HealthCert Blog

One of the downsides of cosmetic injectables is the temporary discolouration and swelling that forms around the treatment site. These side effects are common and expected, but unfortunately can increase downtime and delay patients from enjoying their results.

When treating patients in your primary care or cosmetic practice, there are a few things you can do to help prevent bruising and redness when they undergo injectable treatments such as anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers, or PRP therapy.

One week before the procedure:

• Consider advising your patient to stop taking any non-essential aspirin, ibuprofen or blood thinners. These drugs inhibit clotting, which increases bleeding. It’s important that the patient’s GP is consulted before the patient discontinues any medication. Only certified medical practitioners should provide this type of advice to patients.
• Check the patient’s list of supplements and herbal teas to see if they promote bruising. Common ingredients are fish oils, vitamin E, turmeric, and others. Consider recommending that the patient stop these supplements three days before their injectables procedure.

On the day of the procedure:

• Ensure you are well trained in managing side effects and preventing adverse reactions. Only a medically trained doctor should perform injectable treatments, and the patient’s whole health history should be considered before proceeding.
• Consider recommending that the patient take arnica for 1-2 days.
• Recommend that the patient avoid exercise right before and on the day of their appointment. Exercise dilates blood vessels, including in the skin.
• You can apply numbing creams and ice to help constrict blood vessels which can help with bruising and swelling.
• Advise against the patient flying on a plane.

For several days after the procedure:

• Patients should try to keep their heart rate down below 100bpm to help prevent late bruising.
• Patients should avoid doing anything upside down, including yoga poses, gardening, cleaning the floor, and other activities that involve inversion.

To learn more, please join us at the next Certificate Courses in Aesthetic Medicine.

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