How to Prevent Bruising from Injectable Fillers

Injectable fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, and Radiesse can work wonders on your appearance—but for many patients, that means first having to get through a period of bruising and swelling following treatment. There are ways to prevent (or, at the very least, minimize) bruising after getting these fillers, however, and today I’m going to tell you how! There are some things that you might not associate with bruising, but which you should absolutely avoid in the weeks leading up to treatment. If you’re planning to get an injectable filler, keep this advice in mind:

1. No aspirin or other NSAIDs for two weeks prior to treatment. NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs), including aspirin and ibuprofen, thin your blood and reduce its ability to clot. This increases your chances of bruising. 2. No wine (especially red) for 10 days prior to treatment. Like NSAIDs, wine—especially antioxidant-rich red wine—lowers your platelet counts and makes bruising more likely. 3. No fish oil supplements/fatty fish for 10 days prior to treatment. Fish oil and fatty fish like salmon and tuna have the same effect upon your blood as NSAIDs and wine—the more you consume, the more likely it is that you’ll bruise. Best that you avoid them altogether in the days leading up to your procedure!

Limiting bruising isn’t just about avoidance, however; there are some action steps you can take as well. These include:

1. Icing immediately before and after treatment. Icing the injection area right before and right after your procedure causes vasoconstriction (tightening up of the blood vessel), which slows down bleeding and reduces your likelihood of bruising. 2. Taking Arnica Montana orally before and after treatment. Arnica Montana is a homeopathic remedy with anti-inflammatory properties which, if taken before and after your procedure, can help minimize swelling and bruising. 3. Apply Arnica gel after treatment. If applied to the injection area following treatment, this topical form of Arnica can help speed up the healing process.

Following all of these measures should put you at far less risk for bruising. If you develop those black-and-blue spots despite your best efforts, however, and you want to do something about it, you might want to consider V-Beam laser treatment—it can help dissipate the bruising more quickly than Arnica can.

If you’re interested in finding out more, let us know!