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.

How to get rid of spider veins Albuquerque

Many of us think of varicose veins as an unsightly annoyance. However, these bulging veins can indicate a deeper problem with the circulation in your legs. Only an examination by a vein expert like Dr. Robert Cutchen can determine whether your varicose veins require treatment. 

What are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted-looking veins under the skin. They often look blue or purple due to the blood they contain. These veins are visible because they have been damaged. Blood flow through the veins in your legs must move against gravity, so your veins have one-way valves to prevent backflow. Many factors can cause these valves to fail, letting blood flow back into and stretch the veins.

Do you have small, visible veins on your face or legs? These spider veins are not usually not medically harmful but can bother you aesthetically. Spider veins form for several reasons, and your Albuquerque Vein & Laser Institute team has several ways to address them. 

Spider Veins 101: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Many people, especially women, develop spider veins. This common problem results when small veins become stretched and damaged. As a result, they become larger and visible through the skin. Spider veins usually do not represent a medical condition, but they can be annoying and aesthetically displeasing and may indicate an underlying venous circulation problem. While you can take steps to decrease your likelihood of developing spider veins, you cannot always prevent them. 

If you have varicose veins, they might indicate something more concerning than just an aesthetic problem. Varicose veins can be a sign of problems deep within your venous system and should be assessed by a vein specialist, such as Dr. Robert Cutchen.

What are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are visible veins under the skin that often look twisted, bulging, or discolored. The blood in your leg veins must travel upward to return to the heart, and your veins have one-way valves to prevent backflow. When these valves fail, blood can pool in the deep veins and back into smaller ones – a condition known as venous insufficiency. The blood stretches the vein walls, causing the appearance of varicose veins. 

While spider veins do not usually represent a health problem, they can cause you to feel self-conscious about your appearance. Sclerotherapy is considered the “gold standard” of spider vein treatments. This effective method collapses the problem veins to make them disappear. 

What are Spider Veins?

Spider veins are small, dilated blood vessels near the skin’s surface. They typically look red or blue and have a spider web-like appearance, hence their name. Spider veins are a common condition, affecting up to 50% of women and 40% of men. Spider veins can occur anywhere on the body but are most commonly found on the legs and face. While not harmful, they are a cosmetic concern for many people. 

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.

Although Fall is full of so many fun activities like apple picking, hayrides, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, it’s also a busy time of year in the healthcare industry as patients scramble to schedule medical treatment before their annual deductible renews! So, along with deciding how many bags of Halloween candy to buy, this time of the year is also the best time to consider your Vein Health! Many people neglect their vein issues until they start to have serious problems, especially if they have not yet met their annual insurance deductible, but there are several reasons this time of year is the perfect time to see Dr. Robert Cutchen for vein treatment!

Spider Vein Albuquerque

Although spider veins are typically seen on the legs, they can also appear on the face and nose. These broken blood vessels on the face, also known as telangiectasias, are enlarged veins that occur just beneath the surface of the skin. These are often caused by the natural aging process, sun damage, trauma to the area, certain skin disorders, such as rosacea or genetics. The good news is that you don’t have to live with these imperfections on your face forever because of a revolutionary treatment called VeinWave™.