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Dr. Robert Cutchen Albuquerque & Santa Fe

Meet Dr. Robert Cutchen

In 2009, Dr. Cutchen founded Albuquerque Vein & Laser Institute, a clinic dedicated solely to the diagnosis and treatment of venous disease. His goal was to provide the most advanced diagnostic and treatment options all in the comfort of his office without the need for hospitalization. Our goal is to treat every patient the way we ourselves would hope to be treated.

Read Dr. Cutchen’s full bio here

Vein Treatments Albuquerque & Santa Fe

Vein Treatments

We provide our patients with the most advanced and comprehensive vein treatments. See the difference between before and after.

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Aesthetic Treatments Albuquerque & Santa Fe

Aesthetic Treatments

We utilize the power of advanced laser technology to treat a multitude of cosmetic concerns. See what a difference our treatments can make.

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Patient Resources Albuquerque & Santa FeDo you have a question?

Discover our FAQ pages to find your answers. If you still have a question, please call us at (505) 848-8346 and we will be happy to assist you.

Injection vs. Laser Vein Therapy: Which Is Best For Me?

As we age our bodies begin to show signs of gradual slowing down. In our legs, this plays out as the veins’ valves begin to deteriorate, blood can begin to pool in certain areas of the legs and the veins increase in size. Varicose veins and spider veins occur as these damaged veins in our legs work against gravity to pump blood back up from our legs to our hearts. The good news is that you don’t have to suffer from any pain or embarrassment caused by these veins because, as there are a number of therapies to treat diseased veins, including injections and laser vein therapy.

Sclerotherapy Injection Therapy

Sclerotherapy is a non-surgical spider vein treatment that involves the injection of an FDA-approved solution directly into the spider vein via a tiny needle. The injected solution irritates the lining of the vein, causing it to collapse and then to disappear over time. This treatment is done in your physician’s office and takes roughly 25-30 minutes to complete. Some patients will have larger clusters of spider veins that will need to be treated on more than one occasion to accomplish full fading of the veins. Most patients require a series of 3-5 treatments on average over the course of several months. Our very experienced sclerotherapy nurse will provide you with a detailed spider vein treatment plan that will be fully customized to your individual needs. Spider vein treatment is considered cosmetic and is not covered by insurance.

Laser Vein Therapy

Laser Vein Therapy is a cutting-edge procedure used to eliminate the diseased veins deep within the venous system that causes the visible bulging varicose veins. It uses the heat of a laser to “close” or seal off the diseased vein(s), causing the blood to reroute through the other healthy veins. Your visible bulging varicose veins will disappear over the course of 6-12 months, although Dr. Cutchen may need to perform a second procedure – ambulatory phlebectomy, to physically remove some of the visible ropey veins. Laser vein treatment is an outpatient procedure that is performed under local anesthesia in the convenience of our office. It is typically covered by insurance and has minimal discomfort and downtime, making it one of the most preferred procedures for eliminating varicose veins.

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Simply fill out the form on this page, and one of our highly trained staff members at Albuquerque Vein & Laser Institute will reach out to your promptly to schedule your appointment.

Which Is Best For Me?

Sclerotherapy is considered the gold standard in spider vein treatment because there is no downtime and minimal discomfort. After sclerotherapy, the treated spider veins will not come back, although new spider veins can develop and appear over time. The bottom line is that when sclerotherapy is administered by highly skilled providers, the overall success rate is upwards of 90%. These very impressive statistics prove that sclerotherapy is a very safe and effective treatment for spider veins. Some other advantages of sclerotherapy over topical laser treatment include:

  • Generally less expensive
  • Faster
  • Less painful
  • Better for dark skin tones
  • Generally more effective

Over the past 15 years, Laser Vein Therapy has replaced the hospital-based vein stripping procedure as the preferred method to treat varicose veins and the underlying cause deep within the venous system for several reasons:

  • In-office treatment
  • No general anesthesia
  • Low recurrence rate

Because many patients are confused about whether they have varicose veins or spider veins, it’s best to schedule an in-office consultation so that we can evaluate your legs, and perform a diagnostic ultrasound test, in the event that you present with symptoms of varicose veins and their underlying vein disease. An individualized treatment plan will be developed based on your own symptoms and diagnostic findings.

My experience was first rate. Dr Cutchen is professional and down-to-earth at the same time. I was very comfortable at this institute and the staff is friendly and helpful. I also want to mention I am so happy with the results!!! I highly recommend this Dr and Albuquerque Vein & Laser institute.
-DB

Take the Next Step

If you are ready to explore Sclerotherapy or Laser Vein Therapy for your spider or varicose veins, then it’s time to take the next step by calling our trusted staff at Albuquerque Vein & Laser Institute at 505-848-VEIN or fill out the form on this page and one of our staff members will reach out to you promptly.

Albuquerque Vein & Laser Institute is located in the Journal Center area of Albuquerque and proudly serves vein patients throughout the entire Albuquerque area, as well as Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, Santa Rosa, Los Lunas, and other areas throughout New Mexico.

**This blog provides general information and discussion about medicine, health, and related subjects. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately licensed physician.

** This blog provides general information and discussion about medicine, health, and related subjects. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately licensed physician.

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