How to Reduce Bruising After Fillers: Causes, Prevention, and Treatments

• Discoloration is a common side effect of dermal filler injections, and can be caused by bruising or what’s known as the Tyndall effect.
• Avoiding certain medications and foods both before and after your procedure can help reduce bruising.
• Some medications and homeopathic remedies allegedly treat or minimize swelling and bruising.

Bruising is very common after filler treatments. Some studies state that it occurs in roughly 19% – 24% of patients, while others have concluded that figure to be as high as 68%.

The areas where the skin shows the most visible signs of aging are also the most likely to bruise after filler injections, namely around the upper lip, under the eyes, and in the tear troughs.

If you’re getting injectable treatments to reduce the appearance of nasolabial folds and marionette lines, take note that these areas are also prone to bruising. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to decrease the likelihood of this occurring.

Bruising vs. the Tyndall effect

It can be easy to confuse the appearance of bruising with what’s called the Tyndall effect.

According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jordana S. Gilman,“the Tyndall effect is a bluish discoloration that appears if hyaluronic acid fillers are injected too superficially into the skin. The filler is a clear gel, so that light appears bluish when it reflects through it under skin.”

If you’re not sure whether you’re experiencing bruising or the Tyndall effect, it’s important to consult the professional who administered your injections. If the discoloration is a result of the Tyndall effect, you can either wait for the product to wear off, or inject hyaluronidase into the impacted area to remove the excess product.

Either way, it probably warrants a quick visit to your injector, as it can be hard to determine the cause of the discoloration on your own.

Products to avoid

Certain fillers or injections are more likely to result in bruising than others. For example, hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, and Perlane are more likely to cause bruising because they are injected deeper into the skin and are made of a thicker material.

Wrinkle reducers like Botox are less likely to cause bruising as they don’t penetrate the skin as deeply, and cause less trauma to the blood vessels.

In the two weeks prior to your treatment, pay close attention to the medications that you take, as they can have an impact on the way your body reacts to a filler treatment. Some medications, most notably blood thinners and anticoagulants, restrict your blood’s ability to clot and increase the likelihood of bruising.

Prior to treatment, it’s imperative that you discontinue the use of NSAIDs such as Aspirin, Naproxen, Advil, Excedrin, Ibuprofen, and Motrin. Speak with your doctor before undergoing filler treatments if you have hemophilia, a liver disease, or any condition that requires you to take anticoagulants, including Heparin or Warfarin.

Certain foods can also influence the way your body reacts to receiving dermal filler injections. A day or two before your treatment, abstain from specific substances that act like natural, milder versions of blood thinners.

Refrain from taking the following products and supplements, which are known for their anticoagulant effects:

• St. John’s Wort
• Ginger
• Ginkgo biloba
• Ginseng
• Vitamin E
• Green tea
• Krill oil
• Flaxseed oils
• Fish oils and Omega-3

How to actively prevent bruising

Anecdotal evidence suggests eating pineapple two to three times a day for the two days prior to your injections will help prevent bruising.

Both before and after your procedure you can also take Arnica montana, a homeopathic remedy said to soothe sore muscles, treat bruises, and relieve post-procedure pain. Arnica montana comes in several forms, including pills and topical ointments. In the two days leading up to your injections, it’s claimed that by taking Arnica pellets two or three times a day you will reduce bruising or prevent bruises from forming altogether.

Post-procedure, you can continue ingesting Arnica tablets or instead apply an Arnica ointment, gel, or cream directly to the affected area. If bruises do start to appear, it’s recommended that you still continue applying Arnica in order to reduce swelling and minimize discoloration at the injection site.

After your procedure, you should avoid going to the gym or doing any rigorous exercise. Exercise increases your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood flow, making it harder for any capillaries damaged by the injection to heal. For the first little while, just opt for less strenuous forms of physical activity like walking.

Finally, choosing an expert, board-certified provider to perform your treatment is key to making sure you don’t experience any unnecessary bruising. An expert injector will apply an anesthetic cream, also known as numbing cream, to your face prior to injections so as to constrict the blood vessels and make bruising less likely. Anesthetic creams will also keep you more comfortable throughout the procedure.

An expert injector will also position you in the best way possible to avoid excess bruising around the injection site. According to the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, patients should be situated in a chair that is reclined at a 30° angle.

Treating bruising

Depending on your body’s natural tendency to bruise, it can take as long as two weeks after a filler treatment for the bruising to completely subside. While it’s not typically something to be too worried about, you still might want to consider taking a few steps to reduce the appearance of bruising after a dermal filler treatment.

Try to not touch the injection area for the first six hours following the procedure, other than when applying cream to relieve potential pain.Use soap and water to avoid bacteria getting into the injection site.

Also, using a cold compress or cold packs will help to reduce swelling in the treated area, especially during the first eight hours after facial injections. Avoid putting significant pressure on the areas that received injections. This will reduce the likelihood of further trauma to the blood vessels, which could result in additional swelling and bruising.

If you’re experiencing significant bruising after a filler injection, you may benefit from a pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatment. According to the Baylor College of Medicine, PDL uses light to target specific areas of the skin with extreme bruising. The light is then converted into heat, which destroys the blood vessel without disturbing the surrounding skin. Most patients only require one to three treatments, but those with more severe or extensive bruising might need more.

Of course, if you’re feeling self-conscious about the bruised areas, feel free to use makeup to cover them up as much as you can. Just be careful because you want to avoid pressing down too hard on the skin, which could further injure the area. Also, don’t expect to cover the bruising completely. Makeup can do a lot, but it won’t likely make your bruises completely invisible.