Hi,
There are two issues that you have raised that need first to be considered separately then together.
A. Bruising after any instrumentation such as injection is a known side-effect that can only be minimized but cannot be totally avoided. The bruising results from leakage of blood into the skin due to injury to the small skin blood vessels from the injection.
1. This side-effect can be aggravated if you are taking blood thinners, painkilllers, gingko nuts or any medication and food that may cause the blood to clot less easily.
2. This side-effect can be reduced by using finer injection needles (as for the case of Botox injection), using a cannula instead of a sharp needle (as for the case of filler injection) and careful placement of injection points avoiding obviously seen blood vessels.
If bruising occurs, using a cold compress (i.e. icing the area) early may help reduce the blood leakage and reduce the extent of bruisng.
B. Swelling after any instrumentation may be due to several reasons, some are temporary and not serious while some may be more long lasting and serious.
1. The temporary and not serious causes are common and may be due to the space filling effect of the injected substance, local reaction to the injected substance, temporary blockage of the skin natural drainage system by the injected substance. Such swellings generally do not last long and subside quickly after just a few days. No active treatment is required.
2. If the swelling starts later and gets worse, becomes red and painful, then more serious side-effects such as unintended inflammation or infection may have occurred. With regards to fillers, some fillers are meant to be injected deep due to its composition and if injected superficially may also result in unexpected swelling.
As you can see, the causes of uneven bumps and bruising after instrumentation are varied and may range from being harmless to potentially harmful. The underlying causes may be patient-related, technique-related, and substance-related. The best person to evaluate your condition will be your aesthetic doctor who performed the procedure. It is best that your condition is reviewed by him or her soonest even it is just for reassurance.
Hope this helps!
Dr YC Chin
