Worried About Bruising from Dermal Filler Treatment?

At some point in the aging process, most people become a little frustrated. Lines and wrinkles and sagging skin all combine to make the face appear longer and more tired than one may feel. Injectables like Botox, Dysport, and dermal fillers are excellent treatments to help mitigate these cosmetic concerns. They are popular among adults of all ages who want to look a little younger and aren’t interested in drastic measures like plastic surgery. If you’ve begun wondering about dermal fillers and what they can do for your skin, you may also be wondering about side effects like bruising. Here, we’ll discuss how you can prepare for your dermal filler treatment in ways that minimize this risk.

What are Dermal Fillers?

With age, the deeper layers of the skin get thinner and weaker. The skin starts to sag as a result of this weakness and also because the fatty tissue under the skin loses volume. The older we get, the deeper the depletion goes until, at some point, even the muscle and bone structure in certain areas, such as around the eyes, starts to decrease. Dermal fillers are gel-like substances that trained professionals inject into the middle or deeper layers of the skin to restore volume. In our Teaneck, NJ office, we utilize Juvéderm® XC to achieve this goal. Generally, dermal fillers like Juvéderm® XC restore volume to targeted areas of the face, neck, or hands. Specifically, dermal fillers can restore youthful contouring to the cheeks, enhance the shape and volume of the lips, diminish vertical lip lines and crow’s feet, and reduce the appearance of jowls at the jawline.

What Happens During Dermal Filler Treatment

An office visit for dermal filler injections doesn’t take long. Once we have sat and talked about goals and expectations and the patient has agreed to treatment, the process takes less than twenty minutes. There is no need to numb the treatment area because Juvéderm® XC contains lidocaine, which has a numbing effect. The provider uses a very small needle that gently deposits the product just beneath the skin, so patients feel a tiny pinch or poke during the first few injections. After that, they may feel nothing but slight pressure. The results of dermal filler injections are immediate and very gratifying. While there is no need to take time off work, patients should avoid certain activities, such as strenuous exercise, for a day or two.

Managing the Risk of Bruising

Bruising is a relatively common side effect after dermal filler injections. Studies indicate the range for this side effect is 19% to 68%. It is more likely to experience bruising if injections occur within 24 hours of drinking alcohol, in older patients with fragile skin, and in patients with an iron or vitamin C deficiency. Bruising is temporary and can usually be hidden beneath makeup. Still, if possible, most patients wish to avoid the side effect altogether.

There may be ways to reduce the risk of bruising. These include:

• Avoiding certain medications and supplements that thin the blood, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, for several days before injections.
• Eating fresh pineapple every day starting a week or two before treatment.
• Taking Arnica, an herbal supplement, starting one week before injections.
• Avoiding alcohol for two full days before treatment.

At Advanced Laser and Skin Cancer Center in Teaneck, NJ, we promote healthy, beautiful skin with a variety of services. To schedule your dermal filler consultation, contact us at 201.836.9696.