Author: Michael Kokinos

Leadership Isn’t Claimed. It’s Proven.

For almost three decades, South Bay Vascular Center & Vein Institute has lived that leadership—brick by brick, patient by patient, and community by community across Santa Clara County.

While others copy our look, language, and even our structure, one truth remains: when the moment of truth comes—when a patient’s limb, life, and future hang in the balance—imitation always falls short.

At South Bay Vascular, we don’t follow trends. We set standards. And for nearly thirty years, those standards have defined what exceptional vascular care looks like in Silicon Valley.

Expanding Our Reach: The Movement Grows

Success breeds success. That’s why the best of the best are joining us.

We are proud to announce that our fifth office—located in East San Jose—is on track to open before the end of 2025. This expansion will bring our nationally recognized vascular expertise closer to more patients than ever before, offering faster access to advanced diagnostics, minimally invasive endovascular procedures, and limb-salvage care.

From Campbell to Gilroy, Santa Cruz to Fremont, and soon East San Jose, every South Bay Vascular office shares one DNA:

• IAC-accredited vascular laboratories staffed by registered vascular technologists.

• A nationally accredited ambulatory surgery center offering cutting-edge endovascular procedures without hospital delays.

• Direct physician oversight at every step of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

Our expansion isn’t about empire building—it’s about impact. The need is great, and our commitment is greater.

World-Class Physicians. One Shared Vision.

South Bay Vascular continues to attract the best vascular surgeons in the region—not because they need a job, but because they recognize a mission worth joining.

Dr. Ruby Lo, who trained at Harvard, taught at Brown University, and spent three years at another general surgical practice, experienced firsthand how far ahead of the curve South Bay Vascular truly is. She chose to join us because excellence recognizes excellence.

Dr. Ryan Gupta, a board-eligible vascular surgeon soon to be fully board-certified, brings exceptional skill in the latest minimally invasive and endovascular techniques. His technical mastery, humility, and hunger for perfection represent the future of our specialty.

Together, under the leadership of Dr. Polly Kokinos, a trailblazing vascular surgeon with almost three decades of independent practice in Silicon Valley, our team continues to set the pace—proving that leadership isn’t inherited or imitated. It’s earned.

Innovation That Protects Patients

Our independence allows us to innovate—not imitate.

We built and operate our own nationally accredited ambulatory surgery center to deliver complex vascular procedures without hospital bureaucracy.
We maintain a fully staffed, on-site IAC-accredited vascular lab where studies are performed and interpreted by vascular surgeons—not delegated to non-specialists.
We invest relentlessly in new imaging technologies, hybrid endovascular systems, and physician training so that no patient ever hears, “There’s nothing more we can do.”

These are not buzzwords or borrowed blueprints—they are the fruits of years of sacrifice, reinvestment, and clinical discipline.

Others may now check similar boxes, but checklists don’t save limbs—experience, integrity, and judgment do.

Why “Same Certifications” Doesn’t Mean “Same Care”

Let’s be honest. Many of the offices that once looked to South Bay Vascular for inspiration now boast the same accreditations, same machines, and same marketing phrases.

But shared form is not shared substance.

A practice can buy the same ultrasound equipment—but not the wisdom that interprets what it reveals.
It can copy our procedures—but not our discipline.
It can mirror our website—but not our results.

That’s why we remind patients: certifications are the floor—not the ceiling. What matters most is who stands behind the credential.

At South Bay Vascular, it’s the physicians themselves—not physician extenders—who meet, evaluate, and operate on every patient. Our surgeons don’t outsource their responsibility or hide behind corporate layers. We shoulder it personally, every single day.

That’s the difference between having accreditation and living accreditation.

The Truth Patients Deserve

Vascular disease is unforgiving. Delay, misdiagnosis, or poor technique can cost a limb—or a life.

So yes, you’ll find other practices advertising “accredited labs” and “limb-salvage programs.” But when you look deeper, ask:

• Who actually reviews your vascular studies? A certified vascular surgeon—or a mid-level provider?

• Who makes your treatment decisions? A doctor you’ve met—or a system administrator balancing quotas?

• How many years—not months—has the practice sustained independent, physician-driven excellence?

