One of the more common side effects of dermal fillers is bruising. Anytime we administer an injection, there’s a risk of bruising. Don’t worry – the bruises pass pretty quickly, and there’s a lot you can do to stop them from occurring in the first place!
Here’s what you can do before and after your appointment to lessen the bruising from dermal fillers.
Apply ice to the affected areas during and after treatment
Cold temperatures constrict blood vessels, slowing the natural flow to dermal filler injection sites. As a result, it reduces the risk of bruising from injections.
Applying packs before treatment numbs the area and may alleviate discomfort from the needles, too! When you get home, apply ice or cold packs to the injection sites to reduce the risk or appearance of bruising.
Avoid medications or supplements with blood-thinning effects
There are common, over-the-counter medications and supplements that can act as mild blood thinners at least two weeks before treatment. Stop taking aspirin and NSAIDs like Advil®, Motrin®, naproxen, and ibuprofen that make bruising more likely.
Natural supplements and teas can also have this effect. Avoid vitamin E, green tea, garlic, turmeric, St. John’s Wort, chia seeds, Ginkgo biloba, and any oil high in omega-3 fatty acids, including flaxseed.
These medications and supplements cause more bruising by slowing platelets, the cells in your blood that help stop bleeding and bruising. If the platelets cannot get to the broken capillaries or blood vessels after an injection, your chances of bruising increase.
Try Arnica
Arnica montana, referred to in most supplement stores as Arnica, is a perennial flower. For hundreds of years, people have used this plant to treat bruising and swelling. These days, you won’t have to harvest them yourself in the mountains where Arnica flowers grow – now, they come as a pill or sublingual tablet!
Taking Arnica four or five days before and after your treatment can help keep bruising at bay. You’ll find these supplements available at most drugstores, homeopathic shops, and online stores.
Eliminate alcohol before and after treatment
Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before and after treatment to reduce your risk of bruising at injection sites. Alcohol works as what we call a vasodilator: it causes blood vessels to relax, opening them up for more flow. While the vasodilating effects of alcohol do not last long, they can still create uncomfortable bruising.
Even a small amount of alcohol, such as a glass of wine or a one-shot rum and Coke, can trigger the effect and increase your risk for bruising after your dermal filler treatment. It’s best to just avoid it for a couple of days!
Don’t perform any vigorous workouts and exercise for two days
You may have made exercise a regular part of your day. However, preventing bruising means giving it up for just a day or two! An increased heart rate and the blood flow it brings aren’t so great for bruising. Avoiding vigorous exercise for two days after dermal fillers will keep the blood flow to a minimum and speed up the recovery of blood vessels and capillaries. For the best results, give yourself a break from exercising!
