Help! How can I stop bruising when I get Botox or fillers like Juvederm or Sculptra?

We get this question A LOT.

To be completely honest, there is no way to guarantee zero bruising. Every time a needle is placed in your skin there is a risk of bruising. This includes vaccinations, giving blood and fillers placed into the wrinkles on your face. No matter what any doctor says, it’s impossible to guarantee that you will not bruise. It happens. If you get Botox or filler regularly, at some time you may get a bruise even if you don't normally bruise. However, a skilled injector can reduce the risk as much as possible.

Fortunately, there are ways to help reduce the chance of bruising,

1. Avoid Certain Medications

These medications increase your risk of bruising: Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Advil) and Naproxen (Aleve). Avoid blood thinning supplements such as fish oils, or any other blood thinning agents. Tylenol is a NSAID that can be used with less risk of bruising but should still be avoided. Stop use of all blood thinning agents 7-10 days prior to treatment to reduce added risk of bruising. 

2. The use of cannula versus a needle 

At Silk Touch, our injectors often are able to use a blunt tipped cannula. Cannulas are ideal when used for certain injection methods and injection areas. A cannula is like a needle that does not have a sharp end. The benefit is that when it is in your skin it pushes blood vessels aside rather than cut into them. This can reduce the risk of bruising and pain.

3. Cool The Skin

Cooling the skin before, during, and after an injection helps to reduce discomfort and causes the small blood vessels to shrink. This can help reduce the risk of bleeding and bruising.

4. Anti-Bruising Supplements

If you know that you bruise easily this is a great option to help reduce incidence and duration of bruising. Arnica Montana is a homeopathic drug that has been shown to decrease the incidence of bruising and is available at our front desk.