McKeown Medical
167 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4SQ
Date posted — 3.09.25
For many people struggling with varicose veins, the idea of treatment brings with it a wave of fear. Stories of painful surgeries, long recovery periods, and disappointing results continue to circulate, despite the significant advances in vein care over the last two decades. These myths can stop people from seeking treatment that could significantly improve their quality of life, comfort, confidence, and health.
At McKeown Medical, we frequently meet patients who are surprised and relieved to find out that varicose vein treatment today is nothing like it used to be. Under the care of renowned vascular surgeon Dr. Alex Vesey, we use the most modern, minimally invasive procedures to treat varicose veins effectively and safely.
In this article, we’ll debunk five of the most common and dangerous myths about varicose vein treatment and share what you really need to know.
This myth likely comes from the old days of varicose vein stripping surgery, which did require general anaesthesia and could involve significant post-operative discomfort. Understandably, stories of long, painful varicose vein treatment recoveries have lingered in people’s minds. However, these methods are now largely a thing of the past; less than 1% of patients still require these older-style treatments.
Today, we use advanced, minimally invasive techniques like:
In most cases, patients walk out of the clinic the same day, with minimal discomfort and no need for deep sedation at all after a varicose vein treatment.
Many people believe that treating varicose veins is a temporary fix, but this simply isn’t true.
Once a problematic varicose vein is treated and closed using methods like RFA or VenaSeal, it does not reopen. The success rates of modern procedures are high, with studies showing up to 95–98% closure rates for treated veins, meaning that only 2-5% of patients experience recurrence of their veins.
What people often interpret as a recurrence is usually new varicose veins forming, which can happen over time, particularly if underlying risk factors like genetics or standing for long periods are still present. However, with a proper assessment and the right choice of treatment, the risk of new vein development can be minimised, especially when combined with good lifestyle management.
Another outdated notion comes from the era of surgical stripping, which did involve extended recovery periods. But modern vein treatments are designed with minimal downtime in mind.
Most of our patients at McKeown Medical are back to work within 24–48 hours, and many resume their daily activities the same day. Walking is not only allowed, but it’s also encouraged straight after a varicose vein treatment to help blood circulation and healing. There’s no need to lie in bed for days, and the majority of patients feel well enough to get on with life very quickly.
Compression stockings have long been associated with varicose vein care, but they’re not universally required after treatment anymore.
With older treatments, stockings were often necessary to aid healing and prevent complications. Today, however, modern techniques like VenaSeal mean that compression stockings may not be needed at all.
Whether you need to wear them depends on your individual treatment plan. At McKeown Medical, we assess each patient on a case-by-case basis to determine if compression is beneficial, and if so, for how long. In many cases, people are pleasantly surprised to find no need for stockings.
The appeal of non-invasive, natural solutions is understandable, but unfortunately, this myth is both misleading and potentially harmful.
Topical creams and herbal remedies fail to address the root cause of varicose veins, which is typically structural valve damage inside the vein. No over-the-counter product can reverse or repair this.
While some natural products may temporarily relieve symptoms such as aching or swelling, they cannot close a faulty vein or restore proper blood flow. Without medical treatment, the condition may worsen over time, increasing the risk of complications such as skin changes, ulcers, or clots.
For lasting results, professional intervention is necessary, and thanks to today’s technology, it’s easier and more comfortable than ever.
It’s natural to feel cautious about medical procedures, especially when myths and outdated information cloud the reality. But the truth is, varicose vein treatment today is safe, effective, and life-enhancing.
At McKeown Medical, we offer a full range of modern treatment options, tailored to your individual needs and goals. Under the expert care of Dr. Alex Vesey, we take a personalised, minimally invasive approach to ensure the best outcomes with the least disruption to your life.
Don’t let misconceptions about varicose vein treatment stop you from getting the latest procedures. At McKeown Medical, we have a wide range of treatment options available if you struggle with varicose veins. To discuss which treatment may be best for you, book a consultation today.
