McKeown Medical
167 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4SQ
Frequently Asked Questions: Everything You Need to Know About Fibroids
Published by Dr Iain Martin
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.
What are fibroids?
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.
What are the symptoms of fibroids?
The symptoms of fibroids depend on their size, number, and location within the uterus. Some of the most common include:
- Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
- Pelvic pain or pressure
- Bloating or a sensation of fullness in the lower abdomen
- Frequent urination or difficulty emptying the bladder
- Pain during intercourse
- Lower back pain
- Fertility issues or complications during pregnancy
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.
Do fibroids cause weight gain?
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.
Are fibroids cancerous?
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.
When Should I See a Doctor?
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.
What causes fibroids to grow?
The exact cause of fibroids isn’t fully understood, but several factors are known to play a role:
- Hormones – Oestrogen and progesterone appear to stimulate fibroid growth, which is why they often shrink after menopause.
- Genetics – A family history of fibroids can increase your risk.
- Ethnicity – Fibroids are more common and often more severe in Black women.
- Lifestyle factors – Obesity, high blood pressure, and a diet low in fruits and vegetables may increase risk.
Fibroids can grow slowly or rapidly, or they may remain the same size for years.
What treatment options are there for fibroids?
At McKeown Medical, we offer a range of evidence-based treatments tailored to your symptoms, lifestyle, and personal preferences. These include:
Medication
- Used to manage symptoms like heavy bleeding or pain.
- Hormonal treatments (e.g., the pill, hormonal IUDs) can help regulate periods.
- Not a permanent solution for fibroid removal.
Minimally invasive surgery
- MyoSure – A gentle hysteroscopic procedure used to remove fibroids from the uterine cavity. Often done under local anaesthetic with or without sedation.
- Myomectomy – Removes fibroids while preserving the uterus; ideal for those hoping to maintain fertility.
Hysterectomy
- Complete removal of the uterus.
- A permanent solution for fibroids, but only recommended when other treatments aren’t suitable or desired. Whilst we do not offer this in-house, if this is the most appropriate treatment for you, then we will refer you.
We understand that every woman’s situation is unique, which is why we take a personalised approach to treatment planning.
Struggling with fibroids?
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.
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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
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This patient is just 24 hours after her Quantum lift with fat redistribution. As part of the procedure we sometimes take some of excess fat that’s been removed from the neck and jowls and replace it along the chin and jaw to create more definition.
Although she’s still bruised and swollen, I think we can all already see where this result is heading.
The patient is delighted! What do you think?
Here she is… the one we’ve all been waiting for!
Lorraine, our incredible Assistant Manager, was the very first patient to have The Quantum Lift.
She’s now approaching 12 weeks after her procedure - the point at which we really start to see the result mature - and she is absolutely over the moon with her new jawline.
It’s been especially exciting watching this result develop because Lorraine was patient number one and I think you’ll agree, she set the bar pretty high.
What do you think of her result?
This is not a facelift.
This patient is just one week after The Quantum Lift, immediately after having her tape removed - you can still see a little residual adhesive on her cheeks.
The Quantum Lift is our new minimally invasive approach to rejuvenating the lower face and neck. We first use precision liposuction to remove excess fat from beneath the chin and around the jowls, sculpting a cleaner jawline. We then use QuantumRF beneath the skin to contract and tighten the tissues of the lower face and neck.
What has impressed me most about QuantumRF is the degree of tissue contraction we can achieve. You can actually see the tissues tightening during the procedure itself, but that`s only the beginning. Most patients are through the main recovery within a week or two, while tightening and collagen remodelling continue for 3–6 months afterwards.
So, at only one week, this is still a very early result but she`s already delighted with the improvement.
No facelift. One week post-treatment. And plenty more improvement still to come.
What do you think?
Dr Rhona is back!
We’re delighted to share that Dr Rhona Cameron will be returning to clinic at the beginning of September following her maternity leave and her diary is now open for appointments!
We know many of you have been looking forward to seeing Rhona again, and we’re so pleased to welcome her back!
If you’d like to book an appointment with Dr Rhona, you can do so via our website or app, or contact the team on 0141 370 0509.
