At Florida Lakes Vein Center, our mission is to provide high-quality vein care to Florida residents through the least-invasive means possible.
One way we do this is by using VenaSeal. Near Longboat Key, Dr. T.C. Lackey II, D.O., leads our practice and helps hundreds of patients find relief from uncomfortable vein concerns. We use minimally invasive, non-surgical approaches that ease your symptoms and enhance overall circulation.
Want to learn more about why VenaSeal leads the vein care industry? Keep reading to explore this powerful solution.
In this blog, we cover:
- The Science Behind VenaSeal
- The Ideal Candidates for VenaSeal
- Benefits of VenaSeal for Vein Closure
- Frequently Asked Questions About VenaSeal
Dr. Lackey: An Expert at VenaSeal Treatment
With Dr. Lackey leading your care, you can expect innovative, high-quality service. Our practice is the only VenaSeal and Varithena teaching facility in Southwest Florida.
Dr. Lackey, a certified VenaSeal and Varithena trainer, teaches other medical professionals how to perform these advanced treatments. He doesn’t just apply these procedures to treat his own patients; he educates other professionals about the future of vascular care.
Between all 4 of our vein center locations he oversees, Dr. Lackey and his teams have performed over 7,500 successful vein closures in the past year!
The Science Behind VenaSeal
When the discomfort or appearance of varicose veins begins to disrupt your daily activities, you might start looking for a solution.
Our team uses VenaSeal, a medical-grade adhesive, to:
- Close varicose veins
- Optimize circulation
- Reduce uncomfortable symptoms
How VenaSeal Closes Veins
Our vein specialists use ultrasound guidance and a syringe of formula to treat your damaged veins. Once we locate the areas of concern using ultrasound imaging, we inject small doses of VenaSeal into the vein.
The adhesive reacts with the vein walls and causes them to permanently seal. Once the vein closes off, your body redirects blood flow to nearby healthy veins.
The treated vein(s) slowly become scar tissue, before your body absorbs the hardened vein over time, improving the appearance and discomfort of varicose veins.
Ideal Candidates for VenaSeal
Our non-surgical treatment for varicose veins helps many patients from all walks of life live comfortably. If you want to reduce the symptoms and frustrations associated with varicose veins, you might be a candidate for VenaSeal near Longboat Key.
Let’s look at a few factors that can confirm your candidacy.
Symptoms of Varicose Veins
If you experience the symptoms of varicose veins, you could benefit from a VenaSeal treatment. Often, these symptoms get in the way of patients living their best lives and being comfortable and active.
The symptoms of varicose veins include:
- A bulging, twisted, discolored, or swollen vein. These can appear on the surface of your skin, and many individuals feel diminished confidence from their appearance.
- Feelings of heaviness, which might worsen after physical activity.
- Pain, often located in the back of the knee. With varicose veins, legs can feel achy, painful, or sore.
- Swelling in the legs or ankles. This can also lead to throbbing around the varicose veins.
- Itchy skin around the varicose vein and along the legs.
Varicose Veins Around the GSV
VenaSeal was specifically designed to treat the great and small saphenous veins and the veins around them. These veins stretch from the arch of your foot all the way to your thigh to support healthy circulation in your legs.
The saphenous veins receive blood flow from smaller veins that feed into them. These tributary veins can also be treated with VenaSeal near Longboat Key.
Lifestyle Compatibility
For those who want rapid relief without much interruption to daily life, VenaSeal makes a great option.
VenaSeal requires no downtime, meaning you can get back to your activities quickly. If you have a busy schedule or can’t stay off your feet for long, VenaSeal gives you the option to return to your duties sooner without pain and discomfort.
Benefits of VenaSeal Vein Closure
VenaSeal provides an innovative approach to varicose vein treatments. Unlike traditional methods, VenaSeal:
- Does not use heat
- Allows for quick recovery
- Significantly reduces discomfort
Let’s look at a few of the benefits of VenaSeal in more detail.
Non-Thermal Treatment
VenaSeal is a non-thermal treatment that minimizes discomfort and reduces the risk of heat-related complications.
