Dr. Craig Schwartz
Vascular Surgery
Leawood, KS
36 years experience male
Locations
Office
Leawood, KS
Phone
Practice website
About
Bio
Craig Schwartz, DO, RVT, RPVI, FACOS, FICS
Dr. Craig Schwartz is the Medical Director and owner of Vein Centers for Excellence of Kansas City, a dedicated vein treatment center located in Johnson County, KS. For many years, he has offered only the latest state-of-the-art technology and treatments available for varicose and spider veins at his Kansas City vein clinic.
Dr. Schwartz holds triple board certifications in Vascular Surgery, General Surgery and Phlebology (the study of vein disease). He is also certified as an RVT (Registered Vascular Technician) and an RPVI (Registered Physician Vascular Interpretation), possessing the skills and knowledge to perform vascular ultrasound in the diagnosis of venous disease at his Kansas vein center.
Bachelor of Science: Tufts University, Medford, MA
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Botsford General Hospital, Farmington Hills, MI Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Vascular Fellowship: Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fellow: American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and International College of Surgeons
Diplomate:
American College of Phlebology
International Society of Endovascular Specialists
Board Certifications:
Vascular Surgery General Surgery; American Osteopathic Board of Surgery
Phlebology; American Board of Phlebology
Registered Vascular Technician (RVT) Registered Physician Vascular Interpretation (RPVI); American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
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.
Vascular Surgery
Phlebology
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
51 Answers
60 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 40-year-old male asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Right to be worried: Pregnancy is the #2 cause of varicose veins, and the effects tend to be cumulative with each gestation. Although the veins may decompress and seem to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Probably Not: Although spider veins may have appeared while taking these shots, it doesn't necessarily mean they were the cause of their development. While hormona... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
See Vein Specialist: Varicose veins are caused by a more significant underlying vein problem, known as venous reflux or insufficiency, very easily treated in the office se... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Just from needlestik: Injection sclerotherapy treatment for spider veins is really not particularly painful at all. Granted we stick you with needles multiple times, but th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Any age: Although the most common age group we treat for patients affected with varicose veins is typically 30-60, it can happen to any patient at any age, dep... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Vein Center: Quality information regarding sclerotherapy can be found through a dedicated, experienced vein center, where a full exam can be performed to determine... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Absolutely not: The most common age group is 30-60, but I have treated patients from age 17-93. Most common causes of varicose veins are family history or genetics, p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Minimal: Varicose veins in the legs are due to an underlying vein flow problem in the leg itself, and although associated varicosities can spread proximally, t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Possibly: The most common causes of varicose and spider veins are genetics or family history, pregnancy, trauma and occupations or activities with prolonged sta... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Prevention - none: Venous ulcers are due to underlying venous hypertension, usually from venous reflux or insufficiency. This is addressed by laser closure or ablation i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
See Vein Specialist: Varicose veins, at any age, are caused by a more significant underlying vein problem, known as venous reflux or insufficiency. It can be very easily t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
High Pressure: 1st, i presume the question refers to arteries versus veins, since arteries are "ordinary blood vessels" too. The answer is arteries are in a high pre... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Pain, redness, firm: By definition, thrombophlebitis means inflammation and clotting of superficial veins. This is not dvt, or deep vein thrombosis, which is the dangerous... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Laser seals the vein: Evlt uses laser energy to collapse, or seal closed, the underlying vein, typically the saphenous vein, which is abnormal with insufficiency or reflux.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
My wife has small varicose veins at multiple places and surgery is not recommended. is there a cure?
