Learn about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment options for venous disease.
Venous disease happens when the veins in your legs struggle to send blood back to the heart. When the small valves inside the veins weaken, blood flows backwards and pools in the legs. This can cause swelling, aching, heaviness, varicose veins and skin changes. Venous disease is common, it tends to worsen over time and treatment options are available, often as day procedures under local anaesthesia.
If your legs often feel heavy, tired or swollen by the end of the day, or you have noticed bulging or discoloured veins, you may be experiencing signs of venous disease. Many people put these symptoms down to age or long hours on their feet, but they are often caused by a treatable problem with the veins themselves.
At Spectrum Vascular Surgery, our vascular and endovascular surgeon assesses and treats the full range of venous conditions, from spider veins to chronic venous insufficiency and venous ulcers. Most modern vein treatments are minimally invasive, take less than an hour and are usually performed as day procedures.
Dr Tay Jia Sheng is a distinguished vascular surgeon in Singapore, specialising in minimally invasive vascular, endovascular and endovenous procedures. He treats a broad range of conditions including varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis, peripheral arterial disease, diabetic foot ulcers and aortic aneurysms.
As a founding vascular surgeon at Sengkang General Hospital, Dr Tay led one of Singapore’s busiest vascular units with strong outcomes and low complication rates. He is among the few local surgeons skilled in advanced techniques such as minimally invasive vein harvesting and complex endovascular aneurysm repairs.
Outside the operating theatre, he has taught at Yong Loo Lin, Duke-NUS and Lee Kong Chian medical schools. Recognised with awards such as the SingHealth Quality Service Award and COVID-19 Resilience Medal, he now practises at Spectrum Vascular & General Surgery, offering patient-centred care with a focus on minimally invasive treatment.
Dr Tay Jia Sheng is a distinguished vascular surgeon in Singapore, specialising in minimally invasive vascular, endovascular and endovenous procedures. He treats a broad range of conditions including varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis, peripheral arterial disease, diabetic foot ulcers and aortic aneurysms.
As a founding vascular surgeon at Sengkang General Hospital, Dr Tay led one of Singapore’s busiest vascular units with strong outcomes and low complication rates. He is among the few local surgeons skilled in advanced techniques such as minimally invasive vein harvesting and complex endovascular aneurysm repairs.
Outside the operating theatre, he has taught at Yong Loo Lin, Duke-NUS and Lee Kong Chian medical schools. Recognised with awards such as the SingHealth Quality Service Award and COVID-19 Resilience Medal, he now practises at Spectrum Vascular & General Surgery, offering patient-centred care with a focus on minimally invasive treatment.
Your veins carry blood from your legs back up to your heart. Because this blood has to travel against gravity, your veins rely on two things: the pumping action of your calf muscles and a series of tiny one-way valves that stop blood from sliding back down.
Venous disease develops when these valves stop closing properly. Doctors call this valve incompetence or venous reflux. Instead of moving upwards, blood leaks backwards and pools in the lower legs. Over time, this raises the pressure inside the veins, a problem known as venous hypertension.
That constant pressure is what causes most of the symptoms people notice: swelling, aching, visible veins and eventually changes to the skin. When the problem persists for months or
years, it is called chronic venous disease or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
Venous disease can affect the superficial veins just under the skin, the deep veins inside the muscles or the perforator veins that connect the two.
Your veins carry blood from your legs back up to your heart. Because this blood has to travel against gravity, your veins rely on two things: the pumping action of your calf muscles and a series of tiny one-way valves that stop blood from sliding back down.
Venous disease develops when these valves stop closing properly. Doctors call this valve incompetence or venous reflux. Instead of moving upwards, blood leaks backwards and pools in the lower legs. Over time, this raises the pressure inside the veins, a problem known as venous hypertension.
That constant pressure is what causes most of the symptoms people notice: swelling, aching, visible veins and eventually changes to the skin. When the problem persists for months or
years, it is called chronic venous disease or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
Venous disease can affect the superficial veins just under the skin, the deep veins inside the muscles or the perforator veins that connect the two.
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that bulge under the skin, usually on the legs. They can look like thick cords and often ache or feel heavy.
Fine red, purple or blue veins visible on the surface of the skin. They are usually harmless but can signal underlying venous reflux.
A longstanding form of venous disease where the veins can no longer return blood effectively. CVI causes persistent swelling, skin discoloration and, in advanced cases, ulcers.
Open sores, usually around the ankle, that are slow to heal. They are the late stage of untreated venous disease. Chronic wound care treats venous ulcers alongside the underlying vein problem.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a deep leg vein. It is a medical emergency because part of the clot can travel to the lungs, and it can also damage the vein valves and lead
to long lasting venous problems.
Problems affecting the veins just beneath the skin, including superficial thrombophlebitis, where a surface vein becomes inflamed and tender.
Symptoms often build up slowly and feel worse at the end of the day or after long periods of standing. Common signs include:
When to seek urgent care: See a doctor promptly if you have sudden swelling or pain in one leg, a vein that is bleeding, an ulcer that will not heal, or leg swelling with chest pain or breathlessness. These can be signs of a blood clot or other serious problems.
Venous disease usually comes down to weakened vein valves, but several factors make this more likely:
Being female and hormonal changes such as pregnancy or menopause also increase the risk.
Book a consultation and duplex ultrasound assessment with our vascular surgeon.
Diagnosis starts with a consultation and physical examination of your legs. Your surgeon will ask about your symptoms, lifestyle, medical history and any family history of vein problems.
The key test is a duplex ultrasound, a painless scan that shows both the structure of your veins and the direction of blood flow inside them. It identifies exactly which valves are leaking and whether the problem lies in the superficial or deep veins. This vein mapping guides the choice of treatment.
Your surgeon will also grade the severity of your condition, which helps track your progress and plan the right level of treatment.
Treatment depends on which veins are affected, how severe your symptoms are and your personal goals. Many patients need only conservative measures. Others benefit from a minimally invasive procedure to close the faulty vein.
Compression stockings, regular walking, weight management, leg elevation and good skin care can relieve symptoms and slow progression. They do not repair leaking valves, but they are an important first step and remain useful after treatment.
A liquid or foam solution is injected into smaller veins, causing them to close and fade. Foam sclerotherapy can be guided by ultrasound to treat veins beneath the surface.
Treatment depends on which veins are affected, how severe your symptoms are and your personal goals. Many patients need only conservative measures. Others benefit from a minimally invasive procedure to close the faulty vein.
Compression stockings, regular walking, weight management, leg elevation and good skin care can relieve symptoms and slow progression. They do not repair leaking valves, but they are an important first step and remain useful after treatment.
A liquid or foam solution is injected into smaller veins, causing them to close and fade. Foam sclerotherapy can be guided by ultrasound to treat veins beneath the surface.
A thin catheter delivers controlled heat inside the faulty vein, sealing it shut. Blood reroutes through healthy veins. Performed under local anaesthesia through a tiny puncture.
Similar to RFA but uses laser energy to close the vein. Both are in routine clinical use for venous reflux with short recovery times.
A medical adhesive seals the faulty vein without heat, so most patients need only a single injection of local anaesthetic and compression stockings may not be needed afterwards, depending on your surgeon's assessment.
Removal of bulging surface veins through tiny skin punctures, usually combined with one of the treatments above.
Traditional vein stripping is now uncommon, but it remains an option for certain vein patterns or very large veins. Your surgeon will explain if this applies to you.Your treatment plan is based on your duplex ultrasound findings, your symptoms and your preferences. Many patients need more than one approach to treat both the underlying reflux and the visible veins.
Book a consultation and duplex ultrasound assessment with our vascular surgeon.
Most minimally invasive vein treatments are day procedures. You will be encouraged to walk immediately afterwards, and most patients return to work within a day or two. You may be asked to wear compression stockings for a short period and to avoid strenuous exercise or long flights for a week or so. A review appointment with an ultrasound scan confirms the treated vein has closed properly.
Most minimally invasive vein treatments are day procedures. You will be encouraged to walk immediately afterwards, and most patients return to work within a day or two. You may be asked to wear compression stockings for a short period and to avoid strenuous exercise or long flights for a week or so. A review appointment with an ultrasound scan confirms the treated vein has closed properly.
Venous disease tends to progress. Over time, untreated venous reflux can lead to:
Treating the underlying reflux earlier is usually less involved than managing later complications.
Leg symptoms that keep coming back deserve a proper assessment. Venous disease tends to progress quietly, but treating it early easier than managing later complications.
Book a consultation at Spectrum Vascular Surgery for a duplex ultrasound scan and a clear, personalised treatment plan from our vascular surgeon.
For enquiries, consultation or second opinions, please complete the form below or call us at +65 8874 0371. Our team will get back to you shortly to assist with your request.
Venous disease is a condition where the valves in your leg veins stop working properly, allowing blood to pool in the legs. It causes swelling, aching, varicose veins and skin changes.
Mild venous disease is not immediately dangerous, but it progresses over time and can lead to ulcers, bleeding and skin damage. Related conditions such as DVT can be serious and need urgent care.
Damaged valves cannot repair themselves, but modern treatments can close the faulty vein so blood reroutes through healthy veins. Blood simply reroutes through healthy veins.
No. Varicose veins do not disappear naturally, although symptoms may fluctuate. They do not resolve without treatment.
Compression stockings relieve symptoms and reduce swelling, but they do not fix the leaking valves. They manage the condition rather than cure it.
Yes. Walking activates the calf muscle pump, which helps push blood back towards the heart and eases symptoms.
Many vein treatments today are minimally invasive performed under local anaesthesia and cause only mild discomfort. Patients walk out of the clinic the same day.
Most minimally invasive procedures take 45 to 60 minutes. You can usually return to normal activities within a day or two.
Yes, family history is one of the risk factors. If your parents had varicose veins, your own risk is higher.
Costs vary depending on the type and extent of treatment. Our clinic will provide a detailed estimate after your consultation and ultrasound assessment, including Medisave and insurance guidance where applicable.
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