Two weeks ago I got hit in the face and had a black eye and swollen cheek. The bruising is gone but there is still a bit of swelling on my cheek. How long will it be before I am back to normal. I saw my doc two days ago and he said its not fractured or anything but I thought that when the bruising went I would be back to normal and I am quite worried.
Depending on how much damage there is to the muscles and other tissues under the skin, an injury like that could take up to 6 weeks to fully heal. Since nothing is broken, I would use an ice pack on the cheek to reduce the swelling. I would keep doing this every 4 hours through out the day, if you can and especially at night before bed. Frozen peas are not cold enough for long enough so use a proper ice pack or even a bag of ice cubes will work. Good luck!!
Thank you. The swelling did go down from when it first happened but seemed to get to a certain point and stay there. Is it still worth doing the ice pack at this late stage as I thought it was only useful in the first few days after it happens. Its 3 weeks now and I am concerned that this is going to be as good as it gets.
It's been 3 weeks, I would still do some icing, just to see if it comes down at all. It won't hurt, but yes usually icing is best within the first couple of days. You might have a focal pocket of swelling still. I think it will slowly dissipate over time. Be patient.
Thank you so much for replying. I will try some icing and hope it goes away.
Well its been nearly 6 weeks now and one of my cheeks is still a bit fatter than the other.It doesnt seem swollen just a bit puffier. I have had an xray and its not broken and doc thinks everything is fine but I am still concerned. I have just started some gentle massage to try and help but is there anything else I could do? Is it possible that it might take maybe months to settle? I dont really want to go back to my doctor as he just thinks I am mad and didnt explain things to me properly.
Hi Blotty, I was reading your post from a few months ago and was wondering how your face is now? I had a car accident 6 weeks ago and there is still a sore lump on my cheekbone where I was hit. It's not that noticeable but I can feel it and it's sore when I move my face in certain ways. I was thinking of going to see the doctor but aybe I should give it more time as it was a serious ipmact injiry with a lot of bruising and swelling. Has our face returned to normal? Did icing it help? I haven't been doing that as the injry is so old now. Thanks a mill 
I dont actually know how long it takes but everyone heals differently. I was hit in the head and the object was steel and long and went across my face as well catching the side of my eye and my whole cheekbone. When it goes down its just a little at a time and the bruising always seem to go first then maybe the swelling. Its been a year and a half for me probably because it was a steel object but, I am still waiting for some of the swelling to go but, I believe it left a knot on my face thats not very noticeable so if you werent hit with a steel object you may heal better and faster. Every blow to a part of the body needs time to heal so either go back to the doctor to make sure that is all it is (swelling) and nothing else. Who wants to be swelled up; so just go to the doc to make sure nothing else has developed under your skin. Good luck
Hi Blotty,
How's your condition now? I'm in more or less same condition of yours. I was hit in the face around august this year. I went ER immediately and ruled out no fracture or anything. By time swelling has went down. But, it stopped at one point and its a bit puffier than the other side. I have don't any pain but I can feel its bit stiff than the other side.
Upon doing some google and all, I found out that on the place where I was hit consists of TMJ and my jaw used to click in the first month as well, which is not now. So, I just want to know how is it now for you and what did you do to go away?
Considering swellinghas went down I am still in everyday pain that becomes fustrating and annoying because it is some type of soft tissue and nerve damage and I dont know how to get it to heal as fast as I want because your face on one side is achy and painful and sometimes still spasming but always tender and soar 24 hrs a day. With me its also where i need to get a 2nd opinion from a TMJ Doctor. I dont look bad I am blessed for that; but, the way I feel is twisted and painful from the cheekbone and jaw and looking for a good cheek and jaw doctor faceklllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Yeah, It feels the same for me. People won't be able to figure out I still have swelling. But I can see its there, its very little and I don't look that odd. But, If I observe I can see that its uneven compared to other cheek.