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Absolutely: Both spider veins and true varicose veins can absolutely be successfully treated. The most important thing is to have an ultrasound to determine if sh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Yes but questionable: There are several natural supplements or herbal remedies that "supposedly" treat venous issues, including horse chestnut, vitamin E ...Etc. Unfortunat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Varicose veins: If you have varicose veins, then you most likely have an underlying vein problem, such as venous insufficiency or venous reflux, which can be very eas... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Varicose Veins: Surgery is considered old-fashioned and is no longer the best treatment for varicose veins. We now have excellent minimally invasive, in-office proced... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Ultrasound exam: The only way to be sure that one does not have a blood clot in a limb is to have a venous duplex ultrasound exam, which will fully evaluate the superf... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Base on Risk Factors: Anyone can get vascular insufficiency, but risk is higher with increasing risk factors. 1st, depends on if one is referring to arterial or venous insu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Yes and No: One of the main etiologic factors in the development of varicose veins is occupations or activities where an individual is standing or sitting for lon... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Laser Ablation: There are now wonderful, minimally invasive in-office procedures for varicose veins - no more vein stripping! varicosities are caused by an underlying... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Brand name: Liposuction is the umbrella term referring to removing fat from the body by suction. Smart lipo is simply the brand name of one manufacturer's device ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
End stage change: Stasis dermatitis is one of the complications, or end stage changes of varicose venous disease and/or chronic venous insufficiency. It represents a br... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years agoMerged
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Should Not Matter: Although the use of hormonal birth control does have a higher risk for potential clotting, the presence of varicose veins shouldn't effect which metho... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Absolutely: If you have underlying venous reflux or insufficiency that has not been diagnosed or treated, then undergoing laser closure or ablation will resolve t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Varicose veins: Varicose veins are due to underlying venous insufficiency or reflux, which will never improve or go away on its own, and can only get worse. So down t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Laser and Injection: Spider veins never require surgical treatment. They are treated most appropriately using a combination of injection sclerotherapy, where a chemical is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Absolutely Not: In fact, compresssion stockings are often the 1st line of management for treatment of symptomatic varicosites, along with daily elevation of the limbs... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Absolutely: In fact, tiny spider veins of the face respond very well to appropriate laser treatment, and generally respond even faster than those on the legs, whi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Hormonal changes: Although the #1 and #2 causes of spider and varicose veins are family history and pregnancy, hormonal changes also play a significant role. We commonl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
No and Yes: Superficial thrombophlebitis is not a dangerous problem, and is rarely serious, and essentially never fatal. Dvt, or deep vein thrombosis, on the othe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Absolutely: Varicose veins are generally due to underlying venous insufficiency or reflux, which can be readily identified by a vein specialist by duplex ultrasou... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Genetics, pregnancy.: Spider veins, or more formally known as telangiectasias, are a common part of the aging process, and can appear in multiple areas of the body, but are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Yes: There are now wonderful, minimally invasive, outpatient procedures performed in the office setting, under local anesthesia, with minimal downtime, to ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Regularly: If you have not had a full work-up to determine the cause of your venous stasis, then you should see a vein specialist asap, as there may be issues th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Should not be: Venous stasis is the end result of underlying venous reflux or insufficiency in the legs, and is generally treatable, especially if treated early, or ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
No: In and of themselves, varicose veins are not fatal or deadly. However, left untreated, the underlying venous insufficiency that causes varicose veins,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
No: Obviously, stress is never a good thing for the body as a whole, and can certainly make the healing process or recovery more difficult in any illness ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Yes: Pain from a venous ulcer is generally due to the open wound itself, or from the underlying venous insufficiency which caused it. Adequate wound care v... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
No: Although your spider veins may have appeared while you were taking ocp's. It does not mean that this was the cause of their development. And while hor... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Particle that moves: The term embolism implies something "breaking off" or travelling from an area where it is typically found to another area, through the body, usually i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Not Necessarily: Although pregnancy is the number 2 cause of varicose and spider veins, right behind hereditary and family history factors, it doesn't necessarily mean... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Several weeks: Phlebitis refers to inflammation in superficial veins, but more generally implies clot in them. This is not the dangerous deep vein clot, or dvt. With... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Possible but unlikel: Typically, leg pain when sitting for extended periods of time is due to venous pooling in the limbs, which causes an increase in venous pressure, lead... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Absolutely Not: Exercise does not cause or lead to varicose veins. In fact, exercise is one of the components of what we refer to as conservative care, which helps re... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Conservative treat: The good news is that, while annoying, thrombophlebitis is not typically a dangerous problem, it is not the very serious dvt. It is treated by a regim... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Various Lasers: Spider veins on the face are typically treated similar to spider veins on the legs, and do not require surgery or any major procedure. Because the fac... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Nothing OTC: Unfortunately, there is no over the counter treatment, oral or topical, which is effective for treating facial spider veins. However, the good news is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Craig Schwartzanswered
Vascular Surgery 36 years experience
Very Typical: Interestingly, there is a wide variety in the scope and variety of symptoms that varicose vein patients may show. Some people have extensive, large ve... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k 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.
2
Recommendations
159
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Schwartz is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Schwartz is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! This really helped me. I have bad varicose veins. I had my vein stripped out but it didn't work. I'm at a loss. Is it more dangerous in pregnancy?
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Any relation to Deep vein thrombosis?
HealthTap member
Thankyou so much, doctor. Your answer is very detailed and I do appreciate
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, PA
Graduated 1987MD
Medical/Graduate school
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, PA
Graduated 1987MD
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
Answer emailed
in 24 hours or less