How Quantum RF Can Help Tighten Loose Arm Skin After GLP-1 Weight Loss
Discover how biostimulators such as Sculptra and Julaine stimulate collagen production to restore firmer, more natural-looking facial support over time.
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Discover what truly works for natural skin tightening, including Morpheus8, BBL SkinTyte, and Sofwave, and how advanced collagen stimulation restores...
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How Quantum RF Can Help Tighten Loose Arm Skin After GLP-1 Weight Loss
Discover how biostimulators such as Sculptra and Julaine stimulate collagen production to restore firmer, more natural-looking facial support over time.
...
Discover what truly works for natural skin tightening, including Morpheus8, BBL SkinTyte, and Sofwave, and how advanced collagen stimulation restores...
Thank you to Dr Alex and all of the team! From my ultrasound scan to my treatment, I felt completely looked after and at ease all the way through. The procedure was easy and I was able to walk home! Thanks to everyone.
Gary - A McKeown Medical patientOctober 2024
“I can’t actually believe how easy it was. I was able to get up, walk out and go meet my friend for coffee. Within a few weeks my varicose veins were gone and so too was all the aching and discomfort.”
Gary, 39 - one of the first patients in Scotland to have this pioneering treatment which is now one of the most popular treatments for varicose veins in the USAOctober 2024
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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?
Hey everyone! We’ve had loads of people messaging asking about the Quantum Lift and I wanted to make this video to give you so more details.
Totally non-invasive procedure for skin tightening - like Sofwave - are a huge part of what we do in the clinic. We also do a lot of deep plane face and neck lifts, which are the gold standard way to improve the jawline and neck.
But there is a big group of patients who need more than Sofwave, but aren’t ready for surgery. Or do need surgery, but don’t want to commit to the expense or invasiveness of surgery. These are the patients The Quantum Lift is for.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. And if you have any questions, send a pic by DM or email and we can give you an opinion 😍
Quantum Liposuction! I am SUPER excited to let you know we will be the first in Scotland to offer what is now regarded internationally as the new gold standard technique in liposuction.
We are making a big investment to bring a whole range of cutting edge technology to the clinic to allow us to take our liposuction and body contouring work to the next level.
First we melt the fat using ultrasound. Next we use power assisted liposuction to remove the fat. Finally, we use Quantum RF to tighten the skin. Quantum RF is the new innovation that is taking the body contouring world by storm. It’s an excellent option for patients who need more than a bit of liposuction, but aren’t quite ready for full tummy tuck or arm lift or thigh lift.
Dr Kavita will be doing all of the body contouring procedures under sedation, which means you will be asleep throughout. I will also be using the technology to help shape the jawline and chin and lift the jowls. You can read more about the treatment at the link in our bio.
Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Let`s talk about Mounjaro / Ozempic face!
It feels like everyone is on weight loss drugs right now, and they`re incredible for transforming bodies and health, but rapid weight loss has a real impact on the face.
This lovely patient lost an incredible 6 stones in just twelve months on Mounjaro and loved the results, but felt the life had been sucked out of her face. She naturally had a fuller, more plump face that looked youthful but the rapid weight loss diminished that.
There`s a lot of conversation right now about the best way of tackling it aesthetically and there are different options available. However, since loss of volume is the key driver of the changes, restoring the volume needs to be a central component of how we treat it - which is exactly what we did here.
This is the patient a couple of weeks after 10mls of HA filler in the mid and lower face. She is over the moon that she now has the body and health profile she wanted, but got her face back too!
The best of both worlds. What do you think?
Here’s another gorgeous upper blepharoplasty result from our phenomenal surgeon, @bramhallplasticsurgery.
This patient is 62 years old and came to us for upper eyelid surgery just 2.5 months ago. Russell performed the procedure while she was awake with just a few numbing injections. Here at the clinic we can offer facial surgery with local anaesthetic for those who want to remain awake, or with deep sedation for anyone who’d prefer to sleep throughout (without the downsides of general anaesthetic!)
Thank you to this patient for allowing us to share her fabulous result - her scars are already settling beautifully and will continue to fade over the next 12 months.
What do you think?