Abdominal Hematoma Scar Tissue Healing?

This is a very interesting question.  Hematomas after they occur will congeal (clot) and after many weeks will then liquefy and either reabsorb or they will drain out of the incision.  When it is in the solid phase, external modalities as you have been instructed will help it to break up and liquefy.  At five months, all of this should be gone.  Occasionally, a hematoma can become encapsulated and remain as a ridge.  I have seen this occur in somebody who took a large spill and landed on her bottom against a stairwell.  I resected this mass and it was just an old organized hematoma.  You can have this evaluated by Ultrasound and if it is not solid, they may be able to drain it.  Unfortunately, if this is the case, they often reaccumulate with fluid.  You need to go back to your surgeon to have this evaluated.

 

Where is this bulge located?  Is it in the midline, off to the side above the incision line, or is it on the incision line?  Bulges in these areas have different explanations, all of which your surgeon can address.  Please keep us posted of  your progress.

The thickened scarred area may resolve gradually over the course of a year. If it does not, a scar revision should be considered. Continue to follow up with your plastic surgeon.

Scar tissue will continue to soften and improve over 12-18 months.  However, if things have settled down after about 6-8 months and the healing has plateaued, you might want to consider scar revision.  This is usually easier than a regular tummy tuck and can be done under local anesthesia a lot of times.  Thanks for your question!  Dr. Schreiber...Baltimore Plastic Surgeon