How Widespread is Bruising After a Dysport Injection?

Sometimes bruising may occur with Dysport injections. Normally the bruising is small and localized to the immediate area of injection. Sometimes it can be a pinpoint bruise or a small pinpoint scab due to the needle insertion or it can be a larger area like the size of a dime at most. Every treatment can be different and you may not always bruise. To minimize the chance of bruising, you may avoid aspirin, motrin, ibuprofen, advil, aleve, fish oil, and vitamin E for 2 weeks prior to your injections. You may also take arnica a couple of days prior to your treatment as well. Arnica is an herbal supplement that is supposed to reduce bruising.

Generally you should have no bruising from an injection of neurotoxin with a 32 gauge needle. However, it is always a possibility. 

The needles used for these injections are very small.  There is always a risk for bleeding and bruising with any procedure.  If there is bruising, it should only be very little. 

Bruising after Dysport or Botox injections should be uncommon and very small if they occur. In over ten years of injecting patients I have had two instances where there was actually a big bruise. Both happened when treating the crow's feet area where there can be some larger veins and where the skin is very thin. I also suggest stopping aspirin and NSAIDs for a week before treatment if conveniently possible.

Any time you get poked with a needle you can bruise. Practically this is really not much of a problem with Botox and Dysport treatment.

A very small needle is used during neurotoxin injection (Botox or Dysport). Usually there is zero bruising. Occassionally, the needle can puncture a small blood vessel and a small bruise at the needle site can occur. This more commonly occurs around the side of the eyes where blood vessels are abundant.  Even if a bruise occurs, it should be very small and only last a few days. Most of my injection patients go right from my office back to work or out with friends.  Injectable fillers like Restylane or Juvaderm has a slighlty higher chance or resulting in a bruise.

It is not very common to bruise after Dysport or Botox. Depending on who or how the injections are administered there is always a possibility. Taking Advil or any blood thinners a few days leading up to the treatment can increase your chances of bruising. If you do bruise, it should be a small bruise right around the injection site.

Greetings~

Generally speaking, if a bruise occurs with Dysport it is fairly insignificant.  The needles used to inject Dysport are significantly smaller/finer than the ones used to draw blood or start an IV and most importantly when injecting Dysport we are not intentionally aiming for blood vessels. Any time someone is injected there is a chance of a bruise.  These bruises can range, for the most part, from a pin point to about a dime size spot.  To minimize the chance of a bruise stop or minimize use of aspirin, ibuprofen or other NSAIDS, Vitamin E, Fish Oil, Gingko or alcohol for at least 3 days prior but preferably 1 week.  Ice can be applied to the injection site before and after treatment as well. 

Good luck~

Dr. Grant Stevens 

most patients can attain the result they are looking for without significant or long term bruising.  We prefer to use a tiny insulin needle syringe for injections, and have our patients apply ice immediately after the injection.  With this combined approach, we rarely see bruising, and if there is any bruising it quickly dissipates.  

There should be little if any bruising with this other than the occasional  mark from the needle stick. Supplements such as ginseng, garlic, fish oil and ginger do  increase chances of bruising.