Botox: Q&A

Ask a Question

Restylane Injection Hit Blood Vessel in Eye Lid. I Wonder if I Should Look for Another PS?

An experienced PS injected Restylane in my lower lids, and hit a blood vessel. I COMPLETELY understand that this happens to the best of them, but I have a truly black eye that mocks makeup coverage going strong still 10 days later. PS let me know he hit a vein, iced it and applied pressure for MAYBE a minute before continuing injecting. He did not ice at all before or after- but sent me home with an icepack. (No blood-thinning supplements factor in, and thorough home-care by me afterwards.)

Tags:

Comment on this

16 Doctor Answers | Asked by Lilliana M. in Portland, OR

Doctor Answers (16)
Community Comments (2)

Preparation for the expected black eye is essential.

If you were not prepared for the possibility of getting a black eye with your undereye filler treatment, then I seriously question how "experienced" your plastic surgeon really is. This service cannot be done without causing lower eyelid bruising in a percentage of all patient's treated even if they stop taking their Tibetian yak liver supplements or whatever. Simply the treatment has to be placed behind and in the lower eyelid orbicularis oculi muscle which is... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

9 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Bruising is not necessarily operator dependent

Bruising can happen to any patient when any physician is injecting, especially in the eye area. I do think that patients should be warned of this possibility but short of that it is going to happen to someone if you do this enough. I do ice before and after and am not sure that that would do a whole lot if/when I nicked a little vessel. If you like this doctors work, stick with him. The bruise will pass and you will enjoy your filler-just don't have it done before an... more

Risks of Bruising with Injections around the Eyes

Injecting any of the hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane of Juvederm around the eyes, in my opinion, has the highest risk of bruising of anywhere on the face. Even with the correct injection technique there is always the chance of hitting a vein and causing a significant bruise in this area. All of my patients are warned of this possibility before any injections are done. So obviously luck unfortunately plays a role as well. If necessary, I will have the patient apply pressure for at... more

You might also like...

Real Stories

Botox-Been Doing It Since Age 28, Now I'm 44 - Weatherford, TX

I started doing Botox in my late 20's as a preventative. Waiting til your older is not the...

Before + After Photos

View 449 Botox photos

Black eye after lower lid filler

You can but IMHO, anyone that's using a sharp needle to inject fillers into thin skin filled with blood vessels, as the lower eyelids are...at some point is likely to create a bruise. You may want to try having the Restylane placed through the inside of the lower eyelid, but you may still get a significant bruise.

Black eye after Restylane

The majority of patients do not have bruising with injections. However, areas around the eyes and lips have the highest incidence of bruising. Even the most experienced injectors cannot guarantee no bruising. I always warn patients that there is a possibility of bruising and tell them not to have injections if they have an important event coming up in the next week. That said, there are some treatments that can help reduce the incidence of bruising such as pre and... more

10% of patients may develop a "shiner" after a lower eyelid Injectable Filler treatment.

I read your concern. The lower eyelid skin is very thin and unforgiving if a vein is encountered during an Injectable Filler procedure. Your bruise should completely resolve in around 2 weeks. see video

Eric M. Joseph, MD

204 reviews

West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.ericmjoseph.com

Restylane Injection Hit Blood Vessel in Eye Lid. I Wonder if I Should Look for Another PS?

Dear Lilliana: I understand your frustration, but it can happen to everyone. If you have used him before and you like the results you get from his skill injecting Restylane, and this untoward event is not the norm, I would stick with him. Going somewhere else does not assure you that the next person may not hit a vein again. I explain to my patients that some veins are underneath the skin and they can not be seen when the injection is taking place. Sometimes this events cannot be... more

Michel Siegel, MD

37 reviews

Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon

houstonfaces.com

Bruising after Restylane injected under eyes

In our practice, we see probably 1-2 out of 10 patients with bruising under the eye after Restylane injection to this area. Usually it doesn't start until 1-2 days later though it can begin immediately. The results in this area with Restylane are phenomenal if done correctly but we do caution our patients that the area under the eye can bruise more easily than any other part of the face (second to the corner of the lips) so we always ask if they have any big plans in the... more

Black eye and restylane in lower eyelid

The risk of bruising is usually discussed with patients prior to injecting the lower eyelids (and other facial areas, but especially the eyelids since the skin is so thin and more vascular there), but ice prior to and even after does not minimize bruising (it may make the injection more comfortable and may decrease post injection swelling). Your makeup may not hide it well but there are many coverup makeups and experts to help you. Warm compresses, V-beam laser, topical vitamin K... more

Bruising after Restylane injection in the lower lid happens

Bruising after an injection into the lower eyelids is an event that happens. I do ice before and after this procedure and make sure that my patients are not taking any known blood thinners i.e. aspirin, aspirin conatining products, medications known tom thin the blood, herbal remedies and vitamins. With this said when a vein in injected and a small bleed occurs you will have bruising. I always inform my patients not to have this treatment prior to an event they are attending and let them... more

Michael Elam, MD

87 reviews

Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

michaelelammd.com

Doctors will not see your comments on their answers. If you'd like to follow up, please go here to ask another question.

Comments (2)

Lainey B.
16 Nov 2012

Dana77~ Sorry for the delay; I just saw your comment. Yes, all of my bruising did go away- it could be covered by makeup after 2 weeks and was completely gone after 3 to 4 weeks; finally and thankfully and I consider myself lucky. I had read that when the red-brown stain persists that a v-beam laser (I believe that was the corrent type) would help. Hopefully, yours is all healed by now. I stayed out of sight socially for pretty much 2 weeks which is why it is highly unlikely that I will have under-eye injections again. The risk of significant bruising is always there from fillers even from the most educated and expensive injectors, and especially under the eyes. In the future, I'll opt for under-eye surgery to get longer lasting results and a better value for the money with about the same down-town.

Dana77
30 Oct 2012

Did it get better? I have the same problem. Bruise almost went away after 12 days, but there is some reddish brown stain. It's been one month

Ask a Question

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.