Is It Normal 1 Week Post-Op To Replace An Implant And Drain Excess Fluid In Same Procedure?

I went today for my 6-day post-op. My left breast appears to be healing fine, however my right breast is still very swollen and hard. My surgeon seemed a little concerned and scheduled to have the implant removed so excess fluid can be drained. If the swelling does not go down, he will be removing the implant in 2 days, draining, then placing it back in during the same procedure. Is this normal? Should I be concerned? Any tips/advice?

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by kmc415

Doctor Answers (5)
Community Comments (0)

Swollen and hard breast 6 days post-op is hematoma and needs surgical drainage!

Your description is very accurate for a hematoma (bleeding in the breast pocket). This can occur any time within the first 3-4 weeks after breast enlargement surgery, though it is uncommon. My partner and I do several hundred breast augmentations per year, so even with a 1% risk of post-op hematoma, we have to take a patient back to the operating room every few months to deal with this issue. It is not an emergency, but the sooner the hematoma is evacuated, the bleeding point identified and... more

Hematoma

If you have a hematoma around your breast implant, than it should be removed and the pocket washed out and bleeding stopped, and then the implant could be repalced.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

You may have hematoma

You have hematoma of the right breast and you need to have surgery to remove the blood cloth and place drains. You are at higher risk for capsular contracture.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Excessive swelling after breast implants

Swelling in one breast a week after augmentation is usually due to bleeding called a hematoma and not a fluid collection. The best treatment is evacuation of the blood, and washing the pocket clean. The implant can be replaced immediately. The sooner the problem is recognized and the sooner treated the better as the capsular contracture rate goes up after such a complication. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Removing fliud or blood and exchanging implant

From your description, it sounds as if your surgeon is concerned that you have a fluid collection or blood collection. In these situations, it is possible to drain the fluid or blood and exchange the implant (replace it with a new implant). As long as there is no infection, this is a reasonable approach. The presence of fluid or blood , even if drained and the implant exchanged, can increase the chance that you will develop capsular contracture of hardening around the... more