Its memory imprint on my face, there's always tingling sensation from temple area till lower jaw and sometimes it pains. mostly in the nights, from what I have observed to make this more easier on us in terms of pain and all is, have more water than you usually do. Avoid alcohol all you can, no cigarettes. Do cardio/exercise everyday, I haven't been going to gym since two days and since then I can feel it back again. But, when I was continuously going to gym, I couldn't feel anything and its completely normal for me and only thing that bothers me is that puffier left side than right.
I'm doing facial exercises and all. Can't go to those ignorant doctors who brushed me off like it was there from childhood or its nothing, God help me.
Hello and Im glad to hear you have a mechanism for keeping your pain down. Ive been trying to keep my pain down on my own as well but my situation may be a little more difficult to subside all the pain because I was hit directly in the head, directly in the face injuring the cheekbone and jaw and I was hit directly in the ear. To my understanding I have TBI, Postconcussion trauma syndrome etc.. My cheekbone is only a piece of the ordeal I have experienced but very awful pain so I do understand when you say the swelling is still noticeable to you because I have that same swelling and on top of the swelling is a nice size little lump where you know that is where the cheekbone was struck. If you havent tried a neurologist for the pain in your cheekbone, give them a try and I am also seeking an oral/surgeon dentist who also specialize in face trauma; cheek, jaw, mouth and teeth trauma (face) and hope to get some answers about myofascial pain syndrome and TMJ which is your jaw joint and other diagnosis from the accident and damages it has caused. I hope one of the 2 physicians can help you but the therapy of massaging and warm compressions can help eventhough it is a slow recovery from cheekbone or jawbone injury. I can never forget the horribly excruciating, unbareable pain from a blow to your cheek or jawbone and the discolor and disfigurement. This type of pain is terrible and you swear it must be broke. Good luck in your recovery, youre doing fine caring for yourself but still seek another specialist to make sure. I am because my pain is 24 hour pain.
Hi,
I have same problem, one side is puffier than other one after some stupid fight! Did the puffines gone now? or still there? thanks
I had a similar issue about 10 years ago. I was hit just below my eye with a softball. Doctors determined that a few small pieces of bone were chipped but nothing too bad. The swelling lasted for weeks and of course I had a very black eye but eventually it all went down. What I did notice over time though was a little swelling if the weather changed, although I don't think anyone else could see it. About two years ago it pretty much quit swelling all together. Best wishes.
Hi Blotty, How did you get on in time. Yesterday my horse kicked me in my face getting me across my cheekbone and pushing my tooth through my lip. I went Aand E. Its not fractured just very bruised. I am also getting ear ache. I was wondering if anyone else had this. It is so painfull. I have fractured a few bones in the past and this feels the same, but they said it ok.
I got hit this morning on the cheekbone - was throwing a piece of lumber into a loft and it bounced off the door, hit me square on the side of my face, missedtop of my head and eye thank goodness as I had cataract surgery and don't want to even imagine that nightmare if I had injured by eye...but have a small gash, no headache or blurred vision thank goodness...so far so good but lots of swelling
I was drunk and I had everyone punch me in the face and my right side of cheek is swollen I've noticed it has healed because before my face was droopy it was like super big so
It just takes time I haven't been icing it but I have been taking care of it
Hello. I use to be a boxer. And I have had at least 15 black eyes in my right eye. Have not had a black eye in over 8 years and my right eye is still noticeably more puffed up then my left. This bothers me and I have searched but found no one similar (to the amount of time) or solution for it... fml
Did this improve
Almost 2 weeks ago I tripped on a curb running across an asphalt walkway. I came down on the asphalt on my extended right elbow and the right side of my face. I sustained a broken arm one inch above the albow and the right side of my face swelled up so much that it closed my eye. That went down enough for my eye to open. The area of my face that turned black has gone down a little, but plenty of it is still black. Have you heard of a surgical tehnique to get blood out of the tissues? Based on your experience, how long will it take for my face to appear sort of normal?