McKeown Medical
167 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4SQ
Date posted — 24.04.25
Being diagnosed with fibroids can feel overwhelming. You may have noticed changes in your body, such as unusual bleeding, bloating, or pelvic pain, and suddenly you’re facing medical terms and treatment options you don’t fully understand.
At McKeown Medical, we believe in helping you make sense of it all with clear, expert-led information and compassionate care. In this article, we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about fibroids to help you feel more informed and confident about your next steps.
Fibroids (also called uterine fibroids or leiomyomas) are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. They vary in size, from as small as a seed to as large as a melon, and can appear as a single growth or in clusters.
Fibroids are incredibly common. It’s estimated that around 2 in 3 women will develop at least one fibroid during their lifetime. They typically affect people in their 30s and 40s, but can occur at any age.
Many fibroids don’t cause any symptoms and are only discovered during routine scans or examinations. However, others can lead to significant discomfort and disruption in daily life.
The symptoms of fibroids depend on their size, number, and location within the uterus. Some of the most common include:
Not everyone with fibroids experiences symptoms, but if you’re noticing any of the above, it’s worth seeking medical advice. At McKeown Medical, our expert team can help you get the answers you need through an initial consultation.
Fibroids don’t cause weight gain directly, but they can lead to abdominal bloating or a noticeable bulge in the lower stomach. This is especially true when fibroids are large or numerous. For some, this change can mimic the appearance of weight gain even if body fat hasn’t increased.
No, fibroids are not cancerous. They are benign tumours, meaning they do not spread to other parts of the body. In extremely rare cases, a cancerous growth called a leiomyosarcoma can develop in the uterus, but this is not thought to arise from a fibroid.
Importantly, having fibroids does not increase your risk of uterine cancer.
If you experience symptoms such as soaking through sanitary products frequently, feeling unusually fatigued, or suffering from shortness of breath during your period, it may be time to consult a healthcare professional. Early intervention can help prevent complications and improve your quality of life.
Still, it’s vital to monitor any changes in your symptoms and undergo regular checkups, especially if you’re postmenopausal or experiencing unusual bleeding.
The exact cause of fibroids isn’t fully understood, but several factors are known to play a role:
Fibroids can grow slowly or rapidly, or they may remain the same size for years.
At McKeown Medical, we offer a range of evidence-based treatments tailored to your symptoms, lifestyle, and personal preferences. These include:
Medication
Minimally invasive surgery
Hysterectomy
We understand that every woman’s situation is unique, which is why we take a personalised approach to treatment planning.
Fibroids are common, but they don’t have to be confusing or debilitating. With the right care, they can be managed or removed effectively, giving you back control over your health and quality of life.
At McKeown Medical, our gynaecology service is led by Dr. Iain Martin, a highly experienced consultant specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of fibroids. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or considering your treatment options, we’re here to help you find the path that’s right for you.
Book a consultation to speak with one of our experts and explore your treatment options today.
Best in the business without a shadow of a doubt. Over 10 years I have been a client, never once had an issue with my treatments. High standards/practice speaks volumes.
Charlene DouganMay 2024
The Quantum Lift!
We introduced this new technique only a few weeks ago and, well, it’s going even better than expected. This is one of our patients before and immediately after. I always warn my patients that I cannot give them a surgical facelift result with a procedure that doesn’t involve cutting but honestly, in this case, I think we got pretty close to a facelift result and closer than I was expecting.
First we remove some fat from under the chin and jawline before the quantum goes in to tighten the skin. I have included a picture of the neck after the we had removed fat from both sides, but only applied the quantum to her right side. You can see how much difference there is when I try to pinch the skin. In the non-treated skin I skin still pinch an inch (or two) but on the treated side there is very little to pinch, because the tissues have shrunk down so much.
The patient tolerated the procedure very well under simple local anaesthetic without sedation and we had a nice chat throughout. Afterwards she had a cup of tea and then went home with her husband half an hour later.
I have been very excited about The Quantum Lift for a while, but I’m only getting more excited the more I do. I really believe this is a massive step towards an effective way to rejuvenate the lower face and neck whilst avoiding traditional facelift scars.
Everyone knows we do lots of sophisticated facial work in the clinic. But did you know we also now do a lot of breast work too?
This is one of our patients who wanted breast augmentation. She specifically wanted more upper pole fullness so Kavita selected a 325cc high profile implant from Mentor, but placed them under the muscle to give a more natural take off. Mentor are considered the gold standard for breast implant quality and we only use their implants in the clinic.
The patient is just a few weeks post-op, so there is still a little bit of settling to go but she is already delighted with the shape and size. The key to breast surgery is listening to the patients concerns and then tailoring the procedure to get them the result they want - which is something the very fabulous Miss Kavita excels at.
What do you think?
