Follow up to my previous question: Very bad bruising with Juvederm - Healing Process. (photo)

Question

Hello,I received Juvederm in my upper & lower lips last Wednesday.  I had minor bruising after the injection but within 24-48 hours I was experiencing a lot of pain (woke me up from sleeping) - I was icing the lip area few times a day and taking Tylenol for the pain.  On Day 3 the bruise got severely darker and purple/almost black in color and it frightened me.  I contacted the injecting doctor and he told me to apply a warm compresses and take Aspirin and send him more photos.  I have posted some pictures asking Dr's on the site and they cannot believe I was told to take Aspirin!!!  I have been continuing contact with the Dr. and sending more photos.  All I have been told to do is keep applying a warm compress.Today is Day 6 and the bruise does seem to be improving (it is more red) now and the purple/dark seems to be gone.  I have no pain in the bruise area, it does not hurt to touch anymore and the lips feel softer, especially the area of the lower lip where the bruise is- a huge improvement there, I no longer have a bump or any pain.  I have however, started to get very irritated skin/chapped skin over the bruise area - probably because of the amounts of makeup I am applying- but it is very embarassing and I work in an office so I have to cover it up.  I have been using vaseline at night time and clean the affected area every evening when I come home.Is there anything else I can do to speed up the healing process and anything I should AVOID?  I am worried because I am leaving out of town on vacation on my Day 8-11 and I don't want to run into any complications while I am away :(Please help!

Ryan Mitchell, DO, FAOCO · Answer

Hello, Well I hope this is just a bruise.  If it is a bruise then it will clear up within 2 or so weeks.  Your picture could be more clear and I cannot touch the site, however, it appears to me that you may have an injury to the skin.  I repeat that I am not 100% positive without a better examination.  You should see your doctor for a physical exam ASAP in order to identify if you are bruised and/or you have a skin injury.  It is a possibility that hyaluronic acid fillers (or any filler) can be inadvertantly injected into a small blood vessel that feeds the overlying skin with oxygenated blood.  If the blood vessel gets obstructed with the filler then the surrounding tissue can get injured.  It's synonymous with a heart attack or stroke.  Assuming this is a skin injury (necrosis) and you are a week out, the damage may be done and the healing process will take longer (weeks).  The treatment for this type of injury is to flood the injected site with hyaluronidase.  Hyaluronidsae is an enzyme that dissolves the filler.  I would still do this treatment at a week out.  The aspirin in that case may have not been a bad idea at all because it will thin the blood to that site.   Keep using the vaseline often and maybe try not to put make-up on it if possible. You need to see your injecting doctor or a referral from him or her to another specialist.  This is a tricky question because of its sensitivity and my lack of examining you.  It does not mean your doctor necessarily injected you wrongly.  Internet questions and answers are limited in ways.  Good luck.  Please let me know what happens.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

The lips are a very vascular therefore the chances of bruising are increased in that area.  Unfortunately, bruises can occur even with the best of injectors.  Bruising should last for approximately 1 week.  If you don't feel that the bruise is healing properly or you have concerns with your treatment,  you should see your Doctor for an assessment.

Cameron Chesnut, MD, FAAD, FACMS · Answer

Bruising after injections of filler can occasionally happen, even in the best of hands. I always tell my patients that if it is something that concerns them, then it is something that concerns me. You need to get in and see your doctor. It is most likely just a bruise, but what your physician should be worried about is this actually representing early signs of necrosis from the filler injections. This is very rare, but it is something that your physician should be ensuring is not happening.It sounds like they already thought of this, and that was the reason for the warm compress and the aspirin. Nonetheless, if that is something they are suspecting they should be seeing you!To boot, if your physician has experience with lasers, they can easily use a pulsed dye laser to erase any bruising that you have, or at least help it go away more quickly. It's quite impressive actually.Be sure to choose a dermatologic surgeon, oculoplastic surgeon, facial plastic surgery or plastic surgeon who is board certified and fellowship trained in one of these core four

Kevin G. Rose, MD · Answer

It always recommended to have an in person examination of an area of concern like this with the Dr. who injected it.  If it is in fact just a bruise you can apply arnica montana topically to help the bruising go away faster, this is available over the counter at most health food stores.  You can also take it orally in a pill form.  I would do both for faster results.  For the chapped skin there is a product by Hymed called reconstructive cream that works great for skin issues like this.

Ron Hazani, MD, FACS · Answer

This appears to be bruising from injection around a blood vessel likely to resole in 1-2 weeks as the clot will be absorbed by the body. it will turn to different colors like blue, green, and yellow. not to worry.

Follow up to my previous question: Very bad bruising with Juvederm - Healing Process. (photo)

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Answer: Bruising

Answer: Bruising

Answer: Follow up to my previous question: Very bad bruising with Juvederm - Healing Process. (photo)

Answer: Follow up to my previous question: Very bad bruising with Juvederm - Healing Process. (photo)

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Follow up to my previous question: Very bad bruising with Juvederm - Healing Process. (photo)

Answers (6)

Answer: Bruising

Answer: Bruising

Answer: Follow up to my previous question: Very bad bruising with Juvederm - Healing Process. (photo)

Answer: Follow up to my previous question: Very bad bruising with Juvederm - Healing Process. (photo)

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Everything you need to know about Juvederm

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.