I am 2 months post dimpleplasty surgery, there is a lump (not painful) on one side. What is it? (Photo)

Question

2 months post dimpleplasty done overseas Lump on one side (not painful). But doesnt seem to be getting smaller? Is this a cyst or hematoma , do i need to get it drainer? Or is this normal healing process? How can I get rid of the lump pleasee? Is this normal will it go away eventually?

Albert W. Chow, MD · Answer

I would not expect a red/pink fullness in the skin to be present at two months or at two weeks.  This is something your operating surgeon can address.  You need to stay in touch with your surgeon and follow up as scheduled and call to schedule sooner follow ups when conditions require.  Good luck.

Philip K. Robb Jr., MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thanks for your question- 
I recommend returning to your surgeon very soon. This is concerning for an infection. Infections in this area can cause serious issues if not dealt with in a timely manner. 
I hope this helps and God bless!
Dr. Robb

Amiya Prasad, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. You submitted a single photo describing a lump present two months after having dimpleplasty. You’re asking if this is normal, and does it need to be drained.
I can share with you my thoughts on your question, in the absence of a physical examination. A little background: I’m a Board-certified cosmetic surgeon and Fellowship-trained oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. I have been in practice in Manhattan and Long Island for over 20 years. Our practice is actually well known for dimpleplasty among many other things. We have been featured in various media about this procedure which not a lot of doctors perform. Although I don’t know the specifics of the type of procedure you had done, I can explain a bit what the principle is, and what is concerning to me based on this photo.
The concept of dimpleplasty is to create what nature would have created, which is this connection or defect in the muscle called the buccinator muscle. It’s done on the inside of the mouth typically, and sometimes a combination of outside and inside depending on the surgeon’s preference. We’re trying to create this connection so when a person smiles, they get a dimple. Generally, I do the procedure from the inside of the mouth. In the first few months, it’s normal to see a dimple present almost all the time until the healing advances and progresses to the point where the dimple is more visible when smiling.
When you describe a lump after having this procedure, I would say in the first month or so after dimpleplasty, in my experience, it’s a lump you can feel, but generally don’t see. In your situation, it looks like a lump that is persistent and elevated, and has been there for some time, although you don’t describe it as painful. I think this is something that is beyond what is normally expected. The contents of that lump is possibly blood, fluid, or saliva because the area where the dimple is made is close to the duct that takes saliva from the gland and directs it towards the inside of the mouth.
It’s very important you contact the original operating surgeon and ask about this. It’s probably best not to wait. I think 2 months later, to have a lump this large and this significant means something has to be done to help improve the likelihood of successful outcome. There’s also the possibility of being a potential site of infection. Clearly it’s not actively infected, but it’s important to at least do something to address this.
You should start by contacting and ideally seeing the original doctor. That doctor knows exactly what they did,what kind of stitch they placed, and where they placed it. They already know your anatomy in a way that another doctor would not know as well. It doesn’t mean another doctor can’t help you, but I think it’s always better for the original operating surgeon to take care of any type of issues that occur after surgery.
To again, to summarize, it isn’t typical to have a lump like this 2 months after surgery.; lump like this is unusual at any time after surgery. It is generally normal to have some degree of constant dimpling of the skin that evolves over time, but this, in my experience, is out of the ordinary. I would, as soon as possible contact the original operating surgeon.I hope that was helpful, I wish you the best of luck, and thank you for your question.This personalized video answer to your question is posted on RealSelf and on YouTube. To provide you with a personal and expert response, we use the image(s) you submitted on RealSelf in the video, but with respect to your privacy, we only show the body feature in question so you are not personally identifiable. If you prefer not to have your video question visible on YouTube, please contact us.

I am 2 months post dimpleplasty surgery, there is a lump (not painful) on one side. What is it? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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I am 2 months post dimpleplasty surgery, there is a lump (not painful) on one side. What is it? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Dimple Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.