Millions of Americans suffer from varicose veins. In adult western populations it is estimated that visible varicose veins are present in 20 to 25% of women and 10 to 15% of men.
Both invasive and non-invasive (i.e surgical and non-surgical) methods are available to treat varicose veins. Non-invasive methods include wearing compression stockings, exercising, leg elevation, losing weight, not wearing tight clothes, avoiding long periods of standing or sitting and not crossing your legs while seated. Invasive treatments include endovenous therapy, ligation, and phlebectomy.
Endovenous therapy is a treatment from inside the vein using heat generated by lasers, radiofrequency devices or chemicals to irritate the vein walls causing the vein to close and then be reabsorbed by the body. Ligation is tying off a vein to cause it to shrink. Phlebectomy is REMOVAL of varicose veins, NOT the closing of a vein. Only after your physician evaluates a patients vascular ultrasound study are they in a position to discuss the best treatment option for their patients.
Recognized by her peers as one of the pre-eminent vascular surgeons in the region, Dr. Kokinos serves as Chair of the Cardiovascular department at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, CA. and was recently appointed as the Medical Director of both the O’Connor and St. Louise wound care centers. Dr. Kokinos has performed over 10,000 vein procedures over the past 20 years and brings this experience to all of her patients.
Lots of centers treat venus reflux or “leaky valves” when they show up as painful and unsightly varicose and spider veins. Fast cosmetic fixes, however, can often mask more serious underlying circulation issues that only a vascular surgeon is trained to address. For this reason, it is vitally important that patients understand their options for treatment as well as the credentials of their treating physician.
NO PATIENT SHOULD UNDERGO A VARICOSE VEIN TREATMENT PROCEDURE WITHOUT FIRST HAVING HAD A DETAILED VASCULAR ULTRASOUND STUDY BY A REGISTERED VASCULAR ULTRASONOGRAPHER FOLLOWED BY A RPVI READ OF THIS STUDY.
At South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute we are Board Certified Vascular Surgeons. We are NOT phlebology doctors nor cardiologists who have learned how to treat cosmetic veins or Peripheral Vascular Disease (PAD) at a weekend course or seminar and who treat varicose and spider veins as a means to supplement their primary practice.
Vascular Surgeons have completed an accredited 5-7 general surgery residency program followed by an additional 2 years in an accredited vascular surgery fellowship program specifically focused on the treatment of arterial and venous disease…. and that’s after spending 4 years in medical school and 4 years in college. Treating diseases of the circulatory system IS our primary practice and it is what we have been trained to do.
Unlike many other cosmetic vein centers, every South Bay Vascular surgeon is either ABMS board certified or board eligible. Established as the Gold Standard in medicine, board certification is only awarded to a select few physicians following their completion of a rigorous training in a board eligible fellowship program. Even after completing fellowship training, board certification is not granted until after the physician has passed a series of exhaustive clinical and written examinations and must be renewed every 10 years.
“Phlebologists” on the other hand sometimes refer to themselves as being “Board Certified” in Phlebology. In actual fact there is no such ABMS designation. Instead, board certification in “Phlebology” is granted by an association of Phlebologists and not by the American Board of Medical Specialties. A Phlebology board is received simply by taking a written exam , without having completed a rigorous and specialized clinical fellowship.
Dr.’s Kokinos and Pineda provide an unmatched level of varicose vein care and treatment in the greater San Jose area. Compassionate care in a personalized setting using the most advanced Varicose Vein Treatment options sets them apart as the regions foremost varicose vein care experts. We are proud to bring the highest level of vascular care to our patients and would be honored to work alongside you, our patient, in your ongoing efforts to live a healthy and productive life.
We look forward to meeting you at our office. Call our office today to schedule an appointment at 408-376-3626.