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 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?
The biggest mistake I see after weight loss? People choose a treatment before understanding what`s actually causing their loose skin.
Not all "loose skin" is the same, which is why the right treatment for one person can be completely wrong for another.
If you`ve lost weight and aren`t sure which option is right for you, the first step isn`t choosing a device. It`s getting the right diagnosis.
Looking for some advice? Send us a DM to get started.