By Toshio Nagamoto, MD

Many people still think of the old vein stripping procedure as the only option for treating varicose veins. This procedure was painful, required general anesthesia and took a couple hours to perform. For those reasons, many surgeons have embraced new, less invasive techniques. I’ve been using the VNUS closure procedure for years – more than 400 cases – and the results have been excellent.

I see patients for VNUS in my office (no need for a hospital visit) and the procedure takes just 30 minutes to perform. It’s done by inserting a catheter into a vein and using radiofrequency to shrink and close it. After the vein is sealed shut, blood then naturally reroutes to healthy veins. Patients are awake during the procedures and do not experience pain. I often perform these procedures on Fridays and patients are back to their normal routines the following day.

Varicose veins can be painful – and relieving pain is the main goal of VNUS. The cosmetic enhancements that people often realize are an added benefit. In fact, this procedure is commonly covered by insurance plans but patients must be symptomatic to qualify – meaning, they must have pain or a history of bleeding. Some plans will also require that a patient undergo compression hose therapy (the wearing of specially designed stockings on the legs) for a period of time before coverage for VNUS will be extended. But overall, I find that many people are surprised to learn that they are covered for the VNUS procedure.

Many people live for years with painful varicose veins. But with new options for relief like VNUS, there’s no reason to wait until the pain is unbearable.

Dr. Toshio Nagamoto is a board-certified surgeon with Samaritan Heart & Vascular Institute. He specializes in vascular surgery, both arterial and venous, and treatment of varicose veins using the VNUS closure procedure.

This article first appeared in the Gazette-Times on April 3, 2011.