Hematoma After Breast Reduction Surgery

Hello, 19 days ago I've done breast reduction and lift (I had a C+ and asked 40% less, which doctor said he did). The problem is that my left breast is twice as swollen as the right one. Surgeon says it is a hematoma and I should just wait for it to go. Could you please tell me if this is normal? how long to wait? what if doesn't go away? thank you.

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11 Doctor Answers | Asked by 3166anon in Argentina

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Hematoma after breast reduction

Hematoma is certainly one of the more common complications that can occur with breast reduction surgery. While there is no exact right answer, generally, if the involved breast is over 1.5 times the size of the other breast, I will typically drain this. More importantly, if I feel the hematoma will have a detrimental affect (wound healing,skin loss, infection) on the involved breast I will recommend a drainage procedure of some sort. This could be needle aspiration or an open procedure. A... more

Hematoma After Breast Reduction Surgery

Hematomas may occur following breast reduction surgery. They can be managed medically or surgically. If the hematoma is quite large and causing pain needle aspiration can be done in the office with quick alleviation of symptoms. Uncommonly a patient has to go back to surgery for exploration and control of bleeding causing the hematoma. Smaller hematomas can be watched and allowed to liquefy and drain.

Hematoma after Breast Reduction?

Thank you for the question. I'm sorry to hear about the complication you have experienced after breast reduction surgery. If you and your surgeon have elected to manage the hematoma on surgically, it may take several weeks for the hematoma to “liquefy”. Application of warm compresses over the area may help expedite this process. If the hematoma is such that there is potential for compromise of blood flow to the surrounding tissues, it should be... more

Hematoma in breast

If you have a significant hematoma in one breast, you probably should have it evacuated because this could compromise the viability of the nipple or skin flaps.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Address the issue now

Hematoma can occur with breast reduction. The best treatment is to remove the hematoma. This will decrease the chance of that hematoma becoming infected. You should opt for treatment and not wait.

Hematoma after Breast reduction and lift

This depends on when the hematoma occured. Typically 7-10 days after a hematoma, the collection becomes a liquid and it can be emptied using a liposuction cannula or needle.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

After breast reduction, hematoma should be surgically removed right away.

Hi. Just going by your story, you need to have another operation to remove the hematoma after your breast reduction as soon as possible. See another doctor if you have to.

You need to have drainage of the fluid

You have significant blood colllection oer your description and willl need to be drained. Your doctor may have a specific reason for the delay. Please discuss your concern with your doctor .

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Treating hematoma after breast surgery

From your description, this sounds like a pretty good sized hematoma. I am curious how long after the surgery you noted the hematoma. I would also like to know if you had a drain and if the doctor tried to aspirate the hematoma. By this point in time most hematomas have started to become more liquid and may be easier to drain. I would suggest speaking to your doctor and ask him what his plan is as you are concerned enough to come on this website for answers. Obviously without seeing you... more

Blood Collection (Hematoma) After Breast Reduction

I agree with Dr. Rand. If at all possible, post-surgery fluid collections should not be left to exert pressure on the skin compromising its blood supply or to become infected. A seroma or a hematoma should be opened, drained and in the rare case that a bleeding source is found for it to be controlled. I would NOT advise waiting.

Treatment of hematomas

If your breast is twice the size, there is enough blood or fluid in it that the blood flow to the skin can be compromised. This would have shown up by 3 weeks but either way, the proper treatment of a significant hematomas is surgical drainage opening the incisions and cleaning out the blood. Regardless of what country you are in...