Endovenous thermal ablation or other thermal vein treatments use heat in the form of radiofrequency or lasers to close varicose veins. These processes also usually require an incision to insert a catheter.
Using heat increases the risk of:
- Nerve damage
- Burns
- Skin discoloration
- Scarring
- Bruising
VenaSeal comes with a far lower risk of these complications, since we do not use thermal energy. This also allows for no downtime and minimal discomfort during the treatment.
Long-Lasting Relief
When you visit us for VenaSeal near Longboat Key, we treat your veins and permanently close them, allowing for long-lasting relief from aches, pains, and soreness.
The treated veins form scar tissue, which eventually gets absorbed by your body. This means that these vessels no longer cause issues. With healthy habits and guidance from our expert team, you can also reduce the possibility of new varicose veins forming.
If you develop new symptomatic varicose veins down the road, we can diagnose those and treat them with VenaSeal.
Efficient Appointments
Once we determine that VenaSeal can alleviate your symptoms, we schedule your treatment. VenaSeal requires only 1 session to address troublesome veins.
During your appointment, we don’t require anesthesia, but we can use a topical numbing solution if that makes you more comfortable. We use a small needle poke to administer the adhesive at targeted points along the vein.
This process takes around 30 minutes, and patients report minimal discomfort, if any. After the injection, we wrap your leg in a pressure dressing, and you can go on your way!
Frequently Asked Questions About VenaSeal
Near Longboat Key, our clinic highly believes in patient education, so we address any questions or concerns to help you make the best decisions regarding your health.
Let’s answer some questions we often hear during our consultation process.
Does VenaSeal have side effects?
VenaSeal does have some potential mild side effects, but adverse reactions are rare. Your provider thoroughly covers what to expect after treatment to help you feel informed and confident.
After VenaSeal treatment, you might experience:
- Tenderness or pain
- Redness
- A pulling sensation
- Warmth and itching
- Lumps or knots
- Bruising
- Swelling
All of these reactions are normal and should resolve on their own. Dr. Lackey recommends anti-inflammatory medications as needed to relieve your symptoms.
If you have intense symptoms, bleeding, or extreme swelling, contact our team immediately.
Is VenaSeal the only option for varicose vein treatment?
No, at Florida Lakes Vein Center, we also offer Varithena to address varicose veins. Varithena consists of a microfoam that our providers inject into the veins. After a series of treatments, this formula causes the veins to collapse, so blood flow finds healthier routes.
We may use a combination of both Varithena and VenaSeal near Longboat Key to address each vein. Depending on the size and location of the vein, we can choose the best option to close the vessel.
Will insurance cover my treatment?
Each patient’s coverage depends on their exact insurance plan and each vein’s “medical necessity” for treatment.
Many insurance companies declare that veins larger than 3 millimeters in diameter and veins with significant venous reflux are medically necessary to treat. Once veins reach this stage, they usually require treatment to prevent additional complications.
We can evaluate your vein size and venous reflux through vein ultrasounds that allow us to see the vascular structure, surrounding tissues, and blood flow.
If we confirm that your vein meets the threshold for treatment, insurance will likely cover it.
What is causing my varicose veins?
Varicose veins form for many reasons, some of which might be out of your control. Ultimately, anything that can damage the valves leads to varicose veins.
Some of the main reasons our patients have developed varicose veins include:
- Lifestyle choices, which include smoking, hormone therapy, excess weight, and lack of exercise.
- Normal aging, which causes the vessel walls to thin, contributes to valve damage and improper blood flow.
- Genetic factors, like a family history of venous disease, which increases the risk of varicose veins.
- Standing or sitting for long periods of time, which can affect blood flow and allow blood to pool.
Varicose veins are common, so thankfully, we use convenient, minimally invasive treatments to address them.
Request an Appointment to Seal the Deal on Varicose Veins
Your days shouldn’t be controlled by leg pain and soreness. We welcome you to Florida Lakes Vein Center to receive expert care from our providers.
With VenaSeal near Longboat Key, we can help you live life to the fullest, allowing you to spend more time doing the things you love. Request your screening to speak with a member of our team about your candidacy for VenaSeal.