Is Bruising Unavoidable After Restylane Injections?

Bruising is very common with all dermal filler injections. It may not happen every time on every patient, but it is very common. Certain variables contribute to bruising, such as history of bleeding disorders, medications, and injection technique. Should bruising occur, a pulse dye laser treatment can speed its resolution.

Thank you for your question. It is important to remember that everybody is different. Some people bruise and some people don't. Bruising is very common with most injections, if not all. There is no definite answer for you. Although, here are some tips to help avoid/minimize bruising-Avoid Advil, Ibuprofen and Motrin about a week before injection-Avoid any herbal supplements or fish oils about a week before injection-Ice after injectionDhaval M. PatelDouble board certifiedPlastic surgeonHoffman Estates BarringtonOakbrook

The best way to avoid and  bruising
- especially for sensitive areas like lips or under the eyes, is to eliminate medications such as aspirin, Ibuprofen ( Motrin and Advil) and non-steroidal
anti-inflammatories such as Alleve or Naprosyn  . Other causes  of bleeding and bruising tendencies are green tea,
flax seed oil, Omega -3s and alcohol or caffeine intake the day before
your treatment!
Arnica oral tablets are an easy remedy to reduce
the degree and length of time of bruising and can be taken 3 -5 days following
the treatment.#Unavoidablebruising  #Restylaneinjections  #avoidingbruising

Thanks for the question. It is not necessarily unavoidable, but it is common. It is such a problem and we all have issues with bruising and fillers. The key is trying to prevent it. I've recently wrote an editorial discussing research into this area. Perhaps it would be of help? There are so many things out there that are misunderstood. I hope this article helps clearify some confusion with respect to what can and can not cause/help bruising. I go over alot of information so hopefully it helps in the future!James P. Bonaparte, MD, MSc, FRCSCHead and Neck Surgerypracticing in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryAssistant Professor, University of OttawaOttawa, Ontario, Canada

Bruising is unlikely after Restylane injections but really depends on individual factors and whether you have been taking meds or herbals that thin the blood.  I would advise you to take Bruise-Stick or Bruise-Pak Arnica meds before your treatment.

If you are planning a trip and want to look fabulous for it, fillers probably aren't a great idea. While it is likely that it won't bruise if you go to a good dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon (and there is quite a bit of variability in technique and that can lead to bruising itself), no one can guarantee it not to bruise.
So, if you are planning a wedding, vacation, speech, etc and have forgotten to get your fillers in advance, don't do it. On the other hand, botox is usually very safe (in the right hands and with the appropriate precautions as the other docs mentioned). Good luck and enjoy your vacation and get your fillers when you return!

Bruising after injectable fillers can occur but is less common with Restylane or Juvederm since both of these products are injected with a 30 gauge or very small needle. Any area of your body can bruise after a needle stick. Some areas like the lips and eyelid areas are more prone. The laugh lines and cheeks less commonly bruise. You can minimize the risks of bruising by not taking any aspirin products before the procedure for at least a week and try homeopathic remedies like arnaca and green leafy vegetables. However, if the event is important enough that you cannot risk bruising then I always tell my patients don't do the injection until you return from your trip or event. I hope this helps.

Bruising post filler injections is avoidable.

Avoid those herbal supplements and medications that can cause bruising 10 days prior to your treatment.
Select a physician that is highly skilled and experienced. Despite this, some areas of the face are more prone to bruising. Discuss with your doctor in advance.
Applying ice after your treatment for the first few hours has a tremendous benefit.

The risk of minimal bruising is minimal if you adhere to the above.
Good luck!

Hi Summer,
Everyone does not necessarily bruise after Restylane injections, but even the best, most experienced injectors get occasional bruising. The material injected does not cause the bruising, needles cause bruising. We are able to see superficial blood vessels and avoid them, but with deeper injections, it is a matter of the needle missing the vessel.
There are measures that can be taken to minimize bruising including Arnica, ice, meticulously unrushed injections, and pressure if there is any bleeding. Avoid blood thinning products for 7 to 10 days before your treatment. It is best to avoid exercising for 36 to 48 hours after injections. Best to give yourself a week before any major occasions. The great majority of patients do not bruise.
Should you have a bruise, I guarantee that one of your "well intentioned" friends will tell you, "You should go to my doctor, I never bruise". If you are happy with your cosmetic result, don't change physicians, just know that even the best injectors have patients that bruise now and then.
Good luck and be well.
Dr. P

Dear Summer
Bruising is common but not inevitable. However, it is possible to have a bruise even if you follow all precautions. Therefore, it is safer to plan on having a bruise and if you don't have one, all the better.
Avoiding medications and, yes, herbal, products will reduce you chance of having a bruise. This includes products like aspirin and non-steroidal antiinflammatory medications like Advil. However, a lot of over the counter remedies contain these products so read labels carefully. To be on the safe side, these products should be avoided for at least 10 days. If you are on a product like Plavix or aspirin for specific medical reasons, never discontinue these products even for a short time without speaking with the doctor who prescribed this treatment.
Taking Arnica-does it prevent bruisng? Sad to say, no it does not. There are some very good studies that show no difference in brusing or the clearing of bruisin between taking Arnica and not taking it. Arnica is a homeopathic medication. This means that a tablet of Arnica contain something like one part in 10 billion of Arnica to inert products in the pill. That is a good thing because Arnica is actually toxic in high doses.
I perfom about 1000 Restylane treatments per year and I have studies my incidence of bruising. These statistics include under eye treatment which apprears to have an increased incidence of bruising over say the nasolabial fold. About 30% of patients have some type of brusing. This can be anything from a small dot in the skin at an injection site to a whopping black eye. The small dot on the skin is gone in a couple of days and a little make up easily makes them inconspicuous.
On the other hand, the black eye can last up to 3 weeks and is very hard to hide. Naturally, your co-workers and strangers will assume that you have been the victim of domestic violence. Make up does a poor job of hiding these. In my practice, the incidence of this type of bruising is 2% but they make quite an impression. Many of these occur in people who did not avoid medications that thin the blood. The good news is that the benefits of treatment last well over a year, so generally even those with nasty bruises felt treatment was worthing.
And yes, treatment is very safe!
What would I recommend for you. Weigh the risk of bruising. If this trip is significant and being bruised might ruin vacation photos, have treatment after your event and avoid medication that can increase the risk of bruising.