Dr. McPherson is board certified in general and cardiothoracic surgery and performs all aspects of adult cardiac, general thoracic and peripheral vascular surgery including Varithena.
Varithena is an effective way to treat enlarged veins. Spider veins and varicose veins are very common problems and can cause a lot of disruption in people’s day-to-day lives. The throbbing, swelling, and pain can be a handful, not to mention the itching that sometimes accompanies it. With Varithena, these issues can be alleviated.
Varithena is an FDA-approved microfoam sclerosant medication that is used widely in the treatment of small uncomplicated spider veins and varicose veins. It is a sclerosing agent that works by increasing the formation of scar tissue and blood clots inside the veins, which in turn helps to decrease the dilation of the veins.
Varithena is a form of the generic medication polidocanol. This injectable foam is ideal for treatment of accessory saphenous veins, incompetent great saphenous veins, and visible varicosities of the GSV, or great saphenous vein. It also improves the appearance of visible varicosities and superficial venous incompetence.
Varithena is a non thermal form of ablation. Because it does not use heat like laser and radiofrequency ablation, there is less change of scarring when heat is applied veins that are close to the skin surface.
The first and foremost step to receiving Varithena injection is determining whether you are a suitable candidate. Here are some constraints:
It is necessary to check whether you are allergic to Varithena, polidocanol, or lauromacrogol 400 before being administered with the injection.
The Varithena procedure starts with a consultation with Dr. McPherson, who will review your current medical condition, medications, allergies, and family medical history to determine whether you are a suitable candidate.
A physical examination is then conducted to understand the exact nature of the problem and to conclude whether the treatment is a feasible solution. You may be asked to take an allergy test as well before the injection is administered to you.
If you are a suitable candidate, your doctor will make a treatment plan, which will include the number of injections and the quantity of medication you will need. During the procedure, the treatment area is cleaned with an antiseptic and then marked. You will be given local anesthesia to numb the treatment area in order to avoid any pain or discomfort.
Once the treatment area is numb, Dr. McPherson will use a small needle to inject the solution into the varicose or spider vein directly. The number of injections you will receive will depend on the depth of the enlarged veins. The solution is slowly injected, and slight pressure is applied while injecting.
You may be under observation for a while after the Varithena procedure. You may be asked to walk around in their presence for 15 to 20 minutes.
Your doctor may suggest the use of compression bandages or stockings to avoid the formation of blood clots. You will be asked to walk every day after treatment. You may need additional Varithena treatments based on how damaged the veins are.
Your Varithena treatment will be performed in Dr. McPherson’s surgery center located in Oxnard, CA, just outside of Ventura.
Self-verified patient of James G. McPherson, III, MD, MPH, FACS
This is not someone you want to give less than 5 stars to. It may seem too embellishing to say "this person gave me a new life", but in fact that's exactly what he did! There are no words to describe the total care he showed to me. I thank him every day.
I absolutely admire Dr Mc ! He is an outstanding Heart surgeon with hands of gold.
Dr McPherson is unlike any other physcision I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Not only is he professional in every way, but extremely caring, knowledgable and experienced in his field. I have such trust in him, I wish he were my family physician.
James G. McPherson, III, MD, MPH, FACS is board certified in general and cardiothoracic surgery and performs all aspects of adult cardiac, general thoracic and peripheral vascular surgery.
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