Your life depends on the answers.

At South Bay Vascular, those answers are clear: real surgeons, real results, and a record that spans nearly 30 years of proven excellence in limb salvage, amputation prevention, and vascular innovation. At South Bay Vascular our goal is simple: To Earn Your Trust.

We didn’t arrive here by copying anyone. Others arrived here by copying us.

The Path Forward

As we open our fifth office in East San Jose, our mission endures:
to fight vascular disease with courage, compassion, and integrity.

Because when the stakes are high—and they always are—only leadership born of conviction can make the difference between walking and never walking again.

South Bay Vascular Center & Vein Institute
Campbell • Gilroy • Fremont • Santa Cruz • Coming Soon: East San Jose
Call (408) 376-3626 or visit southbayvascular.com to schedule your consultation.

Introduction: Leadership vs. Imitation

In medicine, as in life, leadership cannot be borrowed. It must be lived.

In Santa Clara County, South Bay Vascular Center & Vein Institute has spent decades forging a path as an independent vascular surgery practice—building, brick by brick, the trust of patients, families, and referring physicians across the region. Our mission has never been about chasing trends or money; it has been about fighting vascular disease with courage, compassion, and integrity.

Others may attempt to copy the outer trappings of our work—our blogs, our offices, our programs, even our accreditations. But patients deserve to know the truth: there is only one practice that has consistently led the fight against vascular disease in this community. That practice is South Bay Vascular. And that’s why more indendent community physicians refer their vascular patients to South Bay Vascular than to all the other independent vascular surgical practices in the valley combined.

From Salaried Security to Community Service: Two Different Journeys

Many vascular surgeons in Santa Clara County built their careers within large, closed hospital systems. There is no question these institutions provide valuable training and offer stable careers. But salaried work within a hospital system is not the same as the courage, risk, and relentless dedication required to build and sustain independent practice.

At South Bay Vascular, we chose the harder road. We invested in facilities, equipment, accreditation, and above all—patients. Every decision we’ve made has been rooted in service to the community, not a guaranteed paycheck. Our goal is and always has been to earn the trust of our patients to serve as their doctors.

Some who spent the majority of their careers sheltered by salaried positions later attempted to cross into private practice. Without the hard-won experience of independence, they needed a blueprint. Unfortunately, our own generosity once opened the door to that blueprint. A former colleague came into our practice, studied our processes, forms, and procedures, and then attempted to replicate them elsewhere.

This history is not about personal grievance; it is about truth. The difference between us is stark: we pioneered the model of independent vascular excellence in Santa Clara County—others have tried to imitate it for financial gain.

Integrity at the Core of Our Mission

True leadership in medicine is not defined by titles or borrowed structures. It is defined by the choices a practice makes when no one is watching:

• Do you invest in your own nationally accredited ambulatory surgery center rather than relying on hospital availability?
• Do you commit to an on-site, IAC-accredited vascular lab so patients can receive accurate diagnoses without delay?
• Do you publish hundreds of original educational blogs to arm patients with knowledge—long before it was fashionable?
• Do you encourage second opinions when patients are told amputation is their only option?

South Bay Vascular has answered “yes” to each of these questions for decades. This is not marketing. This is lived commitment.

By contrast, copying forms, processes, or even website themes may create the appearance of leadership—but appearance is not reality. Integrity cannot be imitated.

Why “Leading the Fight” Matters

Vascular disease is devastating. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia (CLI) destroy lives, families, and futures if not treated with skill and urgency. Non-healing wounds and diabetic vascular complications often lead to unnecessary amputations—especially when patients do not have access to experienced vascular surgeons.

At South Bay Vascular, we have dedicated our careers to limb salvage and amputation prevention. We fight for patients who have been told elsewhere that there is “nothing more to be done.” Our record speaks for itself: legs saved, lives restored, families preserved. At South Bay Vascular Center “we offer hope when others say there is none”

To lead this fight requires more than credentials on paper. It requires:

• Decades of independent practice, unafraid of the risk and responsibility that comes with it.
• A willingness to invest in facilities that meet national standards, not simply to check accreditation boxes but to raise the bar for patient care.
• A proven culture of advocacy that encourages patients to question, to learn, and to demand better.

