Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Bragg.
Hi Richard, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My inspiration to become a physician started early. A television show called “Quincy” sparked my interest and my mother’s belief in me gave me the confidence to pursue medicine, even though no one in my family had ever gone to medical school.
I chose family practice residency, but back in 1992, I didn’t realize that the era of family doctors performing procedures was coming to an end because of managed care. My wife Susie had been encouraging me all through medical school to learn how to treat spider veins. She wanted hers gone! After residency, I started doing externships to learn vein procedures, and it turned out to be a perfect fit. I loved doing procedures, and that’s how my study of phlebology began.
With Susie’s guidance and support, I was able to see the opportunity to create a practice that could meet a real need in the community. Since we were still young and eager to make a difference, we took the leap and founded Florida Vein Care in 1998, building a practice rooted in patient care, innovation and a commitment to improving lives.
About 10 years later, my personal struggle with weight led to the next chapter. I found a program that finally worked for me, and when patients saw my transformation, they started asking questions. That’s how our medical weight loss services started. It grew so quickly that we created its own identity, and in 2008 Svelte Medical Weight Loss was born.
Some of the moments that stand out most in my career are tied to the patients we’ve helped. I’ll never forget my very first patient who underwent ambulatory phlebectomy to remove varicose veins. She was so thrilled with her results that she brought champagne for the entire staff. Since then, I’ve experienced that same joy thousands of times with both vein and weight loss patients, and it never gets old.
In 2017, we added bio-identical hormone optimization because I was suffering from the effects of andropause myself. Hormone optimization with bioidentical testosterone has had a major positive impact on my life, and it’s been profoundly rewarding to see it transform the lives of thousands of our clients as well.
At the heart of it all, our practice has grown out of health issues Susie and I personally care about. That’s what makes this work so meaningful to us.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When we first opened Florida Vein Care, it was tough. We faced county red tape, insurance hurdles, non-compete contracts and the hardest part, we had no patients in those early days. Susie and I had thrown everything into the practice and taken on debt without any guarantee that it would work. At the same time, we were starting our family, so we were stretched financially, mentally and emotionally. Those first three years were some of the hardest, but by 2002, we finally started to see light at the end of the tunnel.
Starting Svelte was a very different experience. Patients came quickly, but we grew so fast that we had to suddenly hire doctors and staff, train everyone and take on HR and management roles that we had never done before. Susie and I are medical people, but we had to learn PR, HR, marketing and leadership on our own. Those years came with plenty of growing pains.
What I’ve learned is that staff members really do become like family, and our clients are the true heart of the business. They’ve shaped so much of what we offer today. For example, in 2023 we added Hydration IV therapy because so many patients were requesting it. More recently, we launched a prescription hair growth program, Re-Grow Rx, for the same reason. Every challenge we’ve gone through has pushed us to create services that help people regain health, confidence and quality of life. I have learned so much about people, business and myself through this incredible opportunity of owning our own business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Whatever service our client comes to us for, our mission is always the same: we listen first and understand what matters to them. Our goal is to provide excellent customer service and deliver optimal clinical results as safely and efficiently as possible.
Being family-owned and operated makes us accessible to both our clients and our staff, which sets us apart from other practices in Orlando. At Florida Vein Care, we specialize in the treatment of vein disorders, from spider veins to advanced varicose vein conditions. I personally perform all diagnostic ultrasounds and vein procedures, ensuring continuity of care and the highest level of expertise for every patient. Our goal is to restore both function and confidence, offering minimally invasive solutions with little to no downtime. I’m proud to work alongside Madge Geohagen, our physician assistant, who is nationally recognized for her expertise in cosmetic sclerotherapy, a treatment that safely and effectively eliminates unsightly veins to create smooth, healthy-looking legs.
At Svelte Medical Weight Loss, our mission is to make sustainable, healthy weight loss accessible to everyone. We utilize a physician-guided approach that combines medical expertise with personalized plans designed to help patients achieve and maintain their goals. From appetite control and metabolic optimization to GLP-1 therapy and nutritional guidance, our programs are tailored to each individual for maximum safety and success, all at a cost that provides significant savings compared to other medical weight loss programs.
Ultimately, what I want readers to know is that it’s a privilege to upgrade our clients’ quality of life through the programs we offer. We never take our clients for granted, and we love to exceed their expectations every day.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
When it comes to health and wellness, I believe the benefits of visceral fat loss through GLP therapy far outweigh any risks. That said, using GLP therapy for weight loss should always be done under the supervision of a qualified physician. Too many individuals are ordering these medications online without proper guidance and that can be dangerous.
For those interested in our services, all of our pricing is outlined on our websites at www.sveltemd.com and floridaveincare.com. I also recommend signing up for our newsletters, as we frequently send out coupons and special offers to make our programs more accessible.
Contact Info:
- Website: floridaveincare.com and https://sveltemd.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floridaveincare/ and instagram.com/sveltemd_
- Facebook: facebook.com/FloridaVeinCare and facebook.com/SvelteMD
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@floridaveincare-lakemary8613 and www.youtube.com/@SvelteMedical
Image Credits
Image Credits: Laura Cornell
