Were you expecting smooth, younger-looking skin but instead, you woke up with a nasty bruise?
This is what happens to some people after they get Botox. Bruising is a common, mostly harmless side effect that occurs when the Botox needle damages a blood vessel during the injection.
It can be extremely frustrating to see a deep purple blemish splotched on your face after the procedure. Depending on the placement of the needle, you might have bruises on your forehead, temple, cheek, or even under your eyes.
The last thing you want is to look like you’ve been punched in the face. But alas, here you are staring in terror into your bathroom mirror, wondering what can be done to fix this bruising.
The most important things to know about bruising after Botox? Bruising can happen with any injection and thankfully can be relieved using ice packs and arnica cream within a few days.
So, if you got an unexpected bruise from your Botox injection, don’t panic. In this article, we’ll discuss why it happens, how to fix it, and how to avoid it in the future.
Why Some People Bruise After Botox
Getting Botox involves receiving an injection of Botulinum toxin into the face in order to weaken or paralyze muscles and nerves under the skin.
As you probably know, this can help smooth out your wrinkles and make you look years younger. Botox injections are also used for medical conditions to relieve muscle contractions.
Bruising can happen during Botox or other injection procedures when the needle punctures a blood vessel. Since there are thousands of tiny blood vessels running underneath the skin of your face, it’s almost impossible to avoid.
One study reports that between 19% – 24% of injections result in bruising, and another study reports the incidence as high as 68%.
That’s why bruising after Botox is not indicative of how skilled or experienced your doctor is. It can happen to anyone.
People who are taking blood thinners, frequently drink alcohol, or take certain supplements are more likely to develop a full-fledged bruise from a punctured blood vessel.
Botox Bruise – Should You Be Concerned?
A bruise might look concerning, but most of the time it’s not something you need to worry about. Typical post-injection bruising goes away within 2-7 days. That being said, you probably can’t afford to walk around with a bruise on your face for a week.
There are a few things you can do to speed up the healing process and reduce the swelling on your face. We’ll touch on those in a moment.
Although extremely rare, the bruising can be serious enough to develop a hematoma, which takes longer to go away and may require your doctor’s help to get rid of.
If your bruising is not going away or you develop a bump, reach out to your doctor. Otherwise, try the tips below to treat and fade the bruise faster.
Most of these tips will help reduce swelling enough that you can at least camouflage the bruising with makeup and be able to continue your daily life.
How To Heal A Bruise After Botox
Treating a bruise after Botox is no different than treating any other bruising. The most important thing is to start implementing these measures as soon as possible after your injection. In some cases, you might be able to prevent bruising altogether.
Ice Packs
Get your ice packs ready, because you’ll be needing them as soon as you get home post-injection.
One of the best ways to prevent bruising and swelling is to apply ice to the affected areas. Make sure to use an ice pack that has been wrapped in a clean cloth to avoid exposing your sensitive skin to extreme temperatures.
Hold the ice pack to your skin for 10 minutes at a time and do it all throughout the day with breaks in between. This will help keep the blood flow to a minimum and reduce any swelling.
Do this for the first 2-3 days after injection to keep bruising to a minimum and to speed up the healing of your skin.
Arnica Cream
Arnica (arnica montana) is a flowering plant that has been used in creams, ointments, and salves for hundreds of years.
It does an amazing job of healing bruises, inflammation, and wounds. You can find creams and salves containing arnica online or in local herbal shops.
Many dermatologists even provide their clients with arnica cream right in the office after a Botox injection. Begin applying the cream at the first sign of bruising and continue applying twice a day until the color fades away.
Using topical arnica can reduce the life of your bruise to just a few days.
Vitamins
Increase your intake of vitamins C and K as they can contribute to a quicker resolution of bruising and swelling after your injection.
It’s always best to get your vitamins directly from food, so when it comes to your Botox recovery, try to increase your intake of:
- Citrus fruits
- Bell peppers
- Strawberries
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Leafy greens like kale, spinach, and collard greens
If fruits and veggies aren’t on the table for you, just try to supplement with a multivitamin.
You can also supplement with bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapple. About 200-400mg three times a day can help speed up the natural healing cycle.
The Right Concealer
While your bruising is healing, apply some makeup to hide it. You might think it’s impossible to hide a bruise, but if you use the right stuff, you’d be surprised at how well it camouflages it.
The trick is to use color theory to offset the discoloration on your face and make it disappear.
If your bruise is purple, use yellow concealer. If it’s redder, opt for a green concealer. And if you’re at the final stage of healing where your bruise looks yellow, you can cover it up with a peach-toned concealer.
You can buy a set of concealers that comes with all of these color-correcting tones. And when your bruises are healed, you can continue using these concealers for blemishes and under-eye bags.
Make sure to layer a full-coverage foundation over your concealer and blend until the bruising becomes invisible. Secure your results with finishing powder so that it stays in place all day.
Avoid Intense Exercise
There are a few times in life when it’s recommended to avoid exercise, and this is one of them. Bruising can get worse from increased blood flow, and exercising does just that.
Any activity that raises your heart rate should be avoided as well, including sports, dancing, and whatever else you can think of. If it makes your heart beat out of your chest – it’s increasing blood flow and could potentially make your bruising look worse.
Thankfully, you won’t be taking a break from the gym for that long – as soon as the bruises begin to fade you can start working out again.
We recommend taking it easy for the first 2-3 days after your procedure. Low-impact workouts are still okay if you want to keep moving during those days. Think yoga, walking, and casual cycling.
Avoid Extreme Heat
Much like exercise, extreme heat can increase blood flow and make your bruises bigger and darker.
For a week after your Botox injection, stay away from saunas and hot yoga, as well as any other places where you might expose yourself to too much heat.
This includes hot summer days at the beach (you probably shouldn’t be exposing your skin to direct sunlight immediately after your injection anyway).
How To Prevent Injection Bruising
If you want to get ahead of the situation and prepare for your Botox injections with bruising in mind, there are some things you can do:
- Avoid alcohol as much as possible before and after your injection – alcohol dilates your blood vessels and thins your blood
- Ice your face immediately before the injection
- If possible, avoid taking blood thinners a few days before and after your procedure, but always make sure that it is medically safe for you to do so (talk to your doctor)
- If possible, stop taking the following supplements at least a week before your procedure: St. John’s Wort, vitamin E, fish oils, flaxseed oils, Omega-3, gingko, ginseng, and garlic
- Take arnica tablets starting a week prior to injection – arnica comes in tablet form and can set you up for minimal pain and swelling from the get-go
Final Thoughts
Bruising after Botox is no fun, but it’s nothing to be scared of. It’s fairly common and most often than not, doesn’t lead to any serious or long-lasting issues
With the right preventative measures and proper aftercare, you can make your bruises heal and fade quickly, leaving you with healthy glowing skin within a week of your injections.
Treating a bruise after Botox is very similar to treating any other bruising or contusions: lots of ice packs and anti-inflammatory products like arnica and vitamins.
If you’re also armed with the right concealer, drink a lot of water, and don’t overexert yourself – you’ll be well on your way toward a perfect complexion in no time!
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