McKeown Medical
167 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4SQ
Date posted — 8.04.25
Varicose veins can be uncomfortable, unsightly, and even painful, prompting many people to seek treatment. However, one of the primary concerns for patients considering varicose vein treatment is the recovery process. What can they expect? How long does it take to return to daily activities? Understanding the recovery journey is essential for making an informed decision.
At McKeown Medical, we provide expert care throughout the entire treatment and recovery process. Whether you undergo a surgical or minimally invasive procedure, our team ensures you receive the best possible aftercare. In this guide, we’ll explore what to expect after varicose vein treatment, highlighting recovery timelines and essential aftercare measures to support healing.
For patients undergoing traditional varicose vein surgery, such as ligation and stripping, the recovery process tends to be longer compared to minimally invasive techniques, with most patients needing a couple of weeks off work. The great news, however, is that only around 1% of patients with varicose veins still require this type of invasive surgery. The vast majority of patients can be treated with a less invasive option, with most patients being able to get back to normal the same day or shortly after.
Recovering from a Minimally Invasive Vein Procedure
Minimally invasive varicose vein treatments, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or foam sclerotherapy, offer a much quicker recovery, with most patients being back to normal activities within a couple of days. There is usually a little bit of soreness to the leg, although this is helped by wearing compression stockings for the first week or so.
Many people resume work within 1–2 days, especially for office-based roles. Light activity is encouraged immediately, but strenuous activities should be avoided for 1–2 weeks. Similar to surgical recovery, driving should be avoided until patients can comfortably move their legs. Long-haul flights should also be postponed for at least a week.
Recovering from a Venaseal procedure
We are very proud to be one of the first centres in Scotland to introduce the revolutionary Venaseal procedure. Venaseal is an even less invasive option and uses a special type of medical adhesive to seal the problematic veins shut. It causes less discomfort than RFA, and patients can get back to normal activities almost immediately without having to wear compression stockings. This is now our most popular type of varicose vein treatment in our clinic due to the minimal impact it has on our patients’ busy lives.
The best treatment for you will depend on a combination of factors, including your own anatomy, medical history and personal preferences. The first step is to undergo a thorough assessment and consultation by a consultant vascular surgeon. As part of this assessment, a detailed ultrasound scan will be performed to study the anatomy of your veins and look at blood flow within the leg. When we understand the anatomy and your medical history, the consultant surgeon can then discuss the most appropriate range of options for your condition before you decide on which one to proceed with.
While modern varicose vein treatments are highly effective, it’s crucial to be aware of potential risks and symptoms that may require medical attention. Patients may experience:
Knowing what to expect and when to seek further medical care ensures a smoother recovery experience.
At McKeown Medical, we specialize in VenaSeal, a cutting-edge treatment that offers an even shorter recovery period. Unlike thermal-based procedures, VenaSeal™ requires no compression stockings post-treatment and allows for an almost immediate return to daily life. Learn more about this treatment here.
Recovery from varicose vein treatment varies depending on the procedure performed, but with the right aftercare, most patients return to their normal routines quickly. At McKeown Medical, we prioritize expert-guided aftercare, ensuring each patient feels supported throughout their recovery.
If you’re considering varicose vein treatment and want to learn more about the recovery process, you can begin your journey by booking a consultation with our team today. We’re here to provide expert advice and high-quality care every step of the way.
Dr Alex Vesey discusses whether varicose veins can come back after treatment.
When it comes to treating varicose veins, VenaSeal™ has emerged as a revolutionary option that offers a minimally invasive and...
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that often appear just under the skin, primarily in the legs and feet.
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Dr Alex Vesey discusses whether varicose veins can come back after treatment.
When it comes to treating varicose veins, VenaSeal™ has emerged as a revolutionary option that offers a minimally invasive and...
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that often appear just under the skin, primarily in the legs and feet.
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
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?
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?