James Jimenez, MD: The Emerald Coast’s Pioneer For Laser Treatment of Varicose Veins

Vein Expert Dr. Jimenez

 

 

James Jimenez, First in the Panhandle to
Perform the EVLT™ Laser Procedure

 

Uncommonly Committed to
Your Healthy, Beautiful Legs

 

“80-90% of my patients come from word of mouth referrals.”

 

If there were ever a quote that could paint an accurate picture of Dr. Jimenez’s character as a person and physician, this would be it. Every part of his practice is geared exclusively toward providing his patients with the best experience possible. He doesn’t just want to be your physician; Dr. J, as his patients warmly refer to him, wants to be the person you can talk openly about your health concerns. He wants to be your confidant.

It’s why he spends so much of his own time in the trenches of the medical industry, where not many physicians can be found. “If someone walks into my practice, I am involved every step of the way. I see them in consult. I do all the imaging, procedures, and follow-ups… I do it all myself.”

“People appreciate that you are listening to them and are trying to understand their concerns.”

Dr. J believes that he can provide better health care this way. “I am a big proponent of doing the basics and spending as much time as a patient needs, because it gives me a better understanding of what that person is dealing with and what their expectations are. The more I know and the more effort I put in, the better I can treat the patient.”

He thinks that this is a lost part of modern medicine. “It’s not the fault of doctors alone; in many practices you are often just sort of forced into a ‘see people as a number’ mentality. But you really need to treat people the way you would want to be treated … I would never rush a patient through. The bottom line is I am not about working on a volume basis. I am about making sure we work through completely to get the best result possible for the individual.”

The goal for Dr. J is not to build tremendous volumes. It is to provide thorough and personalized care.

This mentality often means longer nights with farther commutes for Dr. J himself, who bounces around three separate offices in different areas throughout the week, sometimes visiting at least two in a single day. This way, he says, no one has to wait too long to be seen or to get their treatment.

“If I have to stay a little later or do something to accommodate a patient’s schedule, I am happy to do that, and it will work much better than any alternative.”

But the attention to detail would be meaningless if the quality of the care wasn’t good, and at Vein Center of Florida, the care is world-class. In fact, Dr. J is a pioneer of laser treatment for varicose veins on the Emerald Coast, performing the first procedure between Jacksonville and New Orleans over 20 years ago.

At the time, varicose vein treatment often involved major surgery. It wasn’t until the early 2000s, when Dr. J and other physicians began using minimally invasive in office procedures to take the place of surgery. The new practice replaced old, invasive techniques like vein stripping with new ones that focused on laser and injection. “What we did to the industry was a big deal because it meant that major surgery wasn’t needed anymore.”

Through his decades of experience he has learned that the best way to treat bad veins in order to receive the most optimal result involves treating not only what you see but also treating the underlying reason you got them in the first place. It is difficult to dam a river without controlling the pressure beginning from a waterfall behind it. With veins, you must treat the underlying waterfalls (under the surface veins) leading to the rivers (visible veins) in order to get the best result.

“If you want to treat veins successfully, the best way to do it, and this is important, is that you must always treat the underlying supplying big veins first, and then make sure you treat everything else that is problematic including visible surface veins. You have to be as complete as possible in order to obtain the best long lasting sustainable result.”

The good part about being in practice for so long for Dr. J is that he is able to maintain an optimal level of treatment while also being efficient — this combo of skills is what helps him make sure that he gives every patient the attention and care they need.

Dr. J’s Favorite Patient Stories

Dr. J remembers plenty of the patients he has helped over the years, especially after developing that personal connection with them. Here are two of his favorite patient stories:

“One of the most severe cases I ever had was a 17-year-old girl with bad varicose veins and a strong family history. She was brought in by her mom in the fall and was very concerned because she had her prom coming up in the spring, and she was at the point where she wasn’t comfortable showing her legs. She didn’t even own a pair of shorts. We treated her legs and afterward, it was very rewarding to see the change. She immediately went and bought a whole new wardrobe. We were able to help her get the self-confidence she deserved.”

“Sometimes people will have leg discomfort not classically related to veins. I once did a procedure on an older man whose son was a doctor. He wanted to treat his one leg which had bad varicosities and it came out great. In view of this, he decided to treat his other leg which was much less involved. On his follow up, he was extremely pleased. He said “You know that painful arthritis that I had been treated for years. Well, the pain is gone.” It goes to show you that sometimes you don’t know what kind of symptoms are attributable to bad veins and what kinds of unforeseen benefits can be obtained by treating these problems.”

Certifications, Education, and Professional Memberships

Diplomate:

  • American Board of Radiology
  • American Board of Venous & Lymphatic Medicine

Certifications:

  • American Board of Medical Specialties
  • Added Qualifications in Vascular and Interventional Radiology
  • American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine

Residency/Fellowship:

  • Diagnostic Radiology and Vascular/Interventional Radiology at the L.I.J. Medical Center of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York

Internship: The New Rochelle Medical Center, New York
MD: New York Medical College, New York
BS: Bucknell University, Pennsylvania

Membership:

  • Society of Interventional Radiology
  • American College of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine

Activities:

  • Cordova Rotary Club
  • Coaching basketball and baseball
  • Playing tennis

Meet Dr. J

If you would like to learn more about Dr. J and how his services can help you restore your life, give Vein Center of Florida a call at (850) 837-4043. You can also fill out our online contact form to have a team member give you a call back at a convenient time for you. Dr. J and all of the staff are looking forward to being your trusted partner throughout your journey.

We have offices in Pensacola and Destin, FL, and Foley, AL, to make sure you always have a convenient vein specialist near you!