We’ve shown you lots of side profiles from the Quantum Lift, but what does it look like from the front?
This lovely patient is just four weeks after her procedure, and I think the front view really shows how much we can change while still keeping the face looking soft and natural.
As part of her Quantum Lift, we removed unwanted fat from beneath the chin and around the jowls. Rather than simply discarding that fat, we used some of it to restore volume to her chin and jawline, helping to replace some of the volume she had lost over time and bring back a little of the youthful softness to the lower face.
You’ll also notice a small amount of lumpiness beneath the chin. At four weeks, this is very common after liposuction in this area and is part of the healing process. She’s now using firmer massage to help soften this over the coming weeks, and we would expect the result to continue settling and refining.
Most importantly, she’s absolutely over the moon with the change, and we are too!
What do you think of the front view?
Once again, the combination treatment wins the day!
This patient came to us hating her neck and jowls, but she would not consider anything invasive. Treating the neck is always a challenge especially with non-invasive treatments only.
For this patient we first of all reduced the fat under the chin using CoolSculpting, then we did some hyaluronic acid under the mandible to define the jaw and finally we did some Sofwave to tighten the skin.
The patient is over the moon with her results. What do you think?
There is no single "best" facial rejuvenation treatment - only the treatment that`s right for the individual patient.
For patients with more advanced facial ageing, significant jowls and loose skin of the neck, a deep plane facelift remains the gold standard. In the right hands, it can achieve results that more significant than what we can do with less invasive treatments.
This is one of our recent patients following deep plane face and neck lift surgery, performed by the incredibly talented @bramhallplasticsurgery. It`s always a privilege to work alongside Russell and see the exceptional results he consistently achieves.
One of the things I`m most proud of at McKeown Medical is that we`re a genuinely multidisciplinary team. We don`t believe every patient needs fillers. We don`t believe every patient needs surgery either. We offer injectables, lasers, minimally invasive procedures like the Quantum Lift, and facelift surgery because different patients, at different stages of the ageing process, need different solutions.
Our job isn`t to sell you a procedure - its to help you choose the right one.
If you want to have a conversation about which option is right for you, you can send us some pics by PM.
#DeepPlaneFacelift #Facelift #NeckLift #FacialRejuvenation #PlasticSurgery #AestheticMedicine #NaturalResults #McKeownMedical #Glasgow #PlasticSurgeon
I genuinely think the Quantum Lift is changing what is possible for patients who want to improve their jawline and neck, but do not want to undergo facelift surgery.
I have used earlier generations of skin-tightening technology and, honestly, I was often underwhelmed by the results. This is different.
By combining precise power-assisted liposuction, targeted treatment of the neck muscle where needed, and QuantumRF skin tightening, we can address the three things that most commonly age the lower face and neck: muscle, fat and skin.
This patient is shown just 24 hours after treatment. There is still swelling to settle, but the early change in her jawline and neck contour is already clear.
I have also included clips from the procedure for anyone who likes seeing the technical side of what we do.
Would you consider a minimally invasive alternative to facelift surgery for your jawline or neck, or would you rather go straight to surgery?
And this is why we LOVE combination treatments in the clinic!
Different parts of the face age in different ways. And even different layers of the same part sometimes age differently, which is why we often need to combine treatments to achieve the best overall effect for each patient.
This lovely patient first underwent some laser resurfacing to her eyelid area to take away the lines and wrinkles and tighten the skin. Then we used some HA to blend the contour below the eye and cheek. Finally, we addressed the lower part of the face and neck with some Sofwave to tighten the skin and Sculptra to give her more connective tissue support.
She is over the moon with her improvement. What do you think?
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Our dedicated team of experts are on hand to help you as you navigate your journey with us.
When you first make contact with us you will be assigned your own personal Patient Relationship Manager. They’ll start by understanding your needs and liaising with our doctors to book you an appointment with the most suitable specialist. For any additional questions or needs, you can message or call them anytime and they’ll be delighted to assist you. Our entire team is dedicated to providing you with the best possible treatment and care tailored to your needs.
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