For too long, patients in Santa Cruz and along the Central Coast have been asked to accept less than the best when it comes to their vascular and vein care. Pop-up vein clinics, part-time proceduralists, and traveling doctors have filled a void—offering convenience, marketing spin, and short-term fixes—but not true expertise.
That era is over.
South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute is proud to bring full-time, board-certified vascular surgical care to Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, Scotts Valley, and Watsonville—delivered by Harvard-, Brown-, and Columbia-trained vascular surgeons who live their calling, not their marketing.
This is not a franchise.
This is not a side business.
This is real medicine.
The Truth Patients Deserve to Know: Who Is Actually Doing Your Procedure?
When you schedule a vein procedure, ask this simple but vital question:
“Who will actually be performing my vein treatment?”
In many offices today, the answer isn’t your doctor—it’s a physician extender: a nurse practitioner (NP) or physician assistant (PA). And while these professionals play a crucial role in modern medicine, the hard truth is that vein procedures have become a revenue supplement for many general and cosmetic practices—not a core medical mission.
Ask yourself:
If your procedure is being done by someone other than your physician, why isn’t the doctor doing it?
The answer often has little to do with patient care—and everything to do with practice economics.
At South Bay Vascular, every procedure is performed by a board-certified vascular surgeon, not delegated to an extender. Because your veins, your circulation, and your outcomes deserve more than a technician’s technique—they deserve a surgeon’s training, judgment, and accountability.
The Difference Between Technique and Training
Yes, many physicians—dermatologists, anesthesiologists, internists, and even general surgeons—can take short courses to learn the “technique” of vein ablation. But the true practice of vascular surgery requires far more than mastering a laser or catheter.
Vascular surgeons train for over a decade, mastering not just veins, but the entire circulatory system—arteries, microcirculation, limb salvage, aneurysms, dialysis access, and complex wound care. They understand how veins fit into the larger picture of vascular health.
So when a vascular surgeon treats varicose veins, they don’t just close a vein; they diagnose the cause behind your symptoms, ensuring the treatment is appropriate, complete, and durable.
That’s what separates technique from care.
Why a General Surgery or Cosmetic Practice Offers Vein Work
The truth may surprise you:
Many general and cosmetic practices began offering vein care to supplement their income. A new laser, a weekend training course, and a few ads promising “quick, painless relief” turned vein work into a profitable sideline.
But for patients, the cost of convenience can be high.
If a complication arises, who manages it?
If the procedure fails, who takes responsibility?
At South Bay Vascular, we don’t just see patients—we take responsibility for outcomes. Our surgeons don’t travel in once a week. They’re part of your hospital system, your community, your safety net.
South Bay Vascular Center in Santa Cruz: Real Surgeons. Real Commitment.
After three decades of leadership in Silicon Valley, South Bay Vascular has brought the full depth of its expertise to Santa Cruz and the coastal communities—establishing a permanent, full-time practice led by Dr. Ruby Lo and Dr. Polly Kokinos, two of the most accomplished vascular surgeons in California.
Dr. Ruby Lo, MD
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Fellowship-trained vascular surgeon from Harvard’s Beth Israel Hospital
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Former Assistant Professor of Vascular Surgery at Brown University
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Expert in complex limb salvage, advanced endovascular techniques, and deep venous disease
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Dedicated to delivering world-class care locally, not just in academic centers
Dr. Polly Kokinos, MD
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Columbia University–trained
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Completed General Surgery residency at UCSF and Vascular Fellowship at Washington University’s Barnes Hospital
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Founder of South Bay Vascular Center
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Over 30 years of experience in limb salvage and PAD care
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More than 350 five-star reviews from patients who have trusted her with their lives
Together, Drs. Lo and Kokinos lead a team of full-time, board-certified vascular surgeons—credentialed at Dominican Hospital and approved by Central Coast Alliance for Health, the leading regional payer ensuring that every patient, regardless of insurance status, has access to the same level of expert care.
This credentialing means South Bay Vascular isn’t just serving the few—it’s serving the entire community.
Not Just Veins: Full-Spectrum Vascular Care for the Central Coast
South Bay Vascular is not a “vein-only” clinic. It is a comprehensive vascular surgical practice equipped to handle everything from routine varicose vein evaluations to life-saving interventions for limb-threatening arterial disease.
At Dominican Hospital, our surgeons:
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Perform complex arterial and venous reconstructions
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Take emergency vascular call 24/7
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Admit and manage patients directly
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Coordinate care with hospitalists, podiatrists, nephrologists, and wound care specialists
That’s what community commitment looks like: not just showing up for procedures, but standing by patients through every step of recovery.
Five Questions Every Patient Should Ask Before Having Vein Treatment
If you’re considering varicose vein or spider vein treatment, these five questions could save you pain, money, and future complications:
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Who will actually perform my procedure?
Is it a board-certified vascular surgeon—or a nurse practitioner or physician assistant? -
Who performs your ultrasound studies?
Are they done by a registered vascular technologist (RVT) with a detailed vein map—or a quick scan by the same person doing your procedure? -
What will you do if my vein treatment fails or complications arise?
Does your provider have hospital privileges and the training to handle complex vascular issues? -
Are you credentialed with Central Coast Alliance for Health and Dominican Hospital?
This proves a long-term commitment to the community—not a short-term profit motive. -
Do you treat both veins and arteries?
Only vascular surgeons have the training to assess your entire circulatory system, ensuring your symptoms aren’t caused by something more serious.
If your provider can’t confidently answer all five, you owe it to yourself to get a second opinion from a board-certified vascular surgeon.
Hope, Skill, and Integrity: What South Bay Vascular Brings to Santa Cruz
When South Bay Vascular opens its doors in a new community, we bring more than advanced technology. We bring a philosophy: show up, serve the community, and take responsibility.
That means:
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Full-time surgeons, not part-time proceduralists
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Full hospital privileges, not rented space
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Full insurance participation, including Central Coast Alliance for Health
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Full-spectrum vascular expertise—arterial, venous, dialysis, wound care
Because when it comes to your circulation, there’s no substitute for training, experience, and integrity.
Call to Action: The Time Is Now
If you or someone you love struggles with:
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Varicose veins, leg swelling, or heaviness
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Pain when walking, especially with diabetes or PAD
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Non-healing wounds or skin discoloration
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Dialysis access concerns
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Aneurysm or carotid artery issues
Call South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute at 408-376-3626 today to schedule a consultation in Santa Cruz, Campbell, Gilroy, or Fremont.
Because Santa Cruz deserves more than convenience—it deserves true vascular excellence.
