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Another outdated notion comes from the era of surgical stripping, which did involve extended recovery periods.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.
Discover what ‘True Skin Age’ means, how it’s measured using VISIA, and the evidence-based ways to improve your biological skin...
Pigmentation, redness and texture issues all have different causes. Learn what’s happening beneath the skin, and why VISIA analysis helps...
Skin quality is the missing piece in aesthetic medicine. Discover why tone, texture and clarity matter—and how lasers and VISIA...
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Discover what ‘True Skin Age’ means, how it’s measured using VISIA, and the evidence-based ways to improve your biological skin...
Pigmentation, redness and texture issues all have different causes. Learn what’s happening beneath the skin, and why VISIA analysis helps...
Skin quality is the missing piece in aesthetic medicine. Discover why tone, texture and clarity matter—and how lasers and VISIA...
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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Our resident superstar breast surgery expert Dr Kavita was asked to talk about trends in breast surgery on BBC Radio Scotland today. This was Kavita’s first ever live interview and we thought she nailed it!
What do you think?
And this is why combination treatments always win!
This lovely patient is in her 50s and was noticing all of the classic signs of ageing. She was starting to see some jowls forming, the neck was becoming more saggy and she felt she was looking tired.
At this stage in the ageing process it is not one thing that is responsible for causing the tired expression, its a combination of changes that are working together which is why we need a combination of treatments to target it effectively.
We did some sofwave treatment first to tighten the skin on the face and neck. Sofwave is very effective at tightening the skin, but remember: the skin is only the outer layer of the face, so we supported the treatment with some volume replacement in the deeper layers.
I decided to post her selfie style before and afters as well as her clinical pictures so you can see how it looks in real life, as well as the clinical up-close detail. The patient is over the moon with her results.
What do you think?
Here is another beautifully balanced deep plane face and neck lift by the skilful @bramhallplasticsurgery.
The deep plane technique, as the name suggests, works at a deeper level, repositioning the underlying structures of the face and neck rather than simply tightening the skin. By addressing the deeper tissues, we can restore more natural proportions, refine the jawline, and create a smoother, more defined contour beneath the chin - especially when the patient moves or bends their neck forward.
To achieve this impressive improvement in the neck, even in flexion, Russell reduced the deep fat (from under the muscle), trimmed and shaped the salivary glands and reconstructed the muscles of the neck to create a rejuvenated result. This is a much more sophisticated procedure compared with a standard face and neck lift.
At just 2 months post-op, her result is already beautifully balanced. The jawline is sharper, the neck more sculpted, and everything sits in harmony with the rest of her features. Scars are settling well and will continue to soften over time.
She may choose to refine things further with laser resurfacing for skin quality and subtle volume restoration in the mid-face, but even at this stage, the transformation speaks for itself.
Thank you to our patient for allowing us to share her journey.
What do you think?
Thank you to this lovely patient for allowing us to share her beautiful result from the talented @bramhallplasticsurgery.
This patient is just 2.5 months after upper eyelid surgery, and already looking incredibly fresh and natural. The scars are settling very well and will continue to soften over the coming months.
The incisions are carefully placed within the natural eyelid crease, making them very difficult to see once healed. Excess skin has been removed to open up the eye area, while maintaining a soft, natural appearance.
A small amount of muscle was reduced at the outer part of the eyelid to address hooding, without affecting the central area. This helps preserve a youthful fullness above the eye. There has also been a conservative reduction of the lateral brow fat to further refine the contour. This highly tailored, bespoke approach to surgery is the attention to detail that lies at the heart of our clinic’s approach and philosophy.
As with many patients, her anatomy meant these changes developed earlier than expected. In the right cases, surgery at a younger age can deliver a subtle but very impactful improvement.
What do you think?
Happy Easter from our excited little bunnies 🐣🐰
Thank you to our lovely patient for allowing us to share these photos.
This is just 4 weeks after her first session (of three) with Juläine and we’re already starting to see a soft return of fullness and improvement in skin quality.
Juläine is not a traditional filler. It works by stimulating your body’s own collagen production, gradually restoring structure, firmness and elasticity from within.
This is just the beginning. As collagen continues to rebuild over the coming weeks and months, results will become more noticeable with improved support, smoother contours and a natural, refreshed appearance.
The patient is delighted with her progress so far. What do you think?
And this is why HA fillers have never gone out of fashion in our practice!
This lovely patient had all the classic signs of volume loss in her face and there is no other non-surgical treatment that can address this quite as quickly, effectively and non-invasively as HA filler. Of course, it needs to be carefully and sensitively applied.
This patient had a total of 10mls of HA as well as some wrinkle relaxing on the upper face. She is delighted with her restoration. What do you think?
Upper eyelid surgery isn’t just for ageing eyes! Some patients naturally have excess upper eyelid skin from a young age due to their anatomy, like this 29-year-old patient who had a congenital upper eyelid fold and recently underwent an upper blepharoplasty with the ever-talented @bramhallplasticsurgery.
The excess eyelid skin rested directly on her eyelashes, causing irritation and a persistent feeling of heaviness around the eyes which had been bothering her for several years. Upper eyelid surgery can address both functional symptoms and aesthetic concerns, helping patients achieve a lighter, more open eye appearance.
This patient is just 7 weeks after surgery. At this early stage of healing the scars are still maturing and in younger patients this process can take slightly longer. The incision is placed within the natural eyelid crease and as healing progresses the scar typically fades and becomes extremely difficult to see, often blending into the natural eyelid fold.
She`s delighted with the results so far, and we`re grateful to her for allowing us to share her results with you.
What do you think?
Thank you once again to another lovely patient who has allowed us to share her photos with you.
She came to see me wanting a refresh and was open to suggestions, surgical and non-surgical. Her biggest concern however was wrinkles and lines and skin texture problems.
Surgery doesn’t help with this and injectables are limited too - the gold standard here is laser resurfacing, which is what we went with. We did a full field ablation of the full face including her eyelids.
This is her a month or so later. You can see she is still a bit red, especially around the eyes where we went the deepest, but she is already loving life with her new skin.
What do you think?