Locations
Joyce Vein & Aesthetic Institute
Punta Gorda, FL
About
Bio
I am a board certified Cardiothoracic surgeon who specializes in the treatment of venous disease. My practice specializes in the treatment of all types of venous disease especially severe cases that have discoloration and ulcers of the legs. We also offer state of the art aesthetic services.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Phlebology
cardiothoracic surgery and general surgery
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
146 Answers
8 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
No: Leg ulcers are often caused by chronic venous insufficiency which is a problem that causes to much pressure to be in the veins near the skin. A venou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Treat venous disease: There is really no contraindication for treating venous disease by laser ablation. The anesthesia is local and minimal and should not be a factor.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Treat venous disease: Often an over the counter cream with an anesthetic can help but the condition remains until the venous disease is treated. See a specialist in venous ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Keep it clean: If you do not keep a leg ulcer clean it can become infected. This can lead to serious trouble and in the worst case loss of the leg.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Not unusual: Pregnancy and childbirth put a tremendous amount of stress on the venous system of the legs. This is due to the increased pressure in the pelvis whic... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Clot in deep vein: Deep venous thrombosis or DVT is a blood clot in one of the deep veins of the legs. The deep vein system lies in the center of the leg in between the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Definately: Deep venous thrombosis or DVT is a blood clot in one of the deep veins of the legs. The deep vein system lies in the center of the leg in between the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See vein specialist: Leg ulcers are often caused by chronic venous insufficiency which is a problem that causes to much pressure to be in the veins near the skin. A venou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See a venous dr: Keep the area clean and see a venous specialist. We also send patients to a wound care specialist to address the ulcer while we correct the underlyin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See vein specialist: Leg ulcers are often caused by chronic venous insufficiency which is a problem that causes to much pressure to be in the veins near the skin. A venou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See vein specialist: Leg ulcers are often caused by chronic venous insufficiency which is a problem that causes to much pressure to be in the veins near the skin. A venou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Skin changes: Venous stasis is caused by valve problems that allow blood from deep high-pressure veins to enter low-pressure veins just under the skin. These veins ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See vein specialist: Leg ulcers are often caused by chronic venous insufficiency which is a problem that causes to much pressure to be in the veins near the skin. A venou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See vein specialist: Leg ulcers with weeping are often caused by chronic venous insufficiency which is a problem that causes to much pressure to be in the veins near the s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See vein specialist: Leg ulcers are often caused by chronic venous insufficiency which is a problem that causes to much pressure to be in the veins near the skin. A venou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See a vein specialis: Leg ulcers are often caused by chronic venous insufficiency which is a problem that causes to much pressure to be in the veins near the skin. A venou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Laser or RF: Laser or radiofrequency (vein spider veinsgo) ablation are both very effective.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See vein specialist: Varicose veins are often caused by chronic venous insufficiency which is a problem that causes to much pressure to be in the veins near the skin. A v... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Multiple thigs: The two most serious are heart failure (doubtful in your age group) and venous drainage obstruction. Obstruction can be due to a mass in the pelvis w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See vein specialist: Leg ulcers are often caused by chronic venous insufficiency which is a problem that causes to much pressure to be in the veins near the skin. A venou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Bad valves: Varicose veins are caused by valve problems that allow blood from deep high-pressure veins to enter low-pressure veins just under the skin. These vein... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See vein specialist: Leg ulcers are often caused by chronic venous insufficiency which is a problem that causes to much pressure to be in the veins near the skin. A venou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Treat the cause: Compression stockings can relieve the symptoms of venous insufficiency but they do not address the underlying problem which is dysfunction of the vein... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See a vein specialis: Leg ulcers are often caused by chronic venous insufficiency which is a problem that causes to much pressure to be in the veins near the skin. Laser a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Difficult to heal: Le ulcers occur spontaneously of as a result of injury. They are wounds in the skin which are difficult to heal.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See a vein Dr.: Leg ulcers are often due to chronic venous insufficiency. This can be diagnosed and treated by a venous specialist. Our cure rate for venous ulcers ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Vein disease: Leg pain and swelling often caused by chronic venous insufficiency which is a problem that causes to much pressure to be in the veins near the skin. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 58-year-old female asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
