Breast Augmentation: Q&A

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One Week Post Op Breast Augmentation..complications

On 5/11/11 I had breast augmentation, under the muscle thru the armpit. The day after surgery I noticed the right breast was significantly more swollen/higher than the left and deep purple bruising appeared down the entire right side of my torso to my hip area. Three days after surgery a "new" bruise with slight lump appeared under the right breast and bruising has spread under the breast. Have seen my PS and he put me on muscle relaxers and icing every hour with follow up on 5/23/11. Normal?

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by dorisnyder

Doctor Answers (15)
Community Comments (1)

Breast augmentation

Is sounds like you may have had some bleeding post operatively the may be manifested with the bruising that you notice. As long as one breast is not larger thatnthenother it is unlikely that there is hematoma

Submuscular placement esp via axilla is more painful

Submuscular implant placement especially through the axilla is more painful with high degrees of swelling and bruising as the lower portion of the pect often must be bluntly dissected in "blind" fashion to obtain an adequate pocket. It is not uncommon to have muscle spasms, pain, and more bruising than with the more direct approach with other incisions.This may take several weeks to improve.

Hematoma after breast augmentation

This definitely sounds like a hematoma- in fact, it is a textbook description of a hematoma. This should be drained as soon as possible to avoid any long-term problems. Hematomas can happen under the best of circumstances and, when drained, should not effct the long-term result.

Post Op Breast Surgery

As others have mentioned, increases swelling, bruising and tightness immediately after breast implant surgery may indicate a hematoma or blood collection around the implant. If this is the case, it most likely needs to be drained surgically and medications will not make it go away. It is important to follow closely with your surgeon as they know what was done during surgery and what to expect. If there is uncertainty, imaging studies such as ultrasound can be done to look... more

Significant swelling and bruising on one side after breast augmentation

The significant swelling and bruising on one side, the implant pushing up higher, all seem to point to a hematoma or bleeding into the breast pocket. The hematoma should be drained to prevent prolonged healing, implant malposition and capsular contracture. See your surgeon right away. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

One Week Post Op Breast Augmentation..complications

NO! not normal. You need to rule out a hematoma ASAP. This becomes a standard of care issue. If you are really much larger and more ecchymotic on one side, the operating surgeon needs to provide appropriate care and treatment.

Hematomas generally present with significant pain, swelling, bruising.

A hematoma is basically a collection of blood and clot. After surgery, this can occur in the surgical wound from bleeding. Fortunately, the incidence after breast augmentation is low. Your surgeon must distinguish between normal bruising and swelling and a hematoma. It is common for one breast to have more pain, swelling, and bruising than the other side, but usually this only mildly different between sides. If one side is much more swollen, painful, and bruised, then a hematoma is... more

Bruising after breast augmentation

If your breast became MUCH bigger than the other side, then you most likely had some bleeding. If it is a subtle difference, then it's probably just post-operative swelling which is normal. The breasts often have a different amount of swelling. Good luck!

Bruising post-op breast augmentation

You may or may not have a hematoma depending upon how the breast looks and feels compared to the othere side. It is best for you to see/speak with yoru surgeon. Hematomas usually need to be drained.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Hematoma after Breast Augmentation Must be Addressed

Your description sounds like you may have had bleeding after the surgery with accumulation of blood or clot (hematoma) around the implant. If the clot and blood is not removed, the risk for capsule contracture (hard feel of the breast implant) is high. Discuss with your surgeon.

You need to have hematoma removed

The description of the post operative progress is consistent with hematoma. The best treatment is surgical exploration and removal of the blood. If not,it will take long time for recovery and capsular contracture. We all hate it when it happens and it does happen to all of us,but the right treatment is blood cloth removal and drain placement.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Thru the Arm Breast Augmentation with deep purple bruising down the entire right side of my torso hip area

If we define "normal" as - "The usual or expected state" - NO you do not have a "normal" recovery. From your description A significantly swollen right breast with significant purple discoloration involving "the entire right side of my torso to my hip area and .. slight lump appeared under the right breast and bruising has spread under the breast" sounds like you bled significantly during or after your surgery and have a HEMATOMA... more

Breast Augmentation Hematoma

I agree with the previous two posts: it sounds like you have a hematoma of your right breast following breast augmentation. A hematoma is an unintended collection of blood in an operative site. Large hematomas may compromise the overlying skin, take a long time to resolve, and may result in an increased capsular contracture rate. For this reason, large hematoma usually require a second operation to remove the collection of blood and rinse out the surgical site... more

Breast augmentation with possible hematoma

It sounds like you have a hematoma possibly. This is more than a bruise, it is a collection of blood around the implant making that side larger and more swollen looking. The standard treatment of a hematoma is to re-operate and evacuate the blood and cauterize the bleeder if one can be found (often they stop by the time you get in). The consequences of leaving a hematoma unaddressed are an extended recovery with bruising for a long time, a difference between the size and... more

Bruising or Hematoma

It is important to distinguish between bruising and a hematoma. Bruising is when blood stains the tissues and gives the purplish color you are probably familiar with. Bruising then goes through changes in color and position due to gravity. It is common for bruising to travel down your body due to gravity. A hematoma is a collection of blood. Small hematomas are usually not significant but large ones can be and may need treatment. Your surgeon should be... more

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Comments (1)

kos22 23 Aug 2012

I have bruising that began in my incision (under boob in crease) and slowly got lighter, but now the bruising is spreading downward and settling in my hips?? Is it normal for the blood to go downward as its absorbed? The things they dont tell you. :-/

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