McKeown Medical
167 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4SQ
Everything you need to know about VenaSeal™ vein treatment
When it comes to treating varicose veins, VenaSeal™ has emerged as a revolutionary option that offers a minimally invasive and highly effective solution.
Published by Dr Alex Vesey
Date posted — 4.10.24
What is VenaSeal™?
When it comes to treating varicose veins, VenaSeal™ has emerged as a revolutionary option that offers a minimally invasive and highly effective solution.
This innovative treatment involves using a specially formulated medical adhesive to seal off problematic veins, redirecting blood flow to healthier veins and providing relief from the discomfort and unsightly appearance of varicose veins.
Expert Video
Dr Alex Vesey is our expert consultant vascular surgeon who heads up our varicose vein team. Listen to him explain the VenaSeal™ treatment.
What makes VenaSeal™ different?
Unlike traditional methods that rely on heat or chemical irritants, VenaSeal™ works by simply bonding the vein walls together, causing the treated vein to collapse and eventually be absorbed by the body. The procedure is quick, usually completed in under an hour, and requires no anaesthetic, making it a convenient and comfortable choice for many patients.
It has already become the gold standard treatment in America, accounting for around 50% of varicose vein treatments in the USA, although its rollout in the UK has largely been limited because there are cheaper alternatives prioritised by the NHS, which has also influenced the private sector in this country – despite VenaSeal™ being a better alternative for most patients. We are the first private clinic in Scotland to offer this procedure.
How does the VenaSeal™ treatment work?
The VenaSeal™ treatment works by using a specially formulated medical adhesive to seal off varicose veins, effectively rerouting blood flow to healthier veins. The procedure begins with a small, single injection of local anaesthetic. This contrasts with other minimally invasive options like Radiofrequency Ablation or Laser treatment that require a large volume of local anaesthetic to be injected along the entire length of the thigh.
Next, a tiny skin incision is made, and a small catheter is inserted into the affected vein. Using ultrasound guidance, the doctor makes sure that the catheter is in the correct place before they deliver the adhesive along the length of the vein. The adhesive immediately seals the vein walls together, causing the vein to collapse and preventing blood from pooling in that area. Over time, the sealed vein is gradually absorbed by the body, and blood is naturally redirected to other – healthier, functioning veins.
The VenaSeal™ procedure is quick, typically taking less than an hour, and it requires no tumescent infiltration (extensive injections of local anaesthetic), nor does it require the use of heat to burn the vein, which minimises discomfort and allows for a faster recovery.
In contrast to other procedures, VenaSeal™ doesn’t require patients to wear compression stockings afterwards – you simply get up, walk out the door and get back to your normal activities.
What are the advantages of VenaSeal™ treatment?
VenaSeal™ offers a number of advantages that make it an attractive option for treating varicose veins. One of the primary benefits is its minimally invasive nature, as it requires no heat, tumescent anaesthesia, or multiple needle injections, which are necessary with other endovenous treatments. This reduces the amount of discomfort and bruising patients experience both during and after treatment. The avoidance of the use of heat also reduces the risk of nerve damage and the extent of bruising.
The procedure is quick, usually completed in under an hour, and patients can return to their normal activities almost immediately, with no need for compression stockings afterwards. Additionally, VenaSeal™ has a high success rate in effectively sealing off problematic veins and providing long-term relief from the symptoms of varicose veins. It is at least as effective in terms of long-term outcomes as other endovenous methods like radiofrequency or laser, and there is some emerging data suggesting that it may even be slightly more effective – despite being less invasive and having fewer risks of common side effects.
How safe is VenaSeal™ and what are the risks of treatment?
VenaSeal™ is considered a safe and effective treatment for varicose veins, with a strong safety profile supported by clinical studies and widespread use. Because it is a minimally invasive procedure that does not involve heat or chemicals, the risks associated with VenaSeal™ are lower compared to some traditional treatments. However, as with any medical procedure, there are potential risks that you should understand before you choose to proceed with treatment.
