Dr. Grisoli is located in Destin. He is on staff at the Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital as well as the Destin Surgery Center.  He has been performing endovenous laser ablation techniques of the Saphenous Venous System with great success since 2004. He is extremely conservative with his approach to venous disorders and will always try to do the least invasive procedure possible that has a reasonable chance for success. Patient safety and satisfaction are his highest priorities.

Dr. Grisoli has been married to his wife Joy since 1981. Joy assists in the Destin Vein Center with scheduling and patient education

Steps to my treatment:

Step 1

Call the Destin Vein Center at 1-800-VARICOSE (1-800-827-4267) to schedule a 15 minute complimentary consultation with Dr. Grisoli. By Dr. Grisoli's request, you will be asked for a convenient time at which his assistant can call you.
 
Step 2

Expect a phone call, at your convenience, by Dr. Grisoli's assistant prior to your consult to answer any questions you may have. Arrive at your consult with a pair of shorts or loose clothing to change into so that you are comfortable and able to demonstrate to Dr. Grisoli your areas of concern.

Step 3

At your consult you will be given a treatment plan which addresses both medical and cosmetic concerns depending on your particular needs. "Sclerotherapy" is the best method of treatment of spider and uncomplicated bulging veins. Your treatment will involve injection of a solution directly into the problematic veins. The tiny spider veins as well as some of the larger bulging' veins are treated in this way.

 We want you to be comfortable during your treatment so several options of pain control will be discussed at this time:

A)    The average patient may be given a prescription for pain medication to be taken one hour prior to the procedure. (You must have someone drive you to your appointment if you choose this option).

B)    Other patients opting not to take the pain medication will be instructed to use over- the- counter pain relievers prior to their appointment (something you would normally take for headache pain).

C)    The third option is to take nothing at all and some patients are quite comfortable with this option.

The procedure will likely involve multiple tiny needle-sticks'. The needle is the smallest one made and the solution does not burn or sting. You should have no discomfort after the procedure and should need no further medication.

Step 4

The day of your procedure arrive with your shorts into which you will change. Dr. Grisoli will treat the front and back of both legs. Your appointment should last 30 minutes. Upon completion of the sclerotherapy you will put on light support hose, dress in your regular clothes and resume your normal day's activities. We offer either pantyhose or thigh-high hose in nude or black. If you have not taken the prescription medication you may go back to work. It is not necessary or desirable to recline or elevate your legs on this day.

Step 5

For the next week, you will wear the light support hose during the day. You may take them off to sleep at night. To maximize the benefit of your procedure we suggest that you not submerge your legs in hot water (bathtub or hot tub) or vigorously exercise them for one week. Normal showers are acceptable and so are upper body workouts. Upper body workouts designed for cardio-conditioning are also perfectly acceptable.

Step 6

To completely clear your legs of spider and varicose veins may take 2-3 treatments depending on your response to the solution used and your desired level of perfection. You must wait three weeks between treatments when scheduling your procedures. During this time some veins will completely disappear and some will partially disappear. Subsequent treatments will involve re-injecting veins that only partially disappeared (resistant veins) and those we were unable to address in prior treatments. There is a medically safe limit on how much solution you can receive in one treatment, and we will always stay within that limit. Our experience has shown that this safe, conservative approach gives the best possible outcome.

Step 7

Your vein treatment is completed to your satisfaction. Enjoy your new look!

You will not get these veins back, but if you are genetically predisposed to forming spider and varicose veins, over time you may develop new ones. Our patients return as needed. Some patients return yearly, others may find they can go several years without feeling the need to return.

Dr. Richard J. Grisoli received his medical degree in 1981 from the Louisiana State University Medical School in New Orleans. Dr. Grisoli completed his medical/surgical internship at the Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. He then completed his residency in Anesthesiology at the Ochsner Foundation Hospital. He is board certified in Anesthesiology by the American Board of Anesthesiology. Dr. Grisoli also holds a second board certification in Critical Care Medicine by the American Board of Medical Specialties. After completing his training, he spent time as an attending anesthesiologist teaching physicians in their anesthesiology residency in New Orleans at the Ochsner Foundation Hospital.  Dr. Grisoli holds a third board certification by the American Board of Phlebology. In 2008, the specialty of venous disease (Phlebology) was recognized as a separate specialty by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Dr. Grisoli is one of a very select few to be awarded this certification.

He has been in private practice at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, Louisiana since 1984. North Oaks Medical Center is a large community hospital representing all specialties including neurosurgery and cardiovascular surgery. 

While at North Oaks Medical Center, he has served as Chairman of the Surgery Department. He also served as President of the Tangipahoa Parish Medical Society. He was elected Chief of Staff by the Medical Staff and presided over the Executive Committee during that time. He is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the American College of Phlebology, and the Florida Medical Association.

 Dr. Grisoli is an anesthesiologist and a phlebologist. This fusion of specialties enables him to painlessly insert a catheter into a vein and guide the catheter into position for treating abnormal veins. These procedures are easier for the patient and involve less risk because there are no large incisions, fewer complications, shorter recovery times, and less pain. As an anesthesiologist, Dr Grisoli is uniquely qualified to make sure that you are not experiencing pain and will always be capable of medicating his patients so they have a pleasant experience during treatment. Not all physicians are comfortable sedating patients for procedures as they may not be skilled in airway management and physiological monitoring. Dr. Grisoli has been sedating patients daily and providing anesthesia since 1984.  He became interested in Phlebology in 1996 and established a separate successful vein clinic at that time. He initially became interested in sclerotherapy of spider veins as anesthesiologists were skillful with needle placement in small veins and were often asked to start intravenous lines in the neonatal care unit on premature infants. His vein practice rapidly became successful drawing patients from several communities.

Dr. Grisoli is now located in Destin and has established his private practice on the Emerald Coast. He is on staff at the Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital as well as the Destin Surgery Center. His interest includes treatment of all types of veins from tiny cosmetic spiders to large varicose veins. He will include duplex ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of many venous disorders. He has been performing endovenous laser ablation techniques of the Saphenous Venous System with great success since 2004. Dr Grisoli enjoys working with other physicians with interest in venous disease and will refer patients to surgeons or interventional radiologists for consultation when necessary. He is extremely conservative with his approach to venous disorders and will always try to do the least invasive procedure possible that has a reasonable chance for success. Patient safety and satisfaction are his highest priorities.

In 2007, Dr. Grisoli received an additional certification awarded by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (A.R.D.M.S.). This certification is entitled Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (R.P.V.I.) and is awarded to physicians who can demonstrate by rigorous testing that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to perform and interpret ultrasonography and doppler testing for vascular conditions.

Dr. Grisoli has been married to his wife Joy since 1981. Joy assists in the Destin Vein Center with scheduling and patient education.