What to Expect from Your VenaSeal™ Varicose Vein Treatment

Were you aware that approximately 30% of the general population will develop a varicose vein (or two), especially among women and older population segments? Or that more than half a million vein removal treatments in the form of sclerotherapy were performed in 2024 alone?

We certainly do, which is why board-certified cardiologist Dr. Satjit Bhusri and his team created The Upper East Side Vein Institute, a one-stop clinic for all your varicose and spider vein needs. 

At our practice, we offer multiple sclerotherapy treatments, all designed to eradicate diseased veins in your legs. One of our popular choices is VenaSeal™, and we dive into what to expect during and after this effective varicose vein treatment.

During your VenaSeal treatment

There isn’t much you need to do in advance of your VenaSeal treatment, except to avoid putting lotions on your legs before your treatment. It’s also a good idea to wear loose clothing around your lower half afterward.

When you come in for your VenaSeal treatment, we first make you comfortable on our treatment table. Next, we apply a local anesthetic to your skin.

Once the treatment area is sufficiently numb, we insert a small catheter (a hollow needle) into the varicose vein in your leg. Don’t worry; you shouldn’t feel anything more than a pinch. 

Using ultrasound as a guide, we insert a tube into the catheter that contains a small amount of adhesive. We release this adhesive at certain points along your varicose vein and then apply pressure to seal the vein shut.

Going home after your VenaSeal procedure

Once we finish your VenaSeal procedure, we remove the catheter and place a small bandage over the small access point. After we ensure everything went well, you’re free to go home.

We do ask that you follow a few guidelines during the week following your procedure, such as:

• Maintaining any wraps that we place on your leg 
• Wearing compression stockings
• Avoiding baths 
• Avoiding heavy lifting and strenuous exercise (think squats)

Going in the other direction, we want you to move around to encourage circulation. So, please walk at least 60 minutes each day to get that blood flowing, and you can break this up into smaller outings if that helps.

If you experience any discomfort after your VenaSeal procedure, we can address it with over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen. Icing the area can also help.

Lastly, please note that there are no dietary restrictions, so eat as you normally would.

Getting to your results after VenaSeal

Now let’s get to what you really want to know — when can you debut your varicose-vein-free legs? In most cases, it takes the body one to three months to fully clear the vein. Once we seal the vein with VenaSeal and it becomes inactive, it can take a little bit for your body to process and reabsorb the vein. (Rest assured, if the vein were active, blood will easily reroute itself to healthier veins.)

Additionally, if you had any complications associated with your varicose vein, such as leg cramping and itchiness, these symptoms should clear quickly after your VenaSeal treatment.

As you can see, the VenaSeal journey is a relatively easy one that delivers great results. If you have more questions before your VenaSeal appointment, we’re happy to help. Call us at 212-752-3464 in our New York City office on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. You can also schedule your appointment online by clicking here.