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Updated June 14, 2026

Is Varicose Veins Glue an FDA Approved Treatment?

Varicose veins glue offers patients a safe and effective alternative to heat-based treatments. Known as Venaseal™, this technique uses medical glue to close faulty veins and redirect blood into healthier ones. Unlike laser or radiofrequency, it requires fewer injections and avoids the use of heat.


Now that the FDA has approved varicose veins glue, The Whiteley Clinic has added this innovative treatment to The Whiteley Protocol™. Consequently, it has already transformed how the clinic treats varicose veins.


What Is Venaseal™ Glue?


Venaseal™ glue, often called the “superglue procedure,” targets varicose veins directly. Doctors deliver the glue into the affected vein using a fine catheter under ultrasound guidance. Once the glue enters the vein, it fuses the vein walls, preventing blood from accumulating in the affected vessel. As the body gradually absorbs the sealed vein, blood naturally flows into nearby healthy veins.


The key advantage is that no heat is used. Conventional methods, including endovenous laser and radiofrequency, use heat to seal the vein. Consequently, these methods require extra fluid injections around the vein, known as tumescence, which can be uncomfortable.


With varicose veins glue, doctors need to give only a single injection to numb a small patch of skin. As a result, the procedure becomes much simpler and far more comfortable for patients.


What Is Venaseal Glue?


Varicose Veins Glue Approval


The recent varicose veins glue approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) marks a major milestone in vein care. In addition, FDA approval shows that the treatment is not only safe but also proven effective. For patients, this is important reassurance that the technique delivers real results backed by scientific evidence.


This approval has encouraged more clinics worldwide to adopt the procedure. However, The Whiteley Clinic has been at the forefront of this development for years, taking part in early European studies of Venaseal™ glue with excellent results.


The Whiteley Clinic’s Early Role


The Whiteley Clinic was one of the first three centres in the UK to introduce varicose veins glue. The team played a crucial role in the first European study of Venaseal™, giving them unrivalled experience in using this technology.


Now that the FDA has approved varicose veins glue, The Whiteley Clinic has fully integrated the treatment into The Whiteley Protocol™. Therefore, doctors carefully assess each patient. If their veins are suitable, patients can benefit from this innovative treatment alongside other proven options.


Training the Next Generation of Specialists


Professor Mark Whiteley and his team are not only pioneers in performing this treatment but also in teaching it. At the dedicated training centre in Guildford, Surrey, they provide specialist courses for doctors who want to master the use of varicose veins glue. By sharing their expertise, The Whiteley Clinic helps to ensure that more patients across the UK and beyond can access safe and effective treatment.


This emphasis on education highlights the clinic’s role as a leader in vein innovation and research.


Venaseal varicose veins glue - Live teaching by Prof Mark Whiteley at The Whiteley Clinic


Which Varicose Veins Can Be Treated with Glue?


Varicose veins glue is particularly suitable for sealing the main veins in the leg that have lost their valves, often the great saphenous vein or similar trunks. These veins are the underlying cause of visible varicose veins, spider veins, and even thread veins in many patients.


By targeting the source of the problem, Venaseal™ glue ensures that the faulty vein is closed permanently. However, patients may still require additional procedures for surface veins, such as phlebectomy or foam sclerotherapy. This combination approach ensures complete and long-lasting results.


How the Procedure Works?


The treatment starts with doctors carefully inserting a fine needle into the vein while using ultrasound for guidance. Once they place the needle, they thread a very thin catheter, roughly the size of a ballpoint pen refill, up the vein towards the groin.


Doctors release a small quantity of glue through the catheter at the upper end of the vein.


Although the glue is clear and hard to see, the vein slightly dilates on ultrasound as it enters. Then, they carefully withdraw the catheter in precise steps, applying another small amount of glue at each stage. This process ensures that doctors seal the entire length of the faulty vein.


After each application, the team waits several minutes for the glue to harden, or polymerise. This step ensures that the vein walls remain firmly sealed for the long term.


Although the glue eventually dissolves, it leaves behind scar tissue that keeps the vein closed for good.


The procedure is fast and requires only local anaesthesia. It creates only a tiny pinhole in the skin where the catheter is inserted. As a result, most patients can return to their daily activities almost immediately.


To see exactly how this treatment works, watch the video below. In it, you can follow each step of the varicose veins glue procedure and see how doctors safely and effectively seal the vein. Overall, it’s the best way to gain a real insight into this innovative technique.



A Proven Part of The Whiteley Protocol™


Every treatment at The Whiteley Clinic follows The Whiteley Protocol, which ensures that each patient receives a plan tailored to their individual pattern of vein disease. Since varicose veins glue has shown excellent outcomes in research, it now plays an important role in this protocol.


By combining advanced research, early adoption, and specialist training, The Whiteley Clinic continues to lead in providing world-class vein care. Varicose veins glue is not only a proven innovation but also a practical solution for patients who want fast recovery, minimal discomfort, and lasting results.

February 22, 2015