Although the pain following the procedure is less than after other methods – that doesn’t mean it is pain-free. Most patients experience a bit of soreness or tenderness at the treatment site as well as some mild bruising and swelling. It is common for the vein that has been treated to become swollen, red, hard and lumpy. This is part of the process by which your body gets rid of the diseased veins.
In rare cases, allergic reactions to the adhesive or infection at the incision site can occur. There is also a risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein. This is a risk with any type of treatment in the leg – in fact, it’s a risk with any injury (accidental or controlled) in the leg. We help to reduce this risk by giving you medicine to thin the blood a little before treatment. We also encourage you to walk around and get back to normal as quickly as possible after treatment which further mitigates the risk.
Overall, VenaSeal™ is a well-tolerated and safe option for most patients. We will discuss all of the risks of treatments as part of your initial consultation and assessment.
Interested in VenaSeal™?
If you’d like to find out if VenaSeal™ is the right treatment for you, the first step is to fill out our online consultation form. From there, our team will be able to arrange an initial consultation and ultrasound scan, and we can work together to create a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs.
Related Articles
Varicose veins
Exploring different treatments to get rid of varicose veins
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that often appear just under the skin, primarily in the legs and feet.
Varicose veins
Your guide to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment of varicose veins
If you're struggling with the discomfort, swelling, or unsightly appearance of varicose veins, Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) could be the solution...
Varicose veins
How does a phlebectomy or microphlebectomy procedure work?
Phlebectomy, or microphlebectomy, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to remove varicose veins.
1 / 3
2 / 3
3 / 3
Varicose veins
Exploring different treatments to get rid of varicose veins
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that often appear just under the skin, primarily in the legs and feet.
Varicose veins
Your guide to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment of varicose veins
If you're struggling with the discomfort, swelling, or unsightly appearance of varicose veins, Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) could be the solution...
Varicose veins
How does a phlebectomy or microphlebectomy procedure work?
Phlebectomy, or microphlebectomy, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to remove varicose veins.
Heavy periods can be more than just an inconvenience. They can cause anaemia, fatigue and have a real impact on your quality of life.
In this video, Dr Iain Martin @driainmartin martin explains the different treatment options available, from iron supplements and hormone therapy to ultrasound scans to check for fibroids or polyps.
If no clear cause is found and you`re not planning any more pregnancies, we offer treatment with the NovaSure® endometrial ablation device. It is a quick, minimally invasive procedure that can significantly reduce or stop bleeding altogether.
If heavy bleeding is something you’ve been putting up with, it might be time to explore your options.
Find out more about your treatment options at the link in our profile.
Another new exciting development in aesthetic medicine! The blockbuster drug Botox now has a license for treating the ageing neck.
The treatment works by relaxing the muscle in the neck, which improves the jawline and neck. Variations of this treatment have been around for a long time on an ‘off label’ basis. I’ve always been a little underwhelmed by this, but in the trials for approval they used higher doses than we typically used in the past and managed to achieve more consistent results.
The neck is an area that has a lot of anatomical variation, so the best treatment for each individual will vary. This is probably best for people with skinnier necks. If you have a bit of excess fatty tissue, then a treatment like CoolSculpting might be best or if you have loose skin then some Halo laser might be the option.
As always the way to find the best option for your concerns is a consultation with an experienced doctor!
This lovely patient is just three weeks on from her deep plane facelift, neck lift and upper blepharoplasty performed by @bramhallplasticsurgery and she’s been kind enough to share her own selfies to show how things are settling.
She also had full laser resurfacing with Dr Darren three months ago to improve deeper skin creases and texture, helping to enhance the overall result.
It’s still early days in her recovery, but you can already see the impact of combining surgical lifting with skin rejuvenation: a beautifully refreshed look and she`s absolutely delighted!
What do you think?
Find out more about the full facelift at the link in our profile.
Relfydess is the newest toxin on the market and we have been working hard in the clinic to test the claims of the manufacturer. Is it really as good as they claim?
This patient kindly allowed us to test the difference with her: she had Relfydess on the left side of her face and her usual Botox on the right, to compare how the two treatments performed. These photos were taken three weeks after treatment.
The Relfydess kicked in a day or two faster. However, what is really interesting is that on the side we treated with Reflydess she got a good result that didn`t need a top-up, whilst the other side did need a top-up, which you can see in these photos.
I will keep posting more updates as we find them about this new product!
I’ve been treating patients with Relfydess for the past few weeks now, and I was really curious to know how they were getting on. So, we reached out to the first 97 people who had the treatment and asked them how it felt, how quickly it worked, and whether they’d do it again.
In this video, I’m sharing what they told me – and a bit of my own perspective on how it’s shaping up compared to the other wrinkle treatments we have available. It’s still early days, but the feedback so far has been really interesting!
As we approach the summer holidays and get into the middle of wedding season, filler season is well under way! Thank you to this lovely patient for allowing us to share her results following a volumetric facelift, all performed with injections of dermal filler.
Her main concern was the development of jowls and the way it was starting to affect the shape of her lower face. By carefully restoring volume in the right areas, we were able to subtly lift and contour creating a more defined jawline while keeping everything natural and in harmony with the rest of her features.
This is a few weeks post-treatment and she`s absolutely over the moon. What do you think?
Find out more about our volumetric facelift treatment at the link in our profile.
Thank you to our lovely patient for allowing us to share these photos with you.
She came to see us with prominent varicose veins that had been bothering her for years. Just 8 weeks after treatment with VenaSeal™, you can already see a noticeable difference and the results will continue to improve as the treated veins fade further over the months ahead.
VenaSeal™ is a walk-in, walk-out treatment that uses medical adhesive to close the affected veins. No surgery, no compression stockings, and no downtime which made it the ideal option for this patient.
We’re so pleased with how things are progressing already. More to come as her results continue to develop.
Find out more about VenaSeal™ and our other treatment options for varicose veins at the link in our profile.
Another astonishingly great result from our fabulous surgeon @bramhallplasticsurgery.
This lovely patient was bothered by the excess skin on her upper eyelids. Although the surgical procedure itself is quite straightforward, the aesthetic judgement - how much to remove and how much to leave behind - is where the true skill lies, and our Russell is exceptionally talented when it comes to this.
The patient is over the moon with her results. What do you think?
We’re now well into CoolSculpting® season, with lots of our patients booking in to treat areas of stubborn fat in time for the summer holidays!
CoolSculpting® is a non-surgical treatment that uses controlled cooling to reduce fat in targeted areas – with no needles, no downtime, and long-lasting results. It’s ideal for areas like the abdomen, thighs, arms, and under the chin.
For our patients who love their results and want to keep going, we’ve introduced the CoolSculpting® Membership Programme. Once you’ve completed 10 cycles, you’ll unlock access to our lowest rate – just £350 per cycle and you can return for further cycles at this exclusive price, whenever it suits you.
If you`re interested in CoolSculpting®, or have any questions, send us a message or visit the link in our profile.
Join us on Instagram to keep up with the latest results and expert insights from the clinic team.
Our dedicated team of experts are on hand to help you as you navigate your journey with us.
When you first make contact with us you will be assigned your own personal Patient Relationship Manager. They’ll start by understanding your needs and liaising with our doctors to book you an appointment with the most suitable specialist. For any additional questions or needs, you can message or call them anytime and they’ll be delighted to assist you. Our entire team is dedicated to providing you with the best possible treatment and care tailored to your needs.
Sign up to our newsletter
Keep up to date with the latest news from McKeown Medical and get access to expert insights, our latest before and afters and exclusive offers.
