Hematoma after breast implant - when will it be safe to have my implant put back in?

Question

hi, i had breast implants done on the 25th april and yesterday i had to get my left implant removed due to a hematoma. I was told that i had burst 2 blood vessels which were at the top of my breast and had to have surgery done to clean all of the blood and get the implant taken out. When will it be safe to get my implant put back in? Obviously i would like to get it back as soon as possible as my breasts are currently lopsided. Also, would you know if this is the doctors fault or if it’s mine?

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear sirenetoks,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Omar Quaba, MA, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

Thanks for the question. Bleeding and haematoma is an uncommon but well recognised risk after breast implant surgery. Usually it happens within the first 24 hours but can be delayed.
It is very unusual to have a haematoma 5-6 weeks post op. Was the affected breast more swollen and if so for how long? Your surgeon must have been concerned that there may have been some infection which is why they did not put the implant back in. Did you ask your surgeon if the blood looked old? If the breast had been swollen for some time then it will have been an old bleed.
It is certainly not your fault or the surgeons. These things can and do happen. 
It should be safe to replace your implant after 3 months or so.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

The hematoma is usually no one's fault, but is a risk of surgery, which I am sure your doctor discussed with you during the consultation.  Blood is very inflammatory outