# Bruise – *haematoma.*

> Bruising after Botox and filler: why it occurs, how long it lasts, how to lower the risk (medication, alcohol

- Source: https://www.vivaderm.de/lexicon-haematom-en.html
- Language: en
- Publisher: VIVA DERM, Privatpraxis für ästhetische Medizin, Rosastraße 6a, 45130 Essen, Germany, +49 1520 8367711
- Responsible physician: Katayoun Mostaghimi (Fachärztin für Allgemeinmedizin)
- Updated: 2026-10-05

The most common side effect of injections: blood leaks from an injured vessel into the tissue. Harmless but visible – and partly avoidable with preparation.

## A closer look.

Even the finest needle can hit a small blood vessel; the escaping blood shows as a red dot, blue patch or swelling. In the face bruises are especially common around the eyes and lips, where vessels are dense. They are harmless, change over one to two weeks from blue through green to yellow and disappear completely.

The risk can be lowered: no blood-thinning painkillers (aspirin, ibuprofen) for a week beforehand, no alcohol the day before, no high-dose omega-3, vitamin E or ginkgo products. Prescribed blood thinners are never stopped on your own but discussed beforehand. Technically, blunt cannulas, slow injection and immediate cooling help.

Afterwards: cool, don't massage, no heat and no sport in the first 24 hours. Arnica gel or vitamin K creams are often recommended; the evidence is thin, a try does no harm. A bruise is not a complication of the treatment but an expected accompaniment.

This lexicon entry is general information and does not replace the medical consultation required under German law (§ 630e BGB).

## At a glance.

- **Frequency:** most common side effect
- **Duration:** 1–2 weeks
- **Risk regions:** eyes, lips
- **Prevention:** no aspirin/ibuprofen, no alcohol

## Frequently asked questions.

**Can I go to work with a bruise?**

Yes. From the second day it can be covered with make-up.

**Is a bruise a sign of a mistake?**

No. It results from a vessel injury by the needle and can accompany even the most careful treatment.

## Related pages.

- [Preparation](https://www.vivaderm.de/guide-preparation-en.html) – Lower the risk
- [Aftercare](https://www.vivaderm.de/guide-aftercare-en.html) – After treatment
- [Blunt cannula](https://www.vivaderm.de/lexicon-kanuele-en.html) – Lexicon

## Sources

- [§ 630e BGB – duty to inform before treatment (German Civil Code)](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__630e.html)
- [DGBT – German Society for Aesthetic Botulinum Toxin Therapy](https://www.dgbt.de/)
- [AWMF – German clinical practice guidelines](https://www.awmf.org/)

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This page is general information and does not replace medical consultation and informed consent (§ 630e BGB). No guarantee of results. Prices are guide prices per GOÄ. Quoting with attribution (VIVA DERM, Essen) is expressly permitted.