Varicose Veins in the Bay Area: Why Your Choice of Specialist Matters
Varicose veins aren’t just about looks. They’re visible signs of deeper circulatory issues, caused when vein valves fail and allow blood to pool instead of flowing back to the heart. This backward flow creates pressure that distorts the veins — resulting in bulging, pain, swelling, itching, and in advanced cases, skin changes and ulcers.
While nearly 1 in 3 Americans — especially women — may suffer from varicose veins, treatment outcomes vary drastically depending on who performs the procedure. In Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area, where every medical office competes for your attention, how do you separate real skill from branding hype?
Why Modern Varicose Vein Treatment Requires True Expertise
Thanks to medical advances, treating varicose veins today is safer and far more elegant than it was decades ago. But success isn’t about the equipment — it’s about the hands that use it.
At South Bay Vascular Center, led by Dr. Polly Kokinos, we offer:
- Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) — Thermal energy used to close abnormal veins.
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) — Heat delivered via radio waves to shrink diseased veins.
- Phlebectomy — Micro-incisions used to remove visible varicose veins.
- Ultrasound-Guided Vein Mapping — Diagnostic precision to tailor your treatment.
- Compression Therapy — Non-invasive support for milder cases.
Each case is different. Each leg has its own roadmap. Only a vascular expert has the training to chart the safest, most effective path.
The Problem with “Vein Clinics” and Non-Vascular Practitioners
There’s a quiet truth few will say out loud:
Many “vein specialists” today are not vascular surgeons.
Some are anesthesiologists, dermatologists, or pain doctors — trained in other specialties but now performing vein procedures as a side business. Others might have trained in vascular surgery but failed to achieve board certification.
Still others build entire practices around big-name credentials — Harvard, Yale, Stanford — without ever practicing in a vascular operating room. But an Ivy League degree in one specialty doesn’t make someone qualified in another. You wouldn’t hire a celebrity chef to rebuild your car, even if they trained at the best culinary school in the world.
In vein care, experience is everything. Real vascular training takes years, followed by rigorous board exams, ongoing certification, and hands-on operating experience. And when something goes wrong — because complications do happen — you want someone who knows how to fix it, not someone who will refer you out.
What the Ivy League Mirage Misses: Surgical Judgment
Brand names attract attention, but they don’t guarantee safety. A billboard doesn’t teach a physician how to manage a post-procedural DVT. An ad campaign won’t restore blood flow to a limb in distress. And a shiny degree doesn’t replace steady hands and decades of clinical experience.
The only thing that saves limbs — and lives — is experience, judgment, and compassion.
10 Must-Ask Questions Before Choosing a Vein Specialist
Ask these before anyone touches your legs:
- Are you a board-certified vascular surgeon?
- How many vein procedures have you personally performed?
- Do you use ultrasound guidance during treatments? Who does these? Do you identify and treat perforators?
- Are diagnostic tests like vein mapping done in-house?
- What if a complication arises — will you treat it, or refer me elsewhere?
- Do you have hospital admitting privileges nearby? If so, where?
- Are your procedures covered by insurance? What happens if my insurance fails to pay for my procedure, am I responsible for this payment?
- What are the risks and recovery time of each option?
- Please describe what you mean by personalized care?
- Can I see before-and-after photos or patient reviews?
If the answers feel vague or evasive — move on.
Why South Bay Vascular Center and Dr. Polly Kokinos Stand Apart
Dr. Polly Kokinos is not a brand. She’s a double board-certified vascular surgeon with more than 30 years of experience — and a track record of restoring not just leg health, but confidence.
She trained at Columbia University Medical School, completed her general surgery residency at UCSF, and finished her vascular surgery fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis. That’s not just pedigree — that’s commitment. Unlike many who pivot to vein care for profit, Dr. Kokinos built her life and career around vascular medicine.
Her practice, South Bay Vascular Center, is not a franchise. It’s a local center of excellence that has served the Santa Clara Valley for nearly 30 years. Long before Google Ads, Facebook posts, Instagram reels, or TikTok promos flooded the internet with self-proclaimed vein specialists, Dr. Kokinos was in the operating room, refining her surgical skills, treating more than 20,000 patients, and building a reputation that stands unmatched.
While many of today’s “Best Vein Doctors” were still in elementary school, Dr. Kokinos was perfecting the art and science of vascular care — not in a marketing office, but beside real patients. Every patient is personally evaluated. Every ultrasound is reviewed in-house. And every single procedure is performed by a board-certified vascular surgeon — not a rotating staff member with borrowed credentials.
And the results speak for themselves:
“After years of hiding my legs, Dr. Kokinos gave me my confidence back. I finally feel beautiful again — and pain-free.” — G.L., San Jose
“I made the mistake of going to a chain clinic first. Big regret. Dr. Kokinos explained everything with care and clarity — she’s the real deal.” — M.M., Campbell
“My mom was treated here for her leg swelling. The results were miraculous. Thank you, Dr. Kokinos, for giving her mobility again!” — D.A., Los Gatos
The Bottom Line — You Deserve More Than a Name
Slick ads and Ivy League credentials can’t substitute for surgical judgment, compassion, and decades of real-world experience.
If your legs matter to you — and they should — don’t settle. Come see why patients across Santa Clara County and beyond trust Dr. Polly Kokinos and South Bay Vascular.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
📞 408-376-3626
🌐 www.southbayvascular.com
Confident Legs. Confident Life. You deserve Dr. Polly Kokinos.