Protect your liver. Protect your life.
One health problem that can creep up on you is liver disease. Often, liver disease remains undetected until significant damage has already occurred. That’s why it’s so crucial to know how important your liver is. Your liver does more than 500 functions, such as filtering out pollutants, helping with digestion, storing nutrients, and controlling your metabolism. Damage to it can have deadly consequences.
Anyone can have liver problems, but some people are more likely to get them than others. If you drink too much, are overweight, or have type 2 diabetes, your risks go up. Hepatitis B and C are two viral illnesses that significantly contribute to liver problems. In some situations, hereditary factors or exposure to certain drugs and chemicals can also contribute to the risk. The first step to safeguarding your liver and your health in general is to know your risk.
Risk factors for liver disease
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Obesity and type 2 diabetes
- Viral infections (hepatitis B and C)
- High cholesterol and fatty diets
- Genetic conditions (e.g., hemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease)
- Exposure to certain toxins or medications
There are several kinds of liver disease, and each one affects people in its own way. Some viruses, such as hepatitis A, B, or C, can make the liver swell up and, if not treated, can cause long-term damage like cirrhosis. Some are linked to lifestyle, including fatty liver disease, which is commonly connected to being overweight, eating poorly, or drinking too much alcohol. Conditions like cirrhosis cause the liver to scar over time, and persistent liver damage can lead to liver cancer. Inherited diseases include Wilson’s disease (too much copper) and hemochromatosis (too much iron).
Velacur is a non-invasive ultrasound device designed to assess liver health with precision and ease. Velacur measures liver stiffness and attenuation to detect and quantify fatty liver disease, also known as hepatic steatosis. Unlike traditional liver biopsies or complex imaging procedures, Velacur provides fast, accurate, and pain-free results during a routine office visit. This innovative tool helps clinicians identify early signs of liver disease—such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)—enabling timely intervention and better patient outcomes.
Preparing for a Velacur scan is simple and requires minimal effort. To ensure accurate results, patients are typically asked to fast for at least 3 hours before the exam—this means avoiding food and drinks (except water). Loose, comfortable clothing is recommended, as the provider will need access to the upper right side of the abdomen where the liver is located. There’s no need for sedation or special medication, and the entire process is quick, non-invasive, and painless. Your healthcare provider will give you any specific instructions ahead of your appointment to help you feel fully prepared.
Velacur is performed to assess the health of your liver, particularly to detect and measure the severity of fatty liver disease. It helps identify conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can lead to more serious complications such as fibrosis, cirrhosis, or liver failure if left untreated. By measuring liver stiffness and fat content quickly and accurately, Velacur enables early diagnosis and ongoing monitoring without the need for invasive procedures like biopsies. This makes it a valuable tool for both detecting liver disease and tracking response to lifestyle changes or treatments over time.
During a Velacur scan, you’ll lie comfortably on an exam table, usually on your back with your right arm raised above your head to allow clear access to your liver. A trained healthcare provider will apply a small amount of gel to your skin and place a handheld ultrasound probe on the upper right side of your abdomen. The device uses gentle vibrations and sound waves to measure liver stiffness and fat content—completely pain-free and without any needles or incisions. The entire procedure typically takes less than 10 minutes, and you’ll be able to resume normal activities immediately afterward. Results are available quickly, allowing your provider to discuss your liver health with you during the same visit or shortly thereafter.
After your Velacur scan, your healthcare provider will review the results with you to explain what they mean for your liver health. If the scan shows signs of fatty liver disease or elevated liver stiffness, your provider may recommend additional testing, lifestyle changes, or a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. In many cases, Velacur is used for ongoing monitoring, allowing your provider to track changes in your liver over time and adjust care accordingly. Because it’s non-invasive and quick, follow-up scans can be done regularly to evaluate how well interventions—such as diet, exercise, or medication—are working.
Velacur is a safe, non-invasive procedure with minimal to no risk for most patients. Unlike liver biopsies or more invasive diagnostic methods, Velacur does not involve needles, radiation, or sedation. The scan uses ultrasound technology and gentle vibrations, which are well-tolerated and painless. Some patients may experience mild pressure during the scan, but discomfort is rare and temporary. As with any diagnostic tool, there is a small chance of inconclusive or less accurate results if the scan is not performed correctly or if certain conditions (such as severe obesity or excess abdominal gas) interfere with imaging. However, these instances are uncommon, and your provider will take steps to ensure the best possible results.
Yes, several tests may be used alongside or as alternatives to Velacur to assess liver health. Common related tests include liver function blood tests, which measure enzymes and proteins that indicate how well the liver is working. Imaging studies such as abdominal ultrasound, CT scans, or MRI can also help evaluate liver structure and detect abnormalities. In more advanced or uncertain cases, a liver biopsy may be performed to obtain a tissue sample for microscopic examination. However, Velacur is often preferred as a first-line or follow-up tool because it provides reliable information about liver stiffness and fat content quickly, safely, and without the need for invasive procedures. Your provider will determine which combination of tests is most appropriate based on your health history and symptoms.
