Dr. Monash partners with Tucson Vein & Body to bring new hope to patients with painful leg wounds
Some patients turn to it for cosmetic reasons. Others choose it to help a stubborn wound finally heal. Either way, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is changing lives in Tucson thanks to a local partnership between Dr. Jeff Monash and Tucson Vein & Body.
Dr. Monash, the medical director of the Wound Center of Tucson, has teamed up with vein specialists to offer RFA to patients with venous stasis wounds—sores that often appear on the lower legs of people with poor blood flow, especially those with venous hypertension. These wounds are painful, slow to heal, and tend to come back. But RFA may provide a way forward.
““Radiofrequency ablation is a procedure that uses heat to collapse diseased veins,” Dr. Jeff Monash explains. “By closing the veins with weakened walls or valves, we direct blood flow to the healthy ones. Better circulation helps to heal some very stubborn wounds.”
The treatment, which is minimally invasive, works by inserting a thin tube (called a catheter) into the damaged vein. Radio waves are sent through the tube to gently heat the vein walls. This causes the vein to collapse and seal shut. Blood then reroutes to healthier veins, which helps prevent further pressure build-up and promotes healing.
“Many people are surprised by how quick and comfortable the procedure is,” said Scott Lopez, a nurse practitioner at Tucson Vein who works alongside Dr. Monash for the procedures. “It’s done in an outpatient setting, and most people walk out within the hour.”
According to a 2024 global study published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery, RFA is not only safe—it often works better than laser ablation, a similar treatment. The study looked at 29 clinical trials involving thousands of patients. It found that RFA had fewer side effects like bruising, nerve pain, and burning, and patients reported less pain afterward.
In addition to helping people with venous ulcers and hard-to-heal leg wounds, radiofrequency ablation treatment in Tucson is also used for cosmetic purposes. It can reduce the appearance of unsightly varicose veins and improve a patient’s quality of life.
“It is absolutely true that most patients love the cosmetic results, and it is so fulfilling to hear it,” said Dr. Monash. “More importantly, my goal is to improve our patients’ quality of life. It is even more fulfilling to hear when patients have no more leg pain, no more swelling, their chronic itching has resolved, and their wounds have completely healed.”
Dr. Monash’s approach combines advanced wound care with modern technology and a team of experts across specialties. “The Wound Center of Tucson is all about treating the whole person,” he said. “Sometimes that means using honey, and sometimes it means using heat. What matters most is what works for each patient.”
For people living with chronic venous disease, varicose veins, or non-healing leg wounds, Tucson wound care options like RFA are helping deliver real results.
Patients interested in RFA as part of a wound care or vein health plan should talk to their doctor or call the Wound Center of Tucson directly for more information.
This article appears in Apr 17-24, 2025.