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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.

Get Rid of Spider Veins Rio Rancho

Albuquerque Sclerotherapy Vs Laser Vein Therapy

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 Albuquerque

You do not have to live with the embarrassment or uncomfortable symptoms of Spider Veins! If you are one of the millions of women who often hide them under long pants, skirts, or dresses, or live your daily life with aching, swelling, burning, or cramps in your legs – treatment has never been easier! Spider veins are a very common problem and are relatively easy to treat with sclerotherapy.

Spider veins form over time because of a number of factors including genetics, age, hormonal changes or from having a job that requires standing for very long periods of time. Sclerotherapy is one of the lowest-risk cosmetic procedures available, and anesthesia is not required. It has been used since the 1930s and is considered the treatment of choice for varicose veins.

Albuquerque Sclerotherapy

Spider veins are small, damaged veins that can appear on the surface of the legs or face. Mostly cosmetic in nature, they often form over time due to a number of factors including genetics, age, hormonal changes or from having a job that requires very long periods of time on your feet. Upon being diagnosed with spider veins, your vein specialist will mostly likely prescribe a treatment protocol of sclerotherapy injections – the gold standard in spider vein treatment. It is one of the most effective and lowest-risk cosmetic procedures available, and anesthesia is not required. So how much will this treatment cost?

Spider Veins Albuquerque

No one likes to look at their legs or face and see little blue and purple lines networking across their skin like a road map. Unfortunately, millions of people struggle with these annoying spider veins and don’t know where they came from or how to get rid of them. Let’s take a look at what these spider veins are, how we can treat them, and how we can prevent them over time.

Spider Veins Albuquerque

Although patients often use the terms spider veins and varicose veins interchangeably, these are two separate issues that affect the health of your venous system differently. Spider veins and varicose veins are similar in that they are both unsightly AND easily treatable.

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted, dilated veins that protrude above the level of the skin. Most frequently found on the legs, they often appear dark purple or blue in color and sometimes bulge out. They are typically caused by an underlying issue in the venous system, such as venous reflux (also known as venous insufficiency, which is a result of broken valves inside the veins, causing the blood to flow “backwards” in the veins. Varicose veins can lead to symptoms such as a heavy feeling in your legs, skin discoloration, swelling, and worsened pain after sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time.

There are a number of factors that can raise your risk of developing varicose veins.

  • Aging causes wear and tear on the valves in your veins.
  • Hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause may also play a role in varicose veins.
  • Heredity is also a factor, so if members of your family have developed varicose veins, it is likely that you will as well.
  • Standing or sitting for long periods of time can also increase your risk of developing varicose veins.

Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent the development of varicose veins. You may reduce your risk of this condition by improving your circulation. Exercising on a regular basis, maintaining a healthy weight, and adhering to a quality diet can definitely help. It is also important to change your sitting or standing position frequently. Once you develop vein disease, it will not get better on its own – you may be able to manage the symptoms through the wearing of medical-grade compression hose and elevation, but the diseased veins themselves will never improve and symptoms will most likely increase over time.

Spider veins, little dilated superficial blood vessels that are caused by increased pressure in the veins, are both annoying and unsightly. Often located on both the thighs and calves, they are extremely visible, and we’ve had many patients tell us that they’ve avoided wearing shorts or skirts for years because they hate how they look. Fortunately, spider veins are treatable, and although not covered by insurance, treatment is performed right in our office using sclerotherapy injections – the gold standard in spider vein treatment. Even better, Albuquerque Vein & Laser Institute is fortunate to have one of the very best sclerotherapy nurses in the region treating our spider vein patients!

During this procedure, a very fine needle is used to slowly inject the sclerosant solution into the vein. The solution irritates the lining of the vein, causing it to collapse. Compression stockings are applied after the treatment.

Over the course of the next few months, the veins will fade. Most patients require a series of 3-5 treatments over the course of several months. The number of treatments will vary with each patient. A personal treatment plan will be discussed at the time of your vein consultation.

What Causes Spider Veins?

A number of factors determine whether or not a person may develop spider veins, including:

  • Genetics
  • Age
  • Hormones (pregnancy, menopause)
  • Obesity
  • Long Periods of Daily Standing

If you think you may have spider veins, you can read more about symptoms here.