McKeown Medical
167 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4SQ
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that often appear just under the skin, primarily in the legs and feet.
Date posted — 7.10.24
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that often appear just under the skin, primarily in the legs and feet. They can be blue, purple, or flesh-coloured and are often raised, giving a bumpy or rope-like appearance on the skin’s surface. These veins develop when the valves in the veins that regulate blood flow become weakened or damaged, causing blood to pool and the veins to enlarge.
While varicose veins are generally more common in older adults, women, and those with a family history of the condition, factors such as prolonged standing, obesity, and pregnancy can increase the risk.
The symptoms of varicose veins can range from mild to severe. Some people may experience aching, heaviness, or cramping in the legs, particularly after standing or sitting for extended periods. The affected area might also feel itchy or develop a burning sensation.
In more severe cases, varicose veins can lead to swelling, throbbing, and even skin changes, such as discolouration or the development of ulcers near the ankles. The condition is not only a cosmetic concern but can also cause discomfort and, in some cases, lead to more serious circulatory problems.
The best treatment options for varicose veins depend on the severity of the condition, the symptoms experienced and the anatomy of the problematic veins. A detailed clinical review by an expert vascular surgeon, along with a detailed ultrasound scan, will delineate the optimal treatment.
For mild cases, lifestyle changes can be effective in managing symptoms. These include regular exercise to improve circulation, elevating the legs when resting, and wearing compression stockings, which help to reduce swelling and discomfort by improving blood flow in the affected veins. Weight management and avoiding prolonged periods of standing or sitting can also alleviate symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening.
For more severe cases or when lifestyle changes are insufficient, medical treatments may be necessary. Sclerotherapy is a common procedure where a solution is injected into the varicose veins, causing them to collapse and eventually fade. This is most suitable for smaller veins just below the surface of the skin.
The next level of treatment is endovenous treatment, which means operating inside the problematic veins to cause them to collapse. Traditionally, this has been done using either laser or radiofrequency energy to close the affected blood vessels down.
More recently, the VenaSeal™ procedure has been introduced. This is an even less invasive option which uses a special glue to close the veins down.
In cases where these treatments are ineffective or unsuitable, invasive surgical options like vein stripping or phlebectomy may be recommended to remove or tie off the affected veins.
Consulting with an expert vascular surgeon is essential to determine the most appropriate treatment plan based on your individual needs and the severity of your condition.
Dr Alex Vesey is our expert consultant vascular surgeon who heads up our varicose vein team. Listen to him explain your options for varicose vein treatment.
Varicose veins can theoretically happen anywhere on the body but most commonly affect the veins on the legs. Several treatments are available to target and remove varicose veins in the legs specifically.
Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) and Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are minimally invasive procedures that remain very popular because they avoid the need for traditional surgery. Both procedures are performed under local anaesthetic and involve inserting a thin tube inside the vein and destroying the vein by delivering heat to close the vein down. Both of these treatments offer a high success rate with less discomfort and scarring than traditional surgery.
The newer VenaSeal™ procedure causes even less discomfort by closing the vein using glue rather than heat. This allows patients an even more rapid return to normal activities without the need to wear compression stockings.
For veins that are not suitable for these treatments, sclerotherapy is a widely used option, especially for smaller varicose veins or spider veins in the legs. During sclerotherapy, a solution is injected directly into the vein, causing it to collapse and gradually be absorbed by the body. Multiple sessions may be required depending on the extent of the varicose veins.
An alternative treatment for smaller veins is a minor surgical procedure called microphlebectomy. This involves making tiny incisions under local anaesthetic to remove problematic veins. While slightly more invasive than sclerotherapy injections, microphlebectomy can be very effective because it physically removes the vessels, which means they cannot come back.
Consulting with an expert vascular surgeon is essential to choosing the most appropriate treatment based on the specific characteristics of the varicose veins in the legs.
Spider veins are small, web-like veins often associated with varicose veins. To treat these, several effective treatment options are available.
Sclerotherapy is the most common and widely used method. In this procedure, a solution is injected directly into the spider veins, causing them to collapse and fade over time. The body gradually absorbs the treated veins, leading to an improved appearance. Sclerotherapy is minimally invasive, typically requires no anaesthetic, and can be done in the outpatient clinic. Multiple sessions may be needed depending on the size and number of spider veins.
Another popular treatment for spider veins is laser therapy. This approach uses focused light energy to target and heat the affected veins, causing them to collapse and eventually disappear. Laser therapy is particularly effective for small, delicate veins that may not be suitable for sclerotherapy. The treatment is non-invasive, and while some patients may experience mild discomfort during the procedure, it generally requires no downtime. In addition to these treatments, maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, such as regular exercise, weight management, and avoiding prolonged periods of standing, can help prevent the development or worsening of spider veins.
If you’d like to find out which varicose veins treatment is the right treatment for you, the first step is to fill out our online consultation form. From there, our team will be able to arrange an initial consultation and ultrasound scan, and we can work together to create a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs.
When it comes to treating varicose veins, VenaSeal™ has emerged as a revolutionary option that offers a minimally invasive and...
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) are two minimally invasive treatments used to effectively treat varicose veins, but...
Foam sclerotherapy is an advanced form of sclerotherapy used to treat larger varicose veins, particularly those that may not respond...
1 / 3
2 / 3
3 / 3
When it comes to treating varicose veins, VenaSeal™ has emerged as a revolutionary option that offers a minimally invasive and...
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) are two minimally invasive treatments used to effectively treat varicose veins, but...
Foam sclerotherapy is an advanced form of sclerotherapy used to treat larger varicose veins, particularly those that may not respond...
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?