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Bruising Every Time with Botox?

I have been bruising every single time I get Botox. I have been told at the medical spa it is normal for some people to bruise every time. They say this has nothing to do with the person administering the Botox. I go to two different Nurse Practitioners there and I bruise with both of them. I stop all blood thinners such as Ibuprofen or fish oil two weeks prior to Botox. I also take Arnica just prior to Botox along with eating pineapple the day of Botox. Is it true that this is just normal?

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16 Doctor Answers | Asked by lisa.sa14

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Bruising is possible with Botox

While some vessels are visible (and therefore avoidable), anytime a needle is poked through the skin, capillaries are ALWAYS broken. Imagine simply poking yourself with a needle - you pretty much always expect to see a little drop of blood. The capillary holes then seal up via blood clotting, and the bleeding stops. The blood that leaks out on the surface is seen as bleeding, and the blood that leaks out under the skin's surface is seen as bruising. Depending on how quickly... more

Tips for Avoiding Bruising When Getting Botox

It sounds like you are doing all the right things within your power to avoid bruising. I would say bruising occurs less than 5% of all my patients. With excellent lighting and a good knowledge of facial anatomy, an experienced injector normally doesn't have problems with bruising, even around the eyes. With many skin types, under good lighting, the injector can see the capillaries and veins coursing through injection areas. One more thing, needles get dull. You should make... more

Steven Swengel, MD

3 reviews

Los Gatos Dermatologic Surgeon

www.RefinedMD.com

Brusing After Botox

Brusing is unfortunately a side effect after Botox injections. Any time the skin is peirced with a needle, there is a risk of bleeding an brusing. Discontinuing blood thinners such as Asprin and Ibprofen, as well as herbal supplements that can thin the blood like Garlic and Ginko, can help minimize bruing. Having an experienced injector with sound knowledge of facial anatomy and the location of the blood vessels can also help ensure these vessels are not punctured during the procedure. Other... more

How to avoid bruising after surgery?

Stopping blood thinners such as ibuprofen and fish oils two weeks before surgery is the right thing to do. You could try three weeks and see if that makes things better. Otherwise you may simply be more prone to bruising. Applying ice before and after the treatment to significantly cool your skin (but don't get a frost bite!) causes blood vessels to constrict and ooze/bleed less, so that may be one more thing to try.

Botox and bruising

Botox injections, as well as all other injections in the face, can cause bruising. With botox, the most common area to get bruising is around the eyes. I would say that it is unusual to get bruising every time you have the Botox injection. It sounds as if you are doing all of the right things to try and avoid the bruising. Do you bruise easily all over your body? There are some medical conditions that cause people to bruise more than normal. Assuming you have no... more

Bruising and botox

Of all treatments that involve injections, patients tend to bruise the least with Botox. It is more common with fillers. Using a very tiny needle, and slow gentle insertion of the needle and gentle delivery of the Botox, may help minimize the bruising. Avoiding aspirin, Motrin, Advil, Ibuprofen, Alleve, fish oil, high doses of vitamin E, Ginseng, Garlic tablets, Ginko, Ginger, and large amount of alcohol for a few days before may help minimize bruising. If bruising is considerable regardless... more

Bruising after Botox is less frequent in the hands of an expert

I see you have been having your Botox injected at a medical spa. For your next treatment, you may want to see a specialist like a dermatologic surgeon who has vastly more training in skin surgery, bleeding, and facial aesthetics than a nurse practitioner.

Bruising with Botox?

You are doing everything that I have my patients do to prevent bruising. In addition, however, I use ICE for on the injection area for a few minutesPRIOR to injection to decrease the chance of bruising. I would suggest being evaluated by a board certified physician to see if there are any other reasons that you are prone to bruising--or if its just technique. Hope this helps and best of luck! Sean Doherty, MD

Here's why it's possible to bruise every time with Botox (though maybe avoidable):

Lisa, you have been bruising every time with Botox, but I see from your question that the people injecting you have been nurse practitioners. It's possible that going to a physician who has training in facial surgery like a dermatologic surgeon, plastic surgeon, oculoplastic surgeon, or ENT/facial plastic surgeon might get you out of the bruising pattern, since we are much more used to the actual structural anatomy of what's under the skin surface and may be able to better avoid the vessels... more

Bruising After Botox

Bruising is one of the main risks of Botox and Filler treatments, and even though most bruises can be easily covered with makeup, it’s always best to avoid a bruise whenever possible. Choosing a qualified injector is the first step in avoiding bruising, as someone with experience and finesse should be able to perform the treatment without bruising occurring. However, some patients can be more sensitive and susceptible to bruising. I would suggest going to a different practitioner to... more

Details matter

I find that using a polarized light can help me see small vessels below the surface of the skin. I do not typically use this, but would in someone who bruises and is not on blood thinners. Holding pressure over each injection site for 5 minutes seems like forever at the time of injection, but may be the simplest thing to do to avoid bruising.

Botox and bruising

You run the risk of bruising with any injection and whether or not your provider can see the vasculature depends on your facial anatomy and their injection technique, skills, and experience. Hopefully the bruising is minimum, goes away fairly quickly, and is easy to cover.

Sam Naficy, MD

80 reviews

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattleface.com

What to expect after Botox

You are doing the right things with diet, drugs, arnica, etc. You might try icing and placing pressure on the injection site for a few seconds after each injection. Some mild swelling and redness is expected. If you have more substantial bruising try asking your aesthetician for makeup advice on how to cover the bruising. Some people are more sensitive but w make up and precautions it shouldn't make much of a difference. Good luck! more

Bruising after botox

Some people get bruised during any injection. Usually it is due to blood thinners or even some foods that can cause it.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Bruising with Botox injections

Although bruising can happen to anyone with any injector, if it is repeatedly happening in the same facility, you may wish to consider a different facility to see if you have a different experience.

Bruising with Botox

There are some people who are just more prone to bruising than others. I would say that Botox is an easier injection for most people though, even those prone to bruising because the needles used (or those that should be used) are a very small gauge. Less than 1% of my Botox patients bruise from Botox and if they do bruise, it's usually a small bruise only right near the eye area. With good lighting, the right needle, and good technique, most bruising should be avoided. However, you could... more