Others may now claim similar accreditations or mimic our programs. But they are responding to a standard we set. They are following a trail we blazed.

Patients Deserve to Know the Difference

When two practices appear similar on the surface, patients may struggle to know where to turn. That is why we urge families to look deeper.

Ask these questions:

1. How long has your practice served the community as an independent vascular surgery center—not as part of a closed hospital system?
2. Do you have a documented track record of publishing patient education for years, not just recently?
3. Did your practice pioneer local programs such as amputation-prevention campaigns, medical mentorship programs, and public outreach on PAD?
4. What was your practice’s origin story: was it born of conviction to serve, or was it a late-stage jump motivated by financial opportunity?

The answers matter. Because when your limb—and your life—are at stake, you deserve more than imitation. You deserve leadership.

The Weight of Experience

Our senior surgeon, Dr. Polly Kokinos, has been at the forefront of vascular surgery in Silicon Valley for decades. She and her colleagues did not step into independence as a late-career experiment. They built it, sustained it, and continue to lead it with every patient encounter.

This depth of experience shows in our outcomes. It shows in our growth. It shows in our partnerships with wound care centers, primary care physicians, and podiatrists. It shows in the trust families place in us when they seek second opinions. And it shows in the generations of patients who return to us because they know we care about them—not just about revenue.

The Cost of Cutting Corners

The tragedy of vascular disease is that it punishes delay and rewards diligence. In some instances,  vascular surgery offices employ the help of physician extenders (NP’s and PA’s) to see their patients. As good as they may be, PA’s and NP’s are not doctors: A missed diagnosis, a misread ultrasound, or an unnecessary amputation can mean the difference between walking and never walking again. At South Bay Vascular Center, every patient consults with a board certified Vascular Surgeon before ever being prescribed a procedure. Experience matters!

That is why South Bay Vascular has never cut corners. We built an accredited vascular lab on site. We fought for our own surgery center. We staffed with registered vascular technologists. We maintained independence to protect our patients from bureaucratic delay and we fight every day as we lead the charge against vascular disease in Santa Clara County.

Imitators may eventually catch up to the form of what we do—but the spirit behind it cannot be copied. For us, these investments were never about competing with others. They were about protecting patients.

A Call to Patients: Demand More

If you are facing vascular disease, do not settle for surface appearances. Do not assume that every vascular practice operates with the same depth of integrity or the same mission-driven focus.

Demand to know:

• How long has the practice been independently serving your community?
• Are their surgeons deeply experienced in private practice pathways, or are they recent transplants from large salaried systems?
• Is their patient education authentic, consistent, and rooted in clinical authority—or does it read like borrowed content?

Your health, your limb, and your life are too valuable to entrust to anyone but true leaders.

Conclusion: Why We Lead

South Bay Vascular Center & Vein Institute is more than a clinic. We are a movement—leading the fight against vascular disease in Santa Clara County with courage, compassion, and integrity.

Others may try to mirror what we do. They may even succeed in copying the outer forms of our work. But leadership cannot be cloned. It must be lived, day after day, in the operating room, in the exam room, in the vascular lab, and in the heart of every physician who chooses patients over profit.

For decades, we have chosen that path. And we will continue to lead—because our community deserves nothing less. And for that very reason, we now serve patients in 4 offices; Campbell, Gilroy, Santa Cruz and Fremont.

If you or someone you love is facing vascular disease, trust the leaders who set the standard. Call South Bay Vascular at (408) 376-3626 to schedule your consultation.

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:

1. Are you a board-certified vascular surgeon?
2. How many vein procedures have you personally performed?
3. Do you use ultrasound guidance during treatments? Who does these? Do you identify and treat perforators?
4. Are diagnostic tests like vein mapping done in-house?
5. What if a complication arises — will you treat it, or refer me elsewhere?
6. Do you have hospital admitting privileges nearby? If so, where?
7. Are your procedures covered by insurance? What happens if my insurance fails to pay for my procedure, am I responsible for this payment?
8. What are the risks and recovery time of each option?
9. Please describe what you mean by personalized care?
10. 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.