The Gold Standard Treatment for Visible Leg Veins on Long Island
In 30 years of practice, Dr. Ninia has performed thousands of sclerotherapy procedures. That’s thousands of patients who came in feeling self-conscious about their veins and left with the confidence to show their legs again.
What keeps sclerotherapy relevant after all these years isn’t flashy marketing. It’s results. The procedure is quick, minimally invasive, and gets you back to your regular routine the same day.
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment for spider veins and small varicose veins. A solution called a sclerosant is injected into an incompetent vein to damage the vessel’s interior lining. This causes it to collapse and fade.
Sclerotherapy principles were established long ago, although techniques have evolved. Innovations such as foam sclerosants and ultrasound guidance make modern sclerotherapy safer, more effective, and more versatile.
Sclerotherapy treats several types of visible leg veins and their associated symptoms:
Sclerotherapy intentionally damages a problematic vein in a safe, controlled way.
When the sclerosing solution enters the vein, it irritates the endothelium (the inner lining of the vein). This irritation triggers an inflammatory response that causes the vein walls to swell and stick together. Once the walls make contact, they begin to form scar tissue that permanently closes the vein.
Your body recognizes the closed vein as tissue that’s no longer needed. Over the following months, your body breaks down the collapsed vein and absorbs it so it fades from view. Your circulatory system adapts by rerouting blood through healthier veins.
Dr. Ninia begins with a detailed examination and ultrasound of your legs to map out the veins that need treatment and check for any underlying circulation issues.
On the day of treatment, avoid applying lotion to your legs. Wear loose, comfortable clothing and consider bringing shorts to wear during the procedure.
Dr. Ninia cleans the treatment area, then uses a very fine needle to inject the sclerosing solution into each problem vein. You might feel mild stinging, burning, or cramping as the solution enters the vein. The discomfort is brief.
After each injection, Dr. Ninia applies gentle pressure to the area to distribute the solution. The number of injections depends on how many veins need treatment. A typical session takes 15 to 45 minutes.
You may leave the clinic wearing a compression stocking over the treated area. You can resume most activities immediately, but should avoid strenuous exercise and prolonged sitting or standing.
Our team will schedule your follow-up appointment. It’s important to attend this appointment so Dr. Ninia can monitor your progress and determine if additional sessions are needed.
You can walk immediately after sclerotherapy. In fact, walking is encouraged to promote healthy circulation. Most patients return to work and normal activities the same day.
For the first 24 to 48 hours, avoid strenuous exercise, hot baths, saunas, and prolonged sun exposure on the treated areas. You may shower, but the water should be a cooler temperature than usual. Wear compression stockings as directed by Dr. Ninia.
Common temporary side effects include bruising at the injection sites, treated veins appearing darker before fading, and mild tenderness or swelling. These typically resolve within one to two weeks.
Sclerotherapy has been studied extensively over decades.
It is realistic to expect at least a 70% fade in capillary spider veins after just one session. Larger reticular or bulging varicose veins may well resolve completely with liquid or foam sclerotherapy. Post-treatment compression therapy is individualized.
Treated veins generally don’t return once they’ve been successfully closed and absorbed by the body. However, new spider veins or varicose veins can develop if the factors that caused the original veins remain present. Dr. Ninia stresses the importance of addressing the underlying venous insufficiency in addition to its effects.
Sclerotherapy works well for many people with visible leg veins. You may be a good candidate for sclerotherapy if:
During your consultation, Dr. Ninia will perform a comprehensive evaluation including ultrasound imaging to assess whether sclerotherapy is the best option for you.
Dr. Jerry Ninia brings over 30 years of hands-on experience to every treatment. He combines world-class expertise with the personal attention and honest, down-to-earth care you’d expect from a trusted neighborhood doctor.
Asked By You, Answered By Dr. Ninia
It depends on why you’re having the treatment. Insurance does not pay for cosmetic procedures. But if you have symptomatic veins and the treatment is medically necessary, there’s a good chance your insurance will cover it. My team helps verify coverage before we schedule anything, so you’ll know what to expect financially.
The main difference is how well each version works on different-sized veins. Liquid sclerotherapy is my go-to for small spider veins. It’s effective and precise for those tiny vessels. For larger veins, foam sclerotherapy is more effective. I choose which formulation to use and the concentration based on what I see during your evaluation.
If you’re currently pregnant, we need to wait until at least six weeks after delivery. People who are bedridden or can’t walk are not good candidates, since walking after treatment is important for preventing complications.
If you have an active blood clot in your leg, we can’t treat you until that’s resolved. If you have a history of blood clots, I’ll need to understand what caused them and how serious they were before deciding if sclerotherapy is appropriate.
Spider veins usually start fading within three to six weeks after treatment. Small varicose veins take longer, typically three to four months. The cosmetic results are not immediate because your body needs that time to break down and absorb the treated vein tissue.
Sclerotherapy is excellent for spider veins, reticular veins, and small varicose veins. Large varicose veins with significant reflux don’t respond as well to sclerotherapy. Larger or more tortuous veins typically need a treatment like VenaSeal, Varithena, or endolaser therapy to get good results, and I may use sclerotherapy after for any remaining veins.
I perform all sclerotherapy treatments myself. I don’t delegate this to physician assistants or nurse practitioners. When you come in for treatment, you’re getting my 30-plus years of expertise and hands-on experience. You’ll see me at your consultation, and you’ll see me again for every treatment session.
You don’t have to keep hiding your legs or living with the discomfort that visible veins can cause. Sclerotherapy is a proven solution that’s helped thousands of patients regain confidence and find relief.
Request your consultation with Dr. Ninia today by calling 631-474-1414 or completing our online contact form.
