Can be painful and demands a significant amount of downtime and rest but may still be the best option for some types of varicose veins.

Hook phlebectomy is a complementary technique to remove varicose side branches from the main truncal vein through very small incisions which usually require only one stitch to close. This is an effective minimally invasive technique to remove the unsightly twisted veins that appear as bulges on the surface of the skin. This is used in conjunction with either open surgery to strip the main truncal vein or with minimally invasive ablative techniques such as microwave, ClariVein® or glue ablation.

We offer an array of minimally-invasive procedures as an alternative to conventional open varicose veins surgery, including:

Cyanoacrylate glue (VenaSeal™), mechano-chemical ablation (MOCA – or ClariVein®) and foam sclerotherapy

Flebogrif® is another new minimally invasive, safe and effective method to treat varicose veins without surgery and without pain. Like ClariVein® – it is a type of mechano-chemical endovenous ablation – and has the advantage of not requiring heat and therefore no risk of nerve injury. Dr Tang from the VEC is the first to use the device in Singapore for varicose veins and has a place to treat truncal reflux below the knee.  

Foam sclerotherapy is considered the treatment of choice for varicose and spider veins, especially the small ones. In this, a  solution is directly injected into the vein. The solution causes the vein to scar and forces blood to reroute through healthier veins, then the collapsed vein is reabsorbed and fades.

Advantages:

• No surgery is required
• Reduced appearances of varicose veins
• Short and easy recovery
• Precise treatment zone
• Minimal side effects
• Foam sclerotherapy for varicose veins

Microsclerotherapy is a technique used in varicose veins treatment to treat the smaller veins on the surface of the skin on the leg such as spider veins or thread veins of the legs. It is a relatively straightforward procedure, which involves injecting a liquid sclerosant into the veins. The solution causes the vein to scar and forces blood to reroute through healthier veins. The collapsed vein will be resorbed and will then fade in time. Microsclerotherapy is the most preferable treatment for thread veins below the heart.

We are also one of the first clinics in South East Asia to offer HIFU, which is a new truly non-invasive way to treat varicose veins using ultrasound waves. HIFU can offer huge advantages over other varicose veins treatments because nothing is inserted into the vein and so there is no risk of bleeding or of anything breaking off inside the vein that may go to the lungs.

These can all be theoretically performed via one or several small needle pricks. At times we do offer these mainline therapies together to complement each other, along with ambulatory phlebectomy (small incision to remove larger branch veins).

(IVUS) and deep vein ballooning and stenting – In some instances of advanced CVI, especially after an extensive blood clot in the leg we would investigate whether there is any scarring or compression of the major veins in the abdomen/pelvis and if so we may offer a keyhole procedure using a special ultrasound scope to assess the extent of blockage more carefully and when severe, we may insert a balloon and stent (a special metal scaffold) to open up the blocked vein to allow blood to more efficiently flow back from the leg.