The SMAS Facelift is back at McKeown Medical!�
Patients tell us all the time that they want to get rid of their jowls and facial sagging, but are hesitant about a lengthy surgical procedure or taking several weeks away from work and social commitments. The SMAS Facelift is an excellent alternative for patients who want meaningful improvement without the bigger commitment. �
It`s a technique that lifts and repositions the deeper tissues of the face while removing excess skin. Until Deep Plane became more popular in the last 10 years, SMAS was the gold standard. Compared with Deep Plane, it takes about 3 hours instead of 6-8, can be done under local anaesthetic, has a shorter recovery, and lower risk of nerve injury. For many patients with moderate facial ageing, it produces excellent, long-lasting results at £12,000, all performed by the phenomenal @bramhallplasticsurgery.�
This is one of our patients who had a SMAS Facelift with eyelid surgery five years ago. She`s maintained her results with HA fillers, like many of our surgical patients do, but otherwise her results are still going strong. That`s what SMAS can give you.
Every face ages differently and every patient has different circumstances. Some need the extensive correction of Deep Plane, especially if they have a heavy neck. Others are better suited to SMAS, particularly if you want a less invasive option with quicker recovery.
The right choice depends on your anatomy, your concerns, and your lifestyle. If you’d like to know more about the SMAS facelift, drop your questions in the comments or send us a DM!
So here she is! The one we’ve all been waiting for 😍 This is Lorraine 5 days after her Quantum lift. She’s still at home recovering because she had her body done too (more on that soon), so she’s not been back in the clinic for proper after photos yet. But she’s already delighted and sending the dreamteam these selfies from home. She’s obviously still very early and a bit swollen, but I think we can all see where this is heading already! I’m very excited for Lorraine… and for all of our lovely patients who are already booked for Quantum. This is a game changer for loose skin!
Thank you to this lovely patient for allowing us to share her upper blepharoplasty results, by the phenomenal @bramhallplasticsurgery .
This patient is 62 and came to us feeling self-conscious about the heaviness and puffiness of her upper eyelids. She`d found herself regularly raising her eyebrows just to lift the skin away from her eyes and had noticed a shadow appearing when she looked upwards and outwards, which was beginning to affect her peripheral vision.
Heavy upper eyelids can really knock people`s confidence, especially in social situations and in photos, and yet it`s one of the most straightforward areas to address.
The procedure itself takes around 45–60 minutes and is carried out while patients are awake under local anaesthetic. The scars sit within the natural crease of the eyelid, making them almost impossible to spot once healed
This is just 2.5 months post-surgery, and her scars are already settling beautifully. They`ll continue to fade over the next 12 months.
What do you think?
Yesterday was a big day in the clinic! We officially launched the game changing Quantum RF technology in the clinic. Quantum allows us to take liposuction to another level. We’ve got power assisted lipo which allows us to sculpt more, we’ve got ultrasound assisted lipo which allows us to melt the fat for more gentle removal. Now we’ve got quantum that allows us to follow this up with a treatment to shrink the skin down. It means patients who may previously have needed excisional surgery - like tummy tuck, or arm lift or thigh lift or even facelift - can be successfully treated without long scars. This is truly game changing technology and we are so excited to be the first in Scotland to introduce it. Can you guess who our first patient was? 👀
Here`s a wee update on this lovely patient who is now further along in her Regenerative Facelift journey.
We have combined Juläine PLLA and Sofwave ultrasound skin tightening, and you can see exactly what that pairing delivers: softer contours, improved structure, and a natural-looking result that`s still continuing to develop.
Juläine works by stimulating the body`s own collagen production, gradually restoring structure and support from within. Sofwave works alongside that by firming and lifting the skin at a deeper level. Together, they address the scaffold and the skin.
She`s looking fresher and is absolutely delighted. What do you think?
And if you`ve been thinking about a non-surgical approach to facial rejuvenation, what questions do you have? Drop them below.
Thank you to this lovely patient for allowing us to share her results!
The deep plane face and neck lift is one of the most technically challenging procedures in plastic surgery. It takes 6-8 hours of painstaking dissection to carefully release the retaining ligaments of the face so the face can be properly lifted and repositioned, rather than simply pulled tighter around the edges.
Few surgeons have the technical skill to pull this off - and we are very proud of @bramhallplasticsurgery for being one of them. It’s a challenging procedure to get right, but when the results are this good, it’s definitely worth it!
What do you think?
Thank you to this lovely patient for allowing us to share her results.
Varicose veins are something we see a lot of in the clinic, and they can have a real impact beyond how they simply look - aching, heaviness and discomfort are common reasons for patients deciding to come and get them fixed. Now that summer is approaching, this our peak time of year for patients coming to look for a fix.
This patient was treated by the wonderful Dr Alex Vesey using a combination of Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) and microphlebectomy. RFA works by delivering targeted heat energy to close off the affected vein from the inside, while microphlebectomy allows the smaller surface veins to be removed through tiny incisions. Together, they address both the underlying cause and the visible result. Both procedures are done under local anaesthetic, which means you can get up and walk out immediately after surgery.
The patient is absolutely delighted with her outcome. What do you think?