Bruising After Botox, Is this Normal?

Unfortunately, bruising is always a possibility when an injection is done.  There is no magical formula, and any physician who has injected Botox or other fillers has had bruising on occasion.  Often times there may be no bruising at all, but sometimes it happens.  Usually the physician can apply some pressure to the area when he sees that a bruise may occur to decrease the possibility of a large bruise.  If it does occur, it will usually resolve in a few days.  You may feel free to cover it up with make-up.  If you have any concerns, make an appointment with the physician who injected you so he can take a look and answer any questions you have. 

Bruising after Botox can occur. Most of the time it is visible the same day or the very next day. In some cases, however, it may become visible several days later. A bruise occurs when blood leaks out of a traumatized blood vessel. It could be that with strenuous activity or rubbing or due to blood thinners that an injured blood vessel dislodges a clot and causes some blood to leak into the tissue and thus cause a visible bruise (e.g. heavy exercise a few days later may results in a bruise). The bruise typically dissipates within a week or two. We often use Intense Pulse Light (IPL) to accelerate the clearance of a bruise.

It is very common for some bruising to appear after an injection treatment. The bruising will gradually go away within two weeks or so. Make sure to avoid medications that encourage bleeding, like ibuprofen and aspirin.

Swelling, redness, discomfort and bruising are common and settles down within 3 days or so. This sounds like what happened to you. Rest assured, the bruising will subside over the next week or so. Follow your injector's post-care instructions to facilitate healing.

Yes, any time a treatment is rendered using a needle, there is a possibility of a bruise even with the best techniques.  There are many actions a patient may take prior to treatments to minimize this outcome (ex: avoiding alcohol the night before, fish oil supplements, Ibuprofen, etc).  

We use icing throughout the treatment to minimize this reaction.  Be certain to ask your practitioner ahead of time regarding recommendations prior to treatment.  

As for now, being that you indicated you are satisfied with your treatment outcomes, try not to worry about the mild bruises as they will clear with time. 

Bruising after Botox injections is a very common side-effect and is most noticeable around the eyes, but it can occur anywhere that the skin has been punctured. The bruising is temporary and can be lessened in the first day with ice application for 5 to 10 minutes every 4 to 6 hours. 

Red dots or bumps from any fine needle stick tend to last only several days. They are, by and large, temporary.  Many times these are not bruises but inflammatory temporary reaction to the trauma.  If a bruise actually forms, it will be gone in less than two weeks normally.  Avoid blood thinners prior to the injections such as aspirin, Motrin, Advil, ibuprofen, Alleve, vitamin E, fish oil, ginko biloba, ginseng, ginger and garlic supplements and let your doctor know if you take Pradaxa, Coumadin or Plavix. The latter should not be stopped for an elective procedure such as Botox but you should be prepared for a higher chance of bruising.  The second day after the injections, if a bruise is considerable, then your doctor should be consulted about the appropriateness of using warm compresses to make the bruise go away sooner.  topical Vitamin K cream may expedite the disappearance of the bruise.  Taking Arnica montana may help diminish and even prevent the bruise in some patients if taken before the treatment, during and after. If a bruise is troublesome and not hidden easily with makeup, there is evidence that the V-beam laser can diminish the bruise quicker than its normal course.

Unfortunately as great as the minimally invasive services like BOTOX and Hyaluronic acid fillers are, they can still cause a bruise.  The bruise can be minimal and quickly resolve.  Or it can be significant.  Hiding such a bruise with make up is difficult.  If you are a woman and you are seen with a black eye, you are assumed to be the victim of domestic violence.  If you are a man, generally it is assumed that you are some type of short tempered jackass.  No one wants a bruise near the eye.  Minimize the risk of bruising by avoiding medications that can thin your blood like aspirin, ibuprofen, and herbal products.  Generally these products exert their effects for a surprisingly long time.  I advise my patients to avoid these products for 2-3 weeks.  If you are on a product that thins the blood on the orders of a doctor, please do not discontinue such medication such as coumadin, plavix or aspirin without discussing this with the doctor who prescribed these medications.  Stopping this type of medication can be life threatening.  Sorry about the bruise, it will get better.

Bruising is a known issue with botox injections, with some areas like the periorbital region more likely than others to bruise.  Although we all hate to cause them, if you do enough injections, they will occur randomly.  You can limit their potential by avoiding blood thinners for one week (aspirin, ibuprofen, high dose vit E, fish oil).  The doc can limit the potential by using finer, better quality needles.  For example, we use a 32 guage needle, which causes less bruising than some of the less expensive, TB syringes that many offices use.

The bruise will be short lived, not much you can do to speed resolution.  We often suggest some homeopathic remedies like arnica montana, but the jury is still out as to how much help they provide.

Whenever you are doing injectables, bruising is always a possibility. I always recommend that my patients don't take advil or any blood thinners for a couple of days leading up to their appointment this way it can lessen the chances. You can also take arnica which will also help. The bruising should go away within a few days.