Dr. Kristian Ulloa is a quadruple board-certified vascular surgeon at Vascular Wellness Institute in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida. One of a small number of vascular surgeons in the United States certified in general surgery, vascular surgery, wound care, and integrative medicine, Dr. Ulloa treats the full spectrum of vascular disease — from minimally invasive in-office vein procedures to complex open arterial reconstruction.
A Different Kind of Vascular Specialist
Most vascular surgeons work within a single discipline. Dr. Ulloa’s four board certifications reflect a deliberate philosophy: vascular disease cannot be fully resolved by surgical technique alone. Atherosclerosis, chronic venous insufficiency, and non-healing wounds all have systemic, inflammatory, and lifestyle components that standard surgical care does not address.
Dr. Ulloa bridges that gap — evaluating every patient as a whole person and integrating functional medicine, nutritional assessment, and advanced wound care alongside surgical and endovascular interventions. This approach is especially meaningful for patients with complex, chronic conditions: the diabetic patient with a non-healing foot wound who has seen specialist after specialist without resolution; the patient with recurrent varicose veins despite prior treatment; or the individual who wants to understand — and change — the root cause of their vascular disease.
Areas of Clinical Expertise
Advanced Wound Care & Limb Salvage
As a board-certified wound care specialist (CWSP), Dr. Ulloa combines vascular revascularization with advanced wound management to treat diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, arterial wounds, and post-surgical non-healing wounds. His goal is always limb preservation — giving patients every option before amputation is considered.
Minimally Invasive Varicose Vein Treatment
Dr. Ulloa specializes in office-based vein treatments including endovenous ablation, Varithena® polidocanol injectable foam, and ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy. Most procedures take under an hour with no general anesthesia and no downtime — patients walk out and return to normal activity the same day.
Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)
Dr. Ulloa is one of a select group of vascular physicians in Florida offering genicular artery embolization — a catheter-based, non-surgical treatment for chronic knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. GAE reduces blood flow to the inflamed synovial tissue driving knee pain, providing meaningful relief without joint replacement surgery.
Carotid Artery Disease & Stroke Prevention
Dr. Ulloa performs carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and minimally invasive carotid interventions for patients with carotid artery disease and elevated stroke risk throughout Bradenton and Sarasota.
Functional & Integrative Vascular Medicine
Trained through the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) Advanced Practice Modules, Dr. Ulloa evaluates the root causes of vascular disease — including oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, gut health, and nutritional deficiencies — and incorporates evidence-based integrative strategies alongside conventional vascular care.
Bilingual Care — English & Spanish
Dr. Ulloa is fully fluent in English and Spanish and provides complete consultations, treatment planning, and follow-up care in both languages. For Spanish-speaking patients in Sarasota, Bradenton, and surrounding communities, no interpreter is needed.
Pacientes hispanohablantes de Sarasota, Bradenton y Lakewood Ranch pueden consultar con el Dr. Ulloa en español para recibir atención vascular experta.
Dr. Ulloa’s Approach to Care
“Vascular disease is not just a plumbing problem. It is a window into systemic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and lifestyle factors that, left unaddressed, will continue to drive disease progression no matter how technically perfect the surgical repair. My goal is to fix what is broken and then help my patients understand — and change — what caused it.”
This philosophy translates to longer consultations, detailed review of labs and functional markers, and treatment plans that include lifestyle and nutritional guidance alongside any procedures. Patients consistently describe Dr. Ulloa as the first physician who has taken the time to explain not just what is wrong — but why.
Dr. Ulloa treats patients from throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties, including Bradenton, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, Ellenton, Venice, and surrounding communities. He is consistently recognized for thoroughness, accessibility, and his ability to explain complex vascular conditions in plain language.