Santa Cruz Vein Care: The Truth Behind Who’s Treating Your Veins And Why It Matters More Than Ever

Santa Cruz deserves better than gimmicks. Better than corporate franchises. Better than pop-up vein clinics run by part-time proceduralists who learned vein work at weekend courses. Better than the glossy Instagram reels created by non-vascular specialists hoping to cash in on a profitable trend.

For the first time in decades, Santa Cruz and the coastal communities have true, board-certified vascular surgeons offering full-time, comprehensive vein and vascular care — not just cosmetic touch-ups or quick in-and-out procedures.

And at the center of this transformation are Dr. Polly Kokinos and Dr. Ruby Lo, two Ivy-League-trained, board-certified vascular surgeons whose combined depth of experience is unmatched anywhere on the Central Coast.

This is Santa Cruz Vein Care — redefined.

The Vein Experts Santa Cruz Has Been Waiting For

Let’s get one thing perfectly clear:

Not all “vein doctors” are created equal.

Many vein clinics in California — and across the country — are run by:

  • General surgeons

  • Cardiologists

  • Anesthesiologists

  • Pain doctors

  • ER physicians

  • Dermatologists

  • Cosmetic doctors

  • Or even non-physicians

…who took a short course to learn a technique, not the disease.

Here’s the truth most clinics will never tell you:

Performing a vein procedure is NOT the same as treating venous disease.
Just because someone can hold a laser fiber does not make them a vascular expert.

Veins are a vascular disease — not a cosmetic hobby.

And only board-certified vascular surgeons have the training to diagnose, treat, and manage the full spectrum of venous and arterial problems. Anyone else performing vein procedures is practicing at the edge of what they understand.

Why Dr. Polly Kokinos and Dr. Ruby Lo Are Different

No quotas.
No production targets.
No corporate pressure.
No “treat every vein whether it needs it or not.”

Just 30+ years of real vascular expertise, over 20,000 vein cases, and a commitment to the long-term health of the patients they serve.

Dr. Polly Kokinos

  • Columbia-trained

  • UCSF General Surgery

  • Washington University (Barnes Hospital) Vascular Fellowship

  • Over 20,000 vein cases performed

  • 350+ five-star Google reviews

  • 30 years serving her community — long before vein clinics became trendy

Dr. Kokinos shows up on Google because of her results, not because she pays for placement. Her patients talk, write, and share because they trust her — because she earned it.

Dr. Ruby Lo

  • Harvard’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Vascular Fellowship)

  • Assistant Professor of Vascular Surgery at Brown University

  • Nationally recognized for complex venous disease and limb preservation

  • Deep understanding of vascular physiology — not just techniques

Together, Drs. Kokinos and Lo bring something Santa Cruz has never had:

Full-time, board-certified, Ivy-trained vascular surgeons who understand the entire circulatory system — not just the superficial veins.

Don’t Be Fooled by Shiny Marketing or High-Volume Chains

Corporate vein clinics pour massive dollars into digital ads designed to look “doctor run.”
They promise quick fixes.
They promote flashy technology.
They lean on Instagram aesthetics.
They sell convenience over expertise.

But here’s the truth Santa Cruz patients deserve to know:

Corporate clinics are built on production quotas, not patient outcomes.

Their business model depends on volume — the more veins they ablate, the more insurance they bill. That’s why so many patients get procedures they never needed.

Contrast that with Dr. Kokinos and Dr. Lo:

They treat the veins that need treatment — and only those.

No up-selling.
No over-treating.
No unnecessary procedures.
Ever.

Because they’re not chasing targets.
They’re caring for people.

The Difference Between a Proceduralist and a Vascular Surgeon

Think of it this way:

  • Many people can shoot a basketball.

  • Very, very few are Steph Curry or LeBron James.

That’s the difference between the average vein “doctor” and a board-certified vascular surgeon.

One knows how to perform a technique.
The other understands the entire game — the strategy, the physiology, the complications, the long-term implications, and the full circulatory system.

Vascular surgeons are trained to evaluate:

  • Deep venous reflux

  • Pelvic congestion

  • Superficial venous disease

  • Arterial disease (PAD)

  • Non-healing wounds

  • Microvascular issues

  • Lymphedema

  • Diabetic circulatory problems

A proceduralist looks at a bulging vein and wants to close it.
A vascular surgeon looks at why that vein bulged — and whether closing it will help you or hurt you.

There is no substitute for expertise.

Why Santa Cruz Is Lucky — Truly Lucky

Countless communities across California rely on vein clinics run by rotating physicians and mid-level providers who come in once a week for procedures.

Santa Cruz is different now.

Santa Cruz now has the “superstars” of vein care on the Central Coast.

Not because of marketing.
Not because of paid ads.
Not because of corporate influence.

But because two of the most respected vascular surgeons in California chose to build a long-term, full-time practice in this community.

When Dr. Kokinos and Dr. Lo arrived, the standard changed — permanently.

A Message to the Internet-Savvy Santa Cruz Patient

You already know how much online misinformation exists in the cosmetic and medical space.
You already know how easy it is to “look like an expert” on social media.
And you already know that the more polished the advertising, the more skeptical you should be.

Your veins deserve more than a marketing campaign.

They deserve board-certified vascular surgeons with a 30-year track record of integrity, clinical judgment, and real outcomes.

Instagram cannot teach someone vascular physiology.
A weekend course cannot replace a decade of training.
A franchise cannot create devotion to a community.

But Dr. Kokinos and Dr. Lo can — and have.

If You Want the Best Vein Care in Santa Cruz, Look Beyond the Ads

Look for:

  • Board certification in vascular surgery

  • Full-time presence in the community

  • Hospital privileges

  • Deep understanding of venous and arterial disease

  • Proven outcomes

  • Real reviews

  • No quotas

  • No unnecessary procedures

That’s the South Bay Vascular standard.

And now, Santa Cruz has access to it.

Take the First Step Toward Real Vein Health

If you struggle with:

  • Varicose veins

  • Leg heaviness

  • Leg swelling

  • Discoloration around the ankles

  • Pain when standing

  • Non-healing wounds

  • Restless leg symptoms

  • Ulcers

  • Bulging veins

  • Prior failed vein treatments

…your next move matters.

Don’t settle for cosmetic clinics or high-volume chains.

Choose the experts who treat vein disease — not just vein appearance.

Call South Bay Vascular Center & Vein Institute at 408-376-3626.

Serving Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, Scotts Valley, Watsonville, and the entire Central Coast.

Because you deserve the truth.
You deserve real expertise.
You deserve board-certified vascular surgeons.
You deserve Santa Cruz Vein Care — the way it was meant to be.

Posted on 12/02/2025 at 09:12 PM