5 simple steps to prevent bruising during treatment
One of the most common side effects of aesthetic procedures like wrinkle reduction injections and filler is the dreaded bruise. Even non surgical procedures such as Laser therapy, Ultherapy, Thermage and treatment around the eyes to reduce skin laxity and remove eye bags carry a small risk of post treatment bruising.
Most bruises can be prevented if your aesthetic doctor takes all possible steps to prevent the occurrence of bruising in the first place. These are some of the things I do in my practice to avoid bruising:
1. Look before injecting
– prominent blood vessels under he skin can be identified by careful examination with a bright light. Marking out these blood vessels before injecting with a needle can prevent unnecessary bruising.
2. Use numbing cream
– numbing cream is commonly used to reduce discomfort during aesthetic procedures. Apart from numbing the skin, anaesthetic creams also shrink the tiny blood vessels under the skin surface.
3. Apply ice
-this is simple and very effective way to avoid bruises. The application of ice just before injecting botulinum or filler will shrink the blood vessels under the skin for a few valuable seconds, reducing the chances of the needle hitting one of the small blood vessels under the skin.
4. Use the smallest needle possible
-I like to use the smallest needle possible to inject Botulinum, Filler and Local anesthesia. Very fine needles no thicker than the hair on your head can be used to avoid injuring even tiny capillaries under the skin. Super fine needles may cost a little more, but they can make a huge difference. Not only that, these special needles are so small that patients often do not even feel any pain during injections.
5. Use a Soft Cannula
-Soft Cannulas are blunt tipped flexible hollow needles that can be used to inject filler without any pain or bruising. Without a sharp tip, the cannula slides around blood vessels without injuring them. They are especially good for deeper injections into the nasolabial fold and the eye area where larger veins can lurk underneath.
These 5 simple steps go a long way in keeping my patients both bruise-free and pain-free!
