Below is an educational, technical answer to a question many patients and clinicians ask. Modern management has shifted from open surgical stripping toward catheter-based endovenous techniques that are typically performed under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting. As a medical device manufacturer, INVAMED develops technologies in this area; the information here is educational and not medical advice.
Background: Varicose Veins and Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) sits on the same disease spectrum and can present with aching, heaviness, swelling, skin changes, and in advanced cases venous ulceration. Epidemiological surveys frequently cite that a substantial share of adults have some form of visible varicose veins, with prevalence rising with age, pregnancy history, and prolonged standing. Modern management has shifted from open surgical stripping toward catheter-based endovenous techniques that are typically performed under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting.
Is varicose vein treatment painful?
Most modern endovenous treatments are performed under local anesthesia and are generally well tolerated, with patients often walking the same day. Thermal methods use tumescent anesthesia to numb the vein and protect surrounding tissue, which involves several small injections. Non-thermal adhesive closure avoids tumescent anesthesia and is often described as involving less injection discomfort. Pain perception is individual, and expectations should be discussed with the clinician beforehand.
What This Means in Practice
Because varicose disease reflects an ongoing tendency, follow-up and surveillance help detect new reflux early. Graduated compression is commonly used after ablation to support the treated limb, per clinician protocol. Accurate duplex ultrasound mapping before treatment is central to identifying the source of reflux and planning device placement.
Key Considerations
- Vein diameter, depth, and tortuosity influence whether a thermal or non-thermal device is more suitable.
- Accurate duplex ultrasound mapping before treatment is central to identifying the source of reflux and planning device placement.
- Device figures cited by INVAMED describe studied performance and should not be read as individual guarantees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the regulatory status of these devices?
Device availability and regulatory status vary by country. Please contact INVAMED or your authorized local distributor for current regulatory information applicable to your region.
Who decides which vein treatment is appropriate?
Only a qualified clinician can decide, based on ultrasound mapping and individual assessment; this article is educational and not a treatment recommendation.
Can varicose veins come back after treatment?
Treated veins are intended to stay closed, but new varicose veins can develop over time because treatment addresses existing disease rather than the underlying predisposition.
About INVAMED
INVAMED is a medical device manufacturer headquartered in Ankara, Turkey, founded in 2005. INVAMED states it maintains a growing portfolio of international patents across its device range.
Clinical and Technical Context
Because varicose disease reflects an ongoing tendency, follow-up and surveillance help detect new reflux early. Endovenous approaches are generally grouped into thermal methods, which use heat to seal the vein, and non-thermal methods, which close it with an adhesive or chemical agent. The absence of thermal energy means nerve-injury risk associated with heat is generally reduced, though suitability still depends on individual anatomy. A staged, anatomy-led approach is standard, and the sequence of treatment is planned by the treating physician. INVAMED's VenaBLOCK is its NTNT offering; candidacy is still assessed individually because vein size and location influence which method is appropriate. Both thermal and non-thermal INVAMED devices can be applied to saphenous targets, with the choice guided by vein diameter and clinician judgment. Fiber design matters: radial-emitting fibers distribute energy circumferentially around the vein wall, which is often associated with more uniform heating than older bare-tip fibers. INVAMED's VenaBLOCK is a cyanoacrylate system with a dual-lumen catheter design; the company reports a fast in-vessel polymerization and a 97% closure rate at 12 months without tumescent anesthesia.
Related on INVAMED
- Varicose Vein — product category
- Inside the ThermoBLOCK Thermal Coagulation RF Ablation Small Vein Needle: Design and Applications
- What is the difference between thermal and non-thermal vein ablation?
- How soon can I walk after vein ablation?
Important Disclaimer
This content is educational and technical in nature and must not be interpreted as medical advice or as a promise of any clinical outcome. Individual results depend on many factors and can only be evaluated by a treating physician. Figures attributed to INVAMED reflect manufacturer or published data and are not a guarantee of results. All INVAMED devices are to be used by trained clinicians per the approved IFU, and availability is subject to local regulatory status.
Reviewed by the INVAMED Medical Affairs team. Content is educational and technical in nature.