Why does Restylane cause little bumps under the skin?

A lot of people say that after their restylane injections, they can feel bumps under their skin for a long time.  Why does this happen to some people and not others?  What causes the bumps, and more importantly, how can I make sure that I don't get them?

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8 answers to “Why does Restylane cause little...”

A: How to get smooth results from Restylane

Richard Baxter, MD

Properly done, Restylane and Juvederm should not leave lumps. There are several techniques that are used for dermal fillers, and the original one is called "serial puncture" in which a series of injections are done along the wrinkle. This is more likely to leave bumps in my opinion, and I more... more

A: Restylane injection technique is very important to avoid bumps

Robert F. Gray, MD

Great question.  Technique is probably the answer. Fillers can be bumpy but massage at the time of placement is vital to smooth it out.  Also, a smooth, even delivery of filler by the doctor during the placement can help avoid that.  I find that I prefer a patient to have a... more

A: Restylane should not cause bumps with good technique.

George J. Beraka, MD

Hi! It's all about the doctor doing the injections.  With good technique, you should not get bumps after Restylane or Juvederm injections.  Go to an experienced plastic surgeon.

A: Bumps from Restylane

Harold J. Kaplan, MD

If you feel bumpiness after Restylane, it is likely that you have a small concentration of product around an injection site. When this occurs, it is possible to massage the area to smooth out the bumps, although this procedure is something we like to avoid as it may lead to shorter duration for the... more

A: Palpable bumps on the lips after Restylane injection

Brooke R. Seckel, MD

It is normal to feel a filler which is injected beneath the skin to plump up a wrinkle or depression-however a smooth fullness is what we try to achieve. When patients complain of lumps they are usually referring to an uneven injection-that is the rate of the filler injection is uneven so some areas have... more

A: Why Restylane causes bumps under the skin

Joseph Rabson, MD

Restylane is a filler and is designed to push up a wrinkle or a depression. Therefore, it is perfectly ok for you to feel it. You can sometimes feel it from the outside skin surface or  from inside your mouth. As long as it looks good, there is no problem. However, if the lump is very noticeable... more

A: Help to minimize Restylane bumps

Don Mehrabi, MD

Thank you for your question. Injection technique is primarily responsible for bumps after treatment. While this is injector-dependent, you can also do things to reduce bumps. The main post-injection practices that you can do are gentle and repeated massage, and ice application to minimize swelling. You only... more

A: Restylane does not cause bumps under the skin...

John M. Roesler, MD

Restylane does not cause bumps under the skin unless: It is injected too superficially It is injected unevenly Skin reactions or prolonged inflammation related to the injection of Restylane are extremely rare (I, personally, have never seen it). Areas where the skin is thicker, such as the nasolabial folds,... more

Comments (9)

Gina Wallace
1 post
16 Nov 2008

Are darkened areas common after Restylane injection? I've had Restylane injections performed twice under my eyes. Both times, 1 year apart I am left with darkened areas around where the injections where inserted. My Doctor said it was only hemoglobin leakage and would go away with exposure to u.v, florescent light. It's been 11 mons since my last injection and I still have the darkened areas. Is there anything I can do? Thanks

Louie
1 post
7 Jan 2009

I have had restylane numerous times. The last times was 2 years ago, I still have two very large lumps under the skin on both sides and brownish lines everywhere the injection went. Please advise

dfriant
15 posts
1 Feb 2008

I think that’s injector error. There’s really no reason why you have to have bumps that last and persist. In fact, in the event that a bump does form, there are things that you can do, especially within the first two weeks of an injection, to improve them. Let’s say you have an injection in the nasolabial fold, that line that goes from the nose down to the mouth. A little bump is noticeable from the outside of the skin. If you come back to the office in that first two-week period, with some gentle massage, with ultrasound gel on the area so that it is not uncomfortable, that can usually be massaged out, unless it’s too close to the surface and it was placed in the skin incorrectly. If it was and it was placed in the skin incorrectly, it can be removed. That means making a very tiny incision in the skin, either with a needle or a very small blade, and squeezing it out almost like a pimple. That means it usually has a slight blue hue to it. If, however, it does not look bumpy at all, it looks perfectly smooth and looks beautiful but on the inside of your mouth you feel a little bump, then what it may be is that there was some irregularity in the tissue and some pockets and vacuoles or little areas where it was uneven in the actual tissue inside your mouth. Now no one likes to feel that bump on the inside because your tongue is drawn to it and you keep playing with it over and over and over again. It drives you nuts but sometimes, in order to keep the fill looking completely natural and completely smooth from the outside, it is somewhat unavoidable. I still think that I can usually smooth those. That’s just it: if you’re injecting then walking away I think you are doing a disservice. I always do smoothing afterwards, gentle, use a little ultrasound gel, take my glove or my hand and just put it inside the mouth and go down the area and feel if there are any lumps or bumps. So, I think lumps are injector error.

jcaschette
80 posts
1 Jan 2008

The effects of Restylane last about 4 to 9 months. In general, in the hands of an experienced physician, Restylane does a great job of filling lines at rest on the lower face, and can increase lip fullness and definition. Why do some people get bumps? Fortunately, the problem is infrequent, but there can be several reasons. When Restylane is injected too close to the surface, bumps can occur. Also, if Restylane is not injected evenly, bumps may result. Sometimes a reaction in the skin can occur, and the inflammation can cause bumps. Although this is rare, it can remain a problem for a while. Here’s how to minimize bumps and maximize good results: Find a doctor with expertise in Restylane. Feel free to ask for before and after pictures. Sometimes, your doctor may need to “mold” the Restylane like clay once it’s injected to smooth out the bumps. This works wonders in my office. Don’t push hard on treated areas for at least 3 days. If there are bumps however, talk with your doctor about using the “Rule of Threes”: Gently massage the lumps for three minutes at a time, three times a day, for three days.

Michael Sinclair MD
132 posts
15 Jul 2008

Keep in mind that Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane and Radiesse are all surgical implants. Although we are injecting them with a needle, they are supposed to be adding volume to correct a defect (or create an enhancement) in the shape or contour of your face. During and after the injection, a good injector will massage the filler to make sure it is smooth and distributed properly. This will help avoid any visible lumps. Visible lumps are rarely a good thing unless you are trying to enhance an area such as the cheekbones or chin.  It is not unusual for you to be able to feel the filler after the procedure. Having said that, if you can see a lump where there is not supposed to be a lump, such as the smile lines or the lips, then that is usually a problem with the injection technique. The good news is that these lumps are pretty easy to massage away during the first week after the injection. They can also be dissolved (except for Radiesse injections) at almost any time.

amnia
1 post
6 May 2009

Would like to have some work done, but very leery after reading..SOmeone told me "you only have one face" and the thoughtof it being messed up may be worse than these wrinkels afterall

robertag
1 post
7 Jul 2009

i am battling a c-diff infection that resulted from taking a pre-mini lift antibiotic (z-pack). i read that you can't use restylane or perlane if you have had a gram positive bacteria. is this forever or just while it is active? what about botox? and are there any other fillers that i could use once the c-diff clears up?

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