Bruising is the main concern for clients after aesthetics treatments. Bruising at the injection site, is a common side effect, but we have some tips for reducing bruising after dermal filler.
What is the Recovery Process?
After your aesthetic treatment, redness, swelling and bruising at the injection site are normal, and to be expected, but there are things you can do before, during and after treatment. It can take 1 to 2 weeks before the area has fully healed, bruising has gone down, and optimal results are visible. Aftercare is an incredibly important step, and should not be overlooked. Your doctor should take you through some aftercare steps, or you can read our aftercare advice, here.
How to Reduce Bruising After Dermal Filler:
Cold and Warm Compress
After your procedure, your doctor may advise you to use a cold compress for the first few hours after treatment to decrease swelling and bruising. However, it’s important not to irritate the skin, so you could switch to a warm compress the day after treatment to increase the blood flow. Alternating between cold and warm compresses will assist in the healing process.
Can you put makeup on bruising after filler?
Yes. However, we advise that you wait at least 6 hours before applying makeup to the skin. If bruising appears after a few days, you can cover this with foundation, concealer, or colour correcting concealer. Lightly apply the concealer with a brush, or clean fingers, and blend in a circular motion. Allow the concealer to set and then apply a layer of foundation over the top, if desired.
How to avoid bruising after dermal fillers:
Plan your treatment
When you are booking your treatment, it’s important to allow time in your schedule for recovery. Although dermal fillers have a very minimal downtime, patients may notice bruising 3 to 4 days after treatment, and it could last 1 to 2 weeks. It is recommended that you book your treatment for about a month prior to any important events, to ensure that swelling and bruising has healed, and optimal results are visible.
Avoid NSAID’s and Blood Thinners:
2 weeks before your treatment, you should stop taking any blood thinners, such as Warfarin. You should also avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin and so on. You should also stop taking fish oil supplements and vitamin E a few weeks before injections.
Makeup
You should avoid putting makeup on after your treatment. We advise avoiding makeup for at least the first 6 hours after treatment. However, if you can avoid wearing makeup for longer, then that would be beneficial. Touching your face after filler can increase your chances of infection, and the pressure involved when applying makeup can cause fillers to spread over other areas of your face.
Saunas
You should avoid any overly hot settings, including saunas and hot tubs. Exposure to excessive heat for a long period of time, as it may increase inflammation.
Exercise
You should avoid any strenuous exercise for a few days after filler, to give your body time to recover.
Other tips to avoid bruising and swelling:
- Avoid laying face down after treatment
- Elevate the head slightly whilst sleeping for the first few days
- Apply cold compresses in the first few days
- Avoid strenuous exercise for a few days
- Wash the face thoroughly and gently massage areas or bumps in the days after your treatment
Find out more about the potential side effects and recovery process here.
