Will Swelling Be Inevitable After Restylane Injection Under the Eyes?

Question

If I get Restylane done under my eyes, will I have swelling and if so, how long?

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Dear Fiona
It is absolutely normal to have some degree of swelling under the eyes after an under eye Restylane treatment.  If there is no brusing and if your have good skin integrity, then typically the swelling settles down in about 40 hours.  Recognize that the treatment is placed by a tiny needle.  This means that you can bruise.
The bruise can be a little skin bruise that lasts a couple of days (common 20% incidence) to something resembling a huge black eye, shinner, etc. These are rare occurring 2% of the time or less but here is the thing, it either happens to you or it does not. It is a risk of the procedure. However, this risk can be reduced by avoiding medicines that thin the blood like aspirin and ibuprofen before treatment, also many herbal products thin the blood.
In addition to looking unsightly, bruises bring their own swelling and this swelling does not go away until every element of the bruise is gone plus a couple of days. Is it worth taking this risk? Having treated thousands of patients, I can tell you absolutely. The results last well over a year and have a profound benefit to making the eyes and face look so much more youthful. So avoid things that will increase your risk of bruising. Be aware of your social calender before treatment and get treatment well before important social functions.

Steven H. Williams, MD · Answer

The treatment of the under eye area is considered off-label, but can be done by skilled injectors. You will more than likely experience some degree of swelling. The amount and duration of swelling varies from person to person and can depend on the amount of product used. You will also likely have some bruising as this area is very vascular. The swelling and bruising can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. I usually advise my patients not to have injectable treatments done within 2 weeks of an important event to allow time for resolution of any bruising and swelling.

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Like any other area treated, some swelling should be expected when the tear troughs are treated. It should last just a couple of weeks, and you can help control the amount of swelling by following your injector’s post-care instructions, such as avoiding vigorous physical activity on the day of and after your treatment, as well as refraining from touching the area.

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

It’s not unusual for patients to experience swelling
immediately following Restylane lower eyelid injections.In most cases, this swelling has resolved in
24 hours but may persist for up to 3 to 5 days in rare cases.Lower
eyelid swelling following treatment with Restylane can be a major source of
anxiety for cosmetic surgery patients. It’s important to realize that swelling
resolves with the passage of time and the majority of patients are happy with
their result.Ice
compresses prior to and after injections can help minimize swelling following
these procedures.When patients have important
events in their lives Restylane injections should be performed at least two
weeks in advance.If
you’re concerned about swelling following Restylane injections, it’s important
to discuss this issue with your physician.Your physician should be able to formulate a treatment plan that
addresses your concerns.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

As the other panel members stated, burising and swelling are always a potential side effect with these procedures. Taking this into consideration will help you plan for possible "social downtime." When having these types of treatments, make certain that the practitioner is experienced and with meticulous technique. The eye area is a very unforgiving area, and proper placement of the product is needed. Diligent icing during and after the treatment will go a long ways in controlling any bruising/swelling.

Farbod Esmailian, MD · Answer

Yes it is inevitable but everyone reacts differently.  In general I would say you could have swelling all the way up to 2 weeks post injection with some bruising.
I generally recommend icing the area for the first 48 hours which decreases the bruising and swelling.
Good luck.

Monika Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Yes, it is inevitable to have some bruising and swelling after injections of Restylane to the tear trough area. Swelling can typically take up to 2 weeks to resolve. You can ice the treated area to help reduce swelling and bruising. As this is an advance technique please seek an expert injector. Best of Luck!

Anthony P. Sclafani, MD · Answer

Treatment with Restylane involved placement of material through a needle or cannula under the eyes.  Ideally, this is placed below the muscle and against the bone.  Even at this level, the covering (skin, muscle) is still very thin, and the area around the eyes "hides" the normal amount of swelling and bruising less effectively.  Generally, these subside in 1-2 days, but occasionally can last 2 weeks or longer.

Robert W. Sheffield, MD · Answer

Swelling after Restylane injections is always a possibility. However, you should know that this will be different from one person to another, as our bodies will be reacting differently to the treatment. Swelling is normal after Restylane injection treatment, as the skin is being injected and penetrated by fillers, it may cause slight irritation thereby causing the swelling. This may last for a couple of weeks, but again, this is perfectly common.Swelling can be managed by ensuring that your head is elevated when sleeping so that fluids will not pool in your head. You may also use ice packs as these may lessen swelling. On the other hand, you will need to avoid some herbs and medications that serve blood thinners prior undergoing Restylane treatment. For your case though, you need to know that doing Restylane injection in the area under the eyes is deemed as an off label procedure. Nevertheless, it can still be done by skilled injectors. Some swelling could happen since this area is very sensitive. Do consult your board certified plastic surgeon for this kind of treatment area so as to avoid possible after effects.

Kory Kitagawa, MD · Answer

Because your skin is being penetrated during treatment with Restylane or another hyaluronic acid dermal filler, it's important that you factor in some recovery time. Though most patients experience very little discomfort, common after effects might include some redness, swelling or even slight bruising. These can usually be managed by keeping your head elevated, using ice packs to reduce swelling, and taking over-the-counter pain medications. Slight swelling for even up to two weeks is perfectly normal. You should also avoid mediations and herbs that act as blood thinners before your procedure. Consult with a board-certified dermatologist to learn more about the benefits and effects of Restylane treatment.

Will Swelling Be Inevitable After Restylane Injection Under the Eyes?

Answers (17)

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