Addressing Venous, Heart Issues
Dr. Sonny Wong
Founder of Windward Medispa & Vein Center, and Windward Heart Center
Where did you receive your schooling and training?
I am originally from New Zealand and went to medical school at Otago University Medical School in Dunedin. It’s the oldest medical school in New Zealand — I was in the 99th graduating class in 1978. After completing an internship in New Zealand, I moved to the U.S. and spent a year training at St. Francis Medical Center with the University of Hawaii residency program. My last four years of training were with the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Las Vegas, both in internal medicine and cardiology.
I am currently a fellow of American College of Cardiology. I am board certified in internal medicine since 1984, and board certified in cardiovascular diseases since 1987. I also have had advanced training for the treatment of venous leg disease with Dr. R. Bush of Midwest Vein and Laser Center in Ohio. He is a world authority on the treatment of varicose and spider veins. Additionally, I have a subspecialty interest in adult echocardiography (ultrasound images of the heart), having been certified in this subspecialty since 2003.
How long have you been in practice?
I have been in the practice of cardiovascular diseases since 1986. Windward Heart Center was started in late 2007, when I moved my cardiology practice from Honolulu to Kailua. I was with a cardiology practice at The Queen’s Medical Center at the time, and since I live in Kailua, I decided to relocate. When I first started, I was the practicing physician and my wife worked as the receptionist. We were located in the former Straub Kailua building that was demolished for the current Kailua Whole Foods store. In 2008, we relocated to our current office (windwardheartcenter.com), and Dr. Maria Markarian joined the heart center.
In 2011, I added varicoseand spider-vein treatments to the heart center. This grew, and other services were added that were not related to heart care. Thus, I separated the centers, and the Windward Medispa & Vein Center (windwardmedispa.com) opened as a standalone clinic this past February. I am the owner of Windward Medispa & Vein Center and the medical director.
What attracted you to the field of vein and heart health?
Originally, it was the workings of the heart and the ability to impact on a serious illness such as heart attacks and treating heart failure. As cardiovascular disease also involves treatment of blood vessel problems, I developed an interest for vein diseases of the legs, as it is a widespread problem. With new techniques, these problems can be treated in an outpatient setting, which offers lower costs and greater convenience for patients.
To what degree are veins and heart health related?
Cardiovascular disease encompasses the treatment of heart and blood-vessel diseases. The Medispa had its origin in vein treatments, as patients were predominantly middle-aged females. They requested other services, such as laser hair removal, which was added in 2012, and additional services have been added in the last couple of years.
What issues are treated at the Medispa and Vein Center?
Treatments at the MediSpa include:
* LightSheer Duet laser hair removal
* Coolsculpting Fat Freezing, for spot removal of fat from certain areas of the body without surgery
* Ultherapy Facial Skin tightening, which uses ultrasound to tighten and lift the face and neck
* Medical grade facials
* Eyebrow shaping
* Massage and Bowen Therapy
* Varicose vein and spider leg vein removal
* PicoSure tattoo removal
* PicoSure focus array laser skin revitalization of the face, upper chest, neck and arms
* Brown spot pigment removal with the Pico Sure laser
* Environ skincare products
What happens at Windward Heart Center?
The heart center is a full-service cardiology office. We evaluate patients for complaints that may be heart-and blood-vessel related. We have a full range of diagnostic services that include treadmill stress testing, stress echocardiography, stress myocardial perfusion imaging, echocardiography, EKG (electrocardiography), 24-hour heart monitoring and long-term monitoring with an event recorder, leg ultrasounds to check for vein disorders, and we also check cholesterol levels and more.
Anything else you’d like to mention?
Windward MediSpa & Vein Center is the only center offering aesthetic services of Ultherapy, Coolsculpting and LightSheer Duet laser hair removal on the Windward side of Oahu. Our latest addition is the PicoSure laser system, which is the most advanced laser tattoo-removal system, and it allows tattoo removal in about half the time of prior treatments. We also offer tumescent anesthesia that makes tattoo removal nearly painless.
