Please see your surgeon!

 Dear JPierce

Some times patients are very considerate of their busy surgeon's:  "I didn't want to bother you so I am waiting for my one week appointment."   Please be aware that this hematoma potentially constitutes a threat to the facial skin over the area of the bruise.  If you have not seen your doctor and you are reading this, I urge you to pick up your phone and call your surgeon.  I assure you, your surgeon wants to hear from you.  He or she will want to see you immediately to confirm that the circulation in the facial flap is not being compromised by the hematoma.  If so, there are interventions that can be performed right in the office by your surgeon to help preserve the facial skin.  Less serious hematomas can simply be observed but don't make this call on your own.  Please stop reading this website, and pick up your phone and call your surgeon.

Please let the RealSelf community how things went.

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Of course you should be addressing these concerns to your own surgeon. From your photos, there appears to be an area of dark skin above your ear where your sideburns should be. If it is black, this is not normal. Your skin of the cheek area in front of your ear is quite dark and could very well indicate a hematoma or at least significant bruising that could compromise the viability and healing of the overlying skin. You should have your surgeon look at this as soon as possible since remedies can be performed to limit the injury to the skin. It is not possible to make a definitive diagnosis by just a single photo. If you cannot see your surgeon or he doesn't give you a good explanation, seek a second opinion from a reputable plastic surgeon.

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