Injectables: Reasons You Might be Bruising More Than Usual

A lot of us are able to sink into a rhythm with our aesthetic treatments. While those first couple sessions are about overcoming the nerves, smiling through those little pinches and skin pricks, scrutinizing the mirror every day to check in on healing and improvement…well, after a while, you just get used to it. 

More importantly, you get used to how your body responds to your treatments. You’ve heard the aftercare tips, like, a million times and you’ve done your late-night Googles when you need a little extra reassurance – but, after a while, you just have a sense for what’s normal for you, and what isn’t. You also figure out the best ways to reduce it – something we know better than anyone at Post Love.

Bruising is one of the most common side effects from injectables, from filler to Botox (and everything in between). But – and you’ve likely heard this said before – everybody bruises differently. 

What you might not realize, however, is that we all bruise differently at different times, too…

A Refresher on Bruising

Your injector has undoubtedly given you the 101 on bruising already. When an object penetrates the skin, even something as small as a needle, it triggers the body to organize an immune response. The idea is to protect the area from anything that could be a threat, repair the damage and ultimately prevent an infection from getting in. 

That damage in need of repair is what triggers the bruise. Small capillaries are broken during the injection, causing a small amount of blood to ‘leak’ into the soft tissue around the injection site. 

As that immune response causes inflammation and swelling, minor bruising can start to look a lot worse.

At times, an injectors technique can cause more ‘micro trauma’ in the injection area and cause bruising to appear worse than usual, but this is relatively rare compared with other causes of heightened bruising. Even the best and most experienced injector in the world can’t avoid some bruising in their patients. 

There are ways to reduce bruising and support the body through its natural healing process. FADED is specifically designed to draw upon the healing benefits of ingredients like hemp extract and arnica to soothe the skin and let it recover naturally, but more efficiently. 

Still, there are plenty of simple explanations for why you’re noticing your bruises more than usual. 

What Makes You Bruise More? 

If your skin is looking darker, more inflamed, or feeling even more tender than usual, don’t panic – there are so many reasons why your body may be reacting a little more 

Medication/Supplements

Some of the most common types of medications that make us more susceptible to bruising are blood thinners. In one camp, you’ve got anticoagulants like heparin and warfarin – in the other, you’ve got antiplatelets like aspirin, which most of us keep stocked in the medicine cabinet.

Even run-of-the-mill supplements like vitamin E, cod liver oil and ginkgo biloba can make us more vulnerable than usual to bruising. 

Hitting the Gym Too Soon

While, as first-timers, we like to play ‘by the book’ when it comes to aftercare, experience can make us…well…a little cavalier about the rules. If you’ve resumed your regular workout routine a little too soon after treatment, then increased blood flow and pressure can worsen the appearance of bruising – and mean it takes longer to heal. 

Take the week off and enjoy the rest. 

Getting Older

As our skin gets slightly thinner and cell regeneration gets a little slower, it’s inevitable that we will all start to notice more significant bruising, and a slight ‘slowing down’ of the recovery process. Keep in mind that this is all very gradual – and very natural. 

Also, whatever age you are, bruising fades. Results last. 

Alcohol

Alcohol acts as a blood thinner, which means those broken capillaries can leak more blood than usual into the surrounding tissue, causing bruising to present more noticeably than usual. If you drink within 24 hours of your appointment, you might notice a difference, so stick to the mocktails and save brunch for showing off your healed, beautiful results. 

Injection Site

Let’s say you’re used to the way your forehead or cheeks respond to injectables, and you’ve just received your first lip filler treatment. If you’re bruising more than you usually do after an injection, it may just be a result of the fact that there are more blood vessels around the mouth than other parts of the face, like the forehead.

We often think of healing and post-treatment in terms of the way we or ‘our bodies’ respond, but different parts of the body operate differently. The more experience you get under your belt, the more familiar you’ll be with how your forehead/cheeks/lips/chin/jowls/eye area respond to treatment.  But here’s the good news – you don’t have to just sit back and wait for bruises to fade on their own. This is where Post Love steps in, offering products specifically designed to help you get back to feeling (and looking) your best, faster. Our FADED formula, infused with organic hemp extract and arnica, works to calm inflammation and speed up the healing process. It’s a game-changer for anyone who’s been through the ups and downs of injectables and wants a smoother recovery journey.

So, whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, don’t let bruising steal the spotlight from your gorgeous results. Keep FADED in your post-treatment toolkit and let your skin bounce back with confidence. After all, healing should feel as good as the results look, and that’s exactly what we’re here to help with.