Restylane Lyft in cheeks resulted in a black eye (Photo)

Question

Hello - I had Restylane Lyft injected into my cheeks with the goal to reduce my nasolabial folds. I got a serious black eye from the injections. This picture is 3 days after injection. Is this normal, or should I be concerned?

Laurie A. Casas, MD, FACS · Answer

Anytime you have an injection, there is a risk for bruising.  I always make sure my patients discontinue blood thinners 1-2 weeks prior to injections.  Common blood thinners that make bruising worse are advil, aspirin, NSAIDS, Vitamin E, Fish oil, Avocado and alcohol to name a few.  I also recommend an anti- bruising regimen prior to injection which includes Arnica tablets and bromelain.  If the patient bruises even after these precautions, I recommend Arnica cream 5x a day applied directly to the bruise and offer the patient to come in for IPL treatment.  Good Luck!

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. Bruising can occur with injections, but taking aspirin and/or NSAIDS can increase the risks of bruising. Arnica tablets and Arnica cream massage locally will help to get rid of the bruise faster. Best, Dr. ALDO :)

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Some bruising can occur with injections and will fade. Keep in mind that when treating nasolabial wrinkles, a combination approach of lasers, skin tightening, sculptra to build collagen should be used for the best results.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Blue Medi Spa - Sherman Oaks - Account Suspended · Answer

Filler no matter where it is injected may cause some bruising.  This is a very common side effect.  The bruising you experienced is completely normal and should resolve within 2-3 weeks.

Robert Whitfield, MD · Answer

You definitely had some bleeding in the subcutaneous tissues.  Arica can help resolve this more quickly.  Anti-inflammatories and ice should be fine at this point for swelling.

Andrea M. Doyle, MD · Answer

Bruising and swelling are common side effects after an injection. I recommend that my patients take Arnica tablets after injection to help with the bruising and swelling. But always check with your board-certified injector prior to initiating therapy.

Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS · Answer

Bruising is possible post treatment. The bruising can be worsened through the use of blood thinners such as aspirin prior to treatment. Restylane lyft requires advanced injection skills. For the best possible treatment, choose an experienced and expert physician injector. At this point, you can address the bruising with the use of Arnica. Consult your injector as he or she will know the scope of the treatment and the specifics about you.

Michele S. Green, MD · Answer

Bruising can happen from injections in the nasolabial area. I would return to my treating physician to see if they offer the V-Beam laser to treat this bruising and take Arnica. Best, Dr. Green

Richard Ort, MD · Answer

Laser treatment can help to make a bruise go away faster.  Pulsed dye laser has been reported to help but other lasers could be used as well. Speak to your injector to see if they offer laser treatment for bruises.  In my hands, I can usually avoid bruising by using a blunt-tipped cannula instead of a sharp needle to do the filler injection.  Regards,Dr. Ort

Hardik Soni, MD · Answer

Bruising can occur after filler injections in the cheek region.  I prefer to use canula to minimize the risk of bruising. But rest assured this will go away in 1 to 2 weeks

Restylane Lyft in cheeks resulted in a black eye (Photo)

Answers (14)