Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that bulge near the skin's surface, usually in the legs.
They develop when the one-way valves inside leg veins weaken and allow blood to pool, raising pressure in the vessel. Beyond appearance, varicose veins can cause aching, heaviness, swelling, and itching, and in some cases progress to skin changes or ulcers. Sarasota-area vascular surgeons and vein centers typically start with a duplex ultrasound to map the problem before recommending treatment.
Graduated compression stockings improve blood return and ease symptoms; often the first step and sometimes required by insurance before procedures.
A catheter delivers heat to seal the faulty vein closed; blood reroutes to healthy veins. Performed in-office with local anesthesia.
A medical-grade adhesive closes the diseased vein without heat or tumescent anesthesia, allowing minimal downtime.
Bulging surface veins are removed through tiny needle-punctures under local anesthesia, often paired with ablation.
A Florida medical license lets a physician practice, but board certification is the signal that a doctor completed accredited residency training and passed rigorous exams in their specialty. Look for certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member board that matches the care you need — and verify it yourself.
Procedure facts on this page draw on authoritative medical sources. Confirm specifics in a consultation.
Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) ↗American Venous Forum ↗Choose a board-certified surgeon — and verify it yourself:
ABMS — Certification Matters ↗ Look up any U.S. physician’s board certification across all 24 ABMS member specialty boards. Florida DOH — License Verification ↗ Confirm an active Florida license and review any disciplinary history. NPI Registry (CMS) ↗ Verify a provider’s national identifier and registered specialty taxonomy. Medicare Care Compare ↗ Compare clinicians, hospitals and facilities on quality measures.