Surgery for varicose veins usually involves making a small incision in the groin at the top of the leg, or less commonly an incision at the back of the knee.  These are small cuts; the groin incision is usually  about 3-4 cm long.  Through these incisions the leaky vein that is feeding the varicose veins lower in the leg is disconnected from the main vein in the leg.  The leaky veins then stripped out using modern instruments that minimise the bruising to the tissues in the thigh.  The varicose veins are removed through very small stab incisions using special vein hooks.

Some patients with limited varicose veins may be suitable for treatment by injection of their veins (sclerotherapy).  Others with very small thread veins in the skin can be treated with microslerotherapy using very fine needles.