Bruising with Radiesse - Is this normal?

I think that bruising is a side effect of the injection, not the filler. I use a blunt micro-cannula, the "Magic Needle". Since it is blunt it is much less likely to cause bruising. Another benefit is that it does not require any anesthetic, so patients do not need nerve blocks and have numb faces and lips when they leave. These micro-cannulas come with a slightly larger needle that is just used to make a tiny puncture for the thin cannula to pass through. This spot is the only place that is anesthetized. This works very nicely for the lips as well.

Bruising may occur with any filler injection and tends to be more frequent with a thicker filler that is injected deep like Radiesse. It is not usually the fault of the surgeon. To alleviate bruising a patient should refrain from aspirin containing medications, NSAIDs, Vitamin E, Omega 3 products, and blood thinners for at least a week prior to injection and to use arnica before and after the injection. Also icepacks are helpful prior to and after the injections.

 

Hi Emeline. Bruising and swelling are the most common side effect of Radiesse injections, but because the product is placed deeper in the tissue, we actually see less bruising (but more swelling) with Radiesse than we do with Restylane, Perlane or Juvederm.

While it's not necessarily your surgeon's fault, there are some pre-care instructions that your injector can give you to help minimize the likelihood of bruising (as mentioned below aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, and fish oil).  

In addition, there is actually a laser remedy that we use for bruise reversal.  While many injectors are not aware of this, a pulsed dye laser treatment administered approximately 48 hours after injection can usually break down the bruise within 1-2 days after the procedure.  We use the Cynosure V-star pulsed dye laser for this treatment.

Bruising is unpredictable but it can happen. It is not the surgeon's fault. It rarely happens to the same extent on both sides. If you take aspirin within the week before injection the bruising is more likely. I use ice before injection. It seems to help with the pain and bruising.

This location commonly bruises as a result of the facial vein and artery anatomy.  I would advise you to use warm compresses and Bruise-Stick ointment to the area once the bruise appears.