Ecchymosis
Pronunciation: ek-ih-MOH-sis
A bruise-like discolouration of the skin resulting from extravasation of blood into subcutaneous tissue, commonly recorded as a post-injection adverse event in aesthetic medicine.
Full Definition
Ecchymosis occurs when blood leaks from ruptured capillaries into the surrounding tissue, producing a visible purple, blue, or yellow-green discolouration. In aesthetic dermatology, it is one of the most frequently documented injection-related adverse events, particularly in areas of high vascularity such as the periorbital and lip regions. Editors reviewing treatment complication forms or adverse event logs should not conflate ecchymosis with erythema (redness) or haematoma (a larger, localised blood collection). The term appears frequently in patient-reported outcome measures and consent documentation. It is not synonymous with petechiae, which are pinpoint haemorrhages.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish clearly from 'haematoma' in adverse event documentation; ecchymosis is superficial and self-limiting, whereas a haematoma is a discrete collection of clotted blood.
In Context
- "The adverse event log recorded ecchymosis at the nasal tip injection site resolving over seven days." — Adverse event report
- "Patients are advised in the consent form that ecchymosis is a common, self-limiting outcome." — Informed consent document