No problem: We use laser ablation. The risk is minute. Coumadin (warfarin) is no problem. I have done hundreds of cases with the patients on Coumadin (warfarin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Vein Blood Clot: Venous thrombosis most often occurs in the leg veins. If it is in the deep leg veins it is called a deep venous thrombosis (dvt). This is a dangerou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Not unusual: Pregnancy and childbirth put a tremendous amount of stress on the venous system of the legs. This is due to the increased pressure in the pelvis whic... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
DVT is treated: Dvt is an event which is treated with anticoagulation or blood thinners. The symptoms of leg swelling and pain will often resolve over time.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See a vein specialis: Leg ulcers are often caused by chronic venous insufficiency which is a problem that causes to much pressure to be in the veins near the skin. A venou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Varicose veins : Usually we recommend addressing the veins before pregnancy as they often become worse but it is ok to wait in this type of situation. Just make sure y... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Cause?: Many ulcers are caused by venous disease even in diabetic patients. These are most often found on the inside of the ankle. If this is the case see a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Yes: Venous ulcers are areas of poor blood flow and this makes it difficult for the body to fight off infection in this area.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Most can be done: Almost all sv can be treated with evla especially with a 1470 nam wavelength. See an expert in venous surgery.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
No problem: They should make no difference in regard to squats.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Yes DVT is a reason: Definitely a DVT can cause primarily calf pain, usually with swelling. It is always important to rule out the most dangerous possibility first and a ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See vein specialist: If you have varicose vein I suggest seeing a specialist and venous disease. You would have an ultrasound examination that would determine the real rea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Venous evaluation: Have you had a venous evaluation? Often venous disease co-exists with lymphedema and contributes to the symptoms of swelling especially if there is di... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
No: No but often a venous ulcer can start with what appears to be a blister.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old male asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Yes: Sometimes there is an isolated incompetent venous perforator vein under an ulcer. It may have been there for years and in retrospect the patient may ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Treat venous disease: Often an over the counter cream with an anesthetic can help but the condition remains until the venous disease is treated.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Sort of: Venous stasis is a condition of skin changes which is due to an abnormality in Venous return. It is generally cost by Val problems that allow blood fr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Pain and swelling: In the leg this presents with swelling and calf pain.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Keep moving: There are few drugs that actually prevent dvt. The best thing is to avoid sitting for long periods such as a plane ride or car ride without moving. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
See vein specialist: These questions can easily answered by a physician that specializes in venous disease. Spider veins are small surface veins. Varicose veins are larger... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Many things: A blockage in the vein drainage in the pelvis can cause this. This can be the result of a mass in the pelvis such as ovarian cancer. A blockage in t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Advise treatment: Cellulitis usually should be treated with antibiotics if it is significant. You should see a physician prior to your holiday to determine if this is ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 60-year-old male asked:

Dr. Douglas Joyceanswered
Phlebology 42 years experience
Yes: Varicose veins are caused by valve problems that allow blood from deep high-pressure veins to enter low-pressure veins just under the skin. These vein... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
128
Thank you notes
Jul 21, 2013
Precise, helpful answers. Well done!
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Joyce is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Joyce is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank you , Dr. Joyce. I'm seeking treatment now.
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! Your time on this is greatly appreciated.
HealthTap member
what is your treatment protocol use to achieve 97% success
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, MI
Graduated 1981MD
Residency
Lansing General Hospital
Awards
Top Phlebologist, Second Place, Florida - Summer
2013
Top Doctor, Third Place, Fort Myers Region - Summer
2014
Top Phlebologist, First Place, National - Summer
2014
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