Bruising- What to Expect and Tips to Prevent It

The day has finally come for you to receive your dermal filler or Botox injections. As you flip through pages of reviews and results, a wave of panic comes over you… Am I going to bruise? Will it be noticeable? Can I prevent it? Perhaps this is post-treatment and you have different questions… Is this my fault? Is this my injector’s fault? Let’s run through the main points here regarding injections and bruising.

Bruising is normal and often expected.

Even though we may not love this side effect, there is no guarantee that you will or will not bruise. Time tells all. Regardless of your injector’s talent and precision, science rules.

The protective outer layer of your skin is the epidermis. Underneath that is the dermis, which has a bunch of small blood vessels. A punctured blood vessel often presents in the form of a bruise. Bruising occurs more with dermal filler, as it is injected deeper into the skin than Botox.

“Can I reduce my risk of bruising before treatment?”

While there are suggestions for reducing your risk of bruising, they are not guaranteed to prevent it from happening. The following are a list of measures you can take:

• In the week leading up to your injections, avoid blood-thinning medications such as: aspirin, NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Aleve, Motrin etc.), St. John’s Wort, Vitamin E, Multivitamins, Krill Oil, Fish Oils, Flaxseed Oils, Omega-3, Gingko, Ginseng, Garlic and Glucosamine
• Start taking over-the-counter Arnica tablets 4-5 days prior to your injections as directed. Arnica is a remedy known to decrease swelling and inflammation (aka bruising). Arnica can be purchased over-the-counter or at www.amazon.com
• Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol consumption 48 hours before injections.

My injections are done – no bruising! Am I in the clear?”

            Not necessarily, you can still bruise after treatment! This next round of suggestions are to minimize the risk of post-injection bruising:

• No kissing, straws, massages, or intentional pressure on the treatment area for about 2 weeks.
• Avoid blood-thinning medications for the next 48 hours. Take Tylenol for pain and swelling as necessary.
• Avoid alcohol consumption for 24 hours after treatment.
• Skip the intense workouts for the next 48 hours, because a higher blood pressure and heart rate can increase bruising and swelling.
• Avoid direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. Wear sunscreen!
• Constrict blood vessels by icing the injected area for no more than 10 minutes at a time.
• Apply a thin layer of Arnica gel over the injected areas as directed. You may continue to take Arnica tablets as well.

“I bruised… what now?”

Keep in mind that this is temporary. You will still want to follow all of the suggestions from above to reduce the risk of the swelling or bruising from getting worse.

It usually takes about 2 weeks to heal from injections, so we always suggest planning your visits accordingly. In the meantime, don’t be afraid to dab some concealer or darker lipstick over the bruising after 24 hours have passed.

Most importantly, go out and rock your new look! Thank you for reading, and I hope these suggestions work for you.

XOXO Amanda Bates