How Long to Use Ice Pack After Restylane?

The use of ice before and after Restylane injections can be
helpful for a variety of reasons.Icing
an area decreases the swelling and bruising that’s associated with these
procedures.In addition it makes the overall
experience more tolerable by decreasing the pain that occurs during the
injection process.Most of
the benefits from ice application occurs prior to injection and in the first 24
hours following injection.During this
period of time, ice helps diminish swelling and bruising.After 24 hours the effect on swelling and
bruising is minimal, but patients continue to have symptomatic relief from its
use.

You may apply a cool compress to the treated areas which can help with reducing discomfort. Do not apply ice directly to the skin to reduce the risk of frost bite. Keep in mind that you will also be numb for a few hours post treatment, so you may not feel how cold the ice pack is, so be cautious when icing immediately post treatment.

Thank you for your question and for sharing your experience. Icing during and after the procedure definitely helps with swelling reduction. If you feel swollen, then I would continue to ice on and off for 5 to 10 minutes every hour for the first day or two.

Using cold compresses prior, during, and after dermal filler injection treatments is always a benefit for, not only comfort, but also to reduce swelling and bruising. Most of our patients find benefit in using gentle, intermittent cold compresses for the first 24 hours after their treatment especicially for the mouth area. Using frozen pea bags are a good option because they can be reused and they conform better to the face. Always report prolonged swelling or bruising to your practitioner.
Refer to the below link for further information on pre and post-treatment instructions.

Cool compresses (not ice cubes) can be effective after injectables to decrease swelling.
However, in our San Francisco office, we use a cool compress prior to injection to constrict the blood vessels and improve comfort. We have found this to be a very effective technique to reduce possible complications and improve patient comfort.
I hope this helps.

Typically, I recommend ice in my office for the first minute. Bruising does happen more with Restylane and Juvederm than collagen injections. I have not done nor read a study that explores two sets of patients having these injections, one set icing and one not icing after the injections to see if the one that does ice has less bruising. There may be some beneficial effect from taking Arnica Montana, an herb, that may suppress bruising and swelling, especially if it is started before the procedure.

Although ice can minimize bruising in some cases of facial filler injection, the most predictable factors influencing bruising in a patient include prior hematologic disorders and the use of Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Coumadin, or other NSAIDS. In my practice, I advise patients to avoid blood thinners for three weeks before a procedure, the use of anti-bruising agents such as Bruisestick, Sinecch, or other similar agents, and immediate postoperative pressure and ice for one hour.

After Restylane injections some patient may experience some pain, bruising, redness or swelling that may dissipate within few days. An ice pack can be applied to alleviate some of the discomfort, I prefer my patients to apply an ice pack on the area of the injection site immediately before and after Restylane injections for up to 2 hours.

After injections, I often have patients hold a ice pack for just a few minutes. This helps with the immediate swelling. However, anything after this is really unnecessary - unless the patients wants it for comfort or has an unusual amount of swelling.

Ice is used to reduce swelling and provide comfort. It has no bearing on the ultimate outcome. Swelling from a Restylane treatment will last a few days and possibly longer depending what part of the face was treated and how much volume was used. The lower eyelid area seems to stay swollen the longest and lips the second longest. Having said that, many of my executives go right back to their work following a treatment.
However, it usually requires a little bit of time for the treatment to fully settle down. There is no evidence that the icing cuts this time significantly. Recognize that bruising will make a big difference to the recovery time. If you are taking products that increase bruising, no surprise, you're more likely to be bruised by your treatment. Generally, you can add several more days to your recovery when bruising occurs. Because bruising varies so much, there is no rule of thumb for how long it takes to disappear. It can vary from a microbruise that lasts a day or two to a big shinner that can be with you for 10 days or more.
Best advise is to stop medications that can thin the blood like Advil, Aspirin, and many of the herbal products for at least a week before a treatment. If you are not sure if a product that you take regularly thins the blood, ask your doctor. Also, if you on a prescribed blood thinner like Plavix, or coumadin, or even Aspirin, ask the prescribing doctor regarding stopping these medications and don't stop them on your own.