Vascular-first wound care
Venous Ulcer Care
Treating the wound is only half the solution. We treat the vein disease driving it.
Venous ulcer care and the vein treatments that support healing are covered by most major insurance plans, including Medicare.
Book a consultationMedically reviewed by Jose I. Almeida, MD, FACS, RPVI, RVT — Vascular Surgery, medical director
What Are Venous Ulcers?
Venous ulcers are open wounds that develop on the lower legs — most commonly near the ankles — as a result of longstanding chronic venous insufficiency. When venous pressure is chronically elevated, the skin and tissue break down over time, creating wounds that are notoriously slow to heal and highly prone to recurrence when the underlying vein disease is not treated.
Venous ulcers account for the majority of all chronic leg wounds. They are often painful, significantly impact quality of life, and can persist for months or years without proper vascular treatment.
Who Should Be Evaluated for Venous Ulcer Care
If any of these describe you or someone you care for, a vascular evaluation should be part of the wound care plan.
A lower-leg wound that is not healing
Any open wound on the lower leg or ankle that has lingered for weeks deserves a vascular workup — vein disease is the most common reason leg wounds refuse to close.
Ulcers that keep coming back
When a wound heals under good wound care but reopens later, the underlying venous pressure was never corrected. Treating the refluxing vein is how the cycle ends.
Skin changes around the ankles
Darkening, thickening, or itching skin near the ankle signals advanced chronic venous insufficiency — the stage just before ulceration. Treating now can prevent the wound.
A history of vein disease or blood clots
Longstanding varicose veins, prior DVT, or known venous insufficiency all raise the risk of ulceration and make vascular imaging an essential part of wound evaluation.
Our Approach to Venous Ulcers
At Miami Vein and Wellness, Jacksonville, we treat venous ulcers as a vascular problem first — because wound care alone is not enough.
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Vascular ultrasound to find the source
An in-office duplex ultrasound identifies the source of venous hypertension — the refluxing veins keeping pressure on the wound.
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Endovenous ablation to reduce pressure
Radiofrequency or laser ablation eliminates the reflux, lowering venous pressure so the tissue can finally heal.
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Compression therapy and wound care coordination
We manage compression and coordinate with your primary physician or wound care team so vascular treatment and wound care work together, not in parallel silos.
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Close follow-up to confirm healing
We monitor healing and perform follow-up imaging to prevent recurrence — the step most often skipped, and the reason ulcers come back.
A Wound That Won't Heal Deserves a Vascular Answer
One in-office ultrasound can show whether vein disease is keeping your wound open — and whether treating it could finally let your leg heal.
Book an evaluationWhy Choose Miami Vein and Wellness for Venous Ulcer Care
Cristal Boatright, MMS, PA-C brings 16 years of exclusive vein and vascular specialization — including training under Dr. Jose Almeida at Miami Vein Center and co-authored publications on venous disease in advanced limb conditions. Ulcer care here starts with the vasculature, not just the dressing.
We welcome patients referred from wound care centers, podiatrists, and primary care across St. Johns County and greater Jacksonville.
- Vascular-first approach: treat the pressure, heal the wound
- In-office duplex ultrasound — no outside imaging referral
- Endovenous ablation performed on-site under local anesthesia
- Care coordinated with your wound care team and physicians
- Covered by most plans, including Medicare
Is Venous Ulcer Treatment Covered by Insurance?
Yes. Venous ulcer care and the vein treatments that support healing are covered by most major insurance plans, including Medicare. Our team manages prior authorization and coordinates care with your primary physician or wound care team.
If you have a wound on your lower leg that is not healing, vein disease may be the reason — and getting the vascular evaluation covered is rarely an obstacle.
Coverage criteria vary by plan; we confirm your specific benefits at consultation.
Pricing is current as of the latest service menu and is subject to change. Your provider will confirm the right plan and final pricing at your consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't my leg ulcer heal with wound care alone?
Because the wound is the symptom, not the disease. As long as failed vein valves keep venous pressure elevated, the tissue around the ulcer stays starved and swollen, and even excellent wound care fights an uphill battle.
When the underlying reflux is treated, healing rates improve dramatically — and recurrence drops.
How do I know my ulcer is venous and not something else?
Venous ulcers typically sit near the ankle, are shallow with irregular edges, and are surrounded by discolored or thickened skin. But the definitive answer comes from a vascular duplex ultrasound, which confirms venous reflux and rules out other causes that need different treatment.
Will I need surgery to fix the underlying vein problem?
Almost never in the traditional sense. The reflux driving most venous ulcers is treated with endovenous ablation — a minimally invasive, in-office procedure done under local anesthesia through a tiny puncture. Most patients walk out the same day.
Can you work with my existing wound care clinic?
Yes — and we prefer to. We treat the vascular disease while your wound care team manages the wound itself, and we send consultation notes back to your referring providers promptly so everyone works from the same plan.
How long do venous ulcers take to heal after vein treatment?
It varies with the size and age of the wound, but most patients see meaningful progress within weeks once venous pressure is corrected and compression is consistent. We follow you closely until the wound is closed — and afterward, to keep it that way.
Can venous ulcers be prevented?
Often, yes. Ulcers are the end stage of untreated chronic venous insufficiency. Treating reflux when the signs are still swelling and skin changes — before the skin breaks down — is the single best prevention.
Venous Ulcer Care is available at our St. Johns County office in the Durbin Park area — serving Jacksonville, St. Johns, Ponte Vedra, Mandarin, Durbin, Silverleaf, Nocatee, Julington Creek, Fleming Island, and St. Augustine.
If You Have a Lower-Leg Wound That Is Not Healing
Vein disease may be the reason — and it is treatable, in the office, with coverage from most insurance plans including Medicare.
Book a consultation today. We will find the source, treat it, and coordinate with your wound care team until your leg is healed.
Book a consultationOr call/text (904) 310-7186.