kabnick L. A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Varithena (polidocanol endovenous microfoam 1%) for symptomatic, visible varicose veins with saphenofemoral junction incompetence. Phlebology. 2017. PubMed
- Society for Vascular Surgery / American Venous Forum Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of varicose veins recognize ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy as a recommended treatment for great saphenous vein incompetence. Journal of Vascular Surgery
- FDA Prescribing Information — Varithena (polidocanol injectable foam) 1% — Boston Scientific. Safety information
Citations are provided for educational and transparency purposes. Restore Muscle and Joint adheres to all SVS/AVF clinical practice standards.
Insurance, Cost & Coverage
Varithena is covered by Medicare and most major commercial insurance plans — including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana — when treatment is medically necessary for symptomatic chronic venous insufficiency. Our insurance team verifies your benefits, secures prior authorization, and provides a clear cost estimate before any procedure is scheduled.
Most patients pay only their standard specialist copay, deductible, or coinsurance — never any "cosmetic" upcharge for medically indicated vein disease.
Serving Kansas City & Greater Missouri
Patients travel to our Kansas City Vascular & Vein Suite from across the metro and region, including: Liberty, Gladstone, Kearney, Smithville, Parkville, Platte City, Weston, Riss Lake, Weatherby Lake, Pleasant Valley, Claycomo, Leavenworth (KS), Overland Park, Lee's Summit, Independence, St. Joseph, and Columbia. Same-week consultations and free vein screenings are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Varithena different from traditional sclerotherapy?
Traditional sclerotherapy uses liquid sclerosant for small spider and reticular veins. Varithena is an FDA-approved, pre-formulated polidocanol microfoam delivered under duplex ultrasound guidance, engineered specifically to treat the larger, deeper, and tortuous great saphenous vein system that liquid sclerotherapy cannot effectively close.
How is Varithena different from laser (EVLA) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA)?
Laser and RFA use heat delivered through a catheter and require tumescent anesthesia (multiple needle sticks along the vein). Varithena uses no heat and no tumescent anesthesia — a single tiny needle delivers the foam. This makes it ideal for tortuous, twisted, recurrent, or above-knee veins where threading a thermal catheter is difficult or impossible.
Is Varithena covered by Medicare and insurance in Kansas City?
Yes. For medically necessary symptomatic venous insufficiency, Varithena is covered by Medicare and most major commercial insurance carriers in Kansas and Missouri, including BCBSKC, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana. Our team verifies coverage and obtains prior authorization before scheduling.
How long does the Varithena procedure take?
The actual injection takes only a few minutes. Including ultrasound mapping, prep, and post-treatment compression, plan on roughly 45–60 minutes door-to-door.
Is Varithena painful?
Most patients describe only mild pressure or a brief warm sensation. Because there is no heat and no tumescent anesthesia, Varithena is widely considered one of the most comfortable vein treatments available.
How soon will I see results?
Symptom relief — heaviness, aching, throbbing — often improves within 1–2 weeks. Visible cosmetic improvement of bulging varicosities continues over 8–12 weeks as the body reabsorbs the treated vein.
What are the risks of Varithena?
Varithena is FDA-approved with an extensively studied safety profile. The most common side effects are mild leg discomfort, bruising, retained coagulum, and temporary pigmentation along the treated vein. Serious risks such as deep vein thrombosis are uncommon and screened for at follow-up ultrasound.
Can Varithena treat veins behind the knee or recurrent veins?
Yes — this is one of Varithena's biggest advantages. It is uniquely effective for the small saphenous vein behind the knee, accessory saphenous branches, and recurrent varicosities after prior stripping, RFA, or laser.
How many treatments will I need?
Most patients achieve excellent results with a single Varithena treatment per leg, sometimes followed by adjunctive visual sclerotherapy or microphlebectomy for residual surface veins. Larger or bilateral disease may require staged sessions.
Why choose Restore Muscle and Joint for Varithena in Kansas City?
We are one of the region's highest-volume Varithena programs, led by board-certified vascular specialists, performed in a dedicated accredited Vascular & Vein Suite, with full insurance navigation and same-week consultations across the Kansas City metro and greater Missouri.
Your Recovery Timeline
Day 0
Same-day walkout
30–60 min visit. Single needle stick. Compression stocking on, drive home.
Days 1–2
Walk every hour
10 min of walking each waking hour. No hot baths or strenuous exercise.
Week 1
Symptom relief begins
Heaviness, aching, throbbing typically improving. Back to work.
Week 2
Follow-up ultrasound
Duplex confirms vein closure and screens for any complications.
Weeks 8–12
Cosmetic result
Bulging veins reabsorbed by the body. Final visible result complete.
Get Your Free Consultation Today
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Most major insurance accepted · 4119 NW Barry Rd, Kansas City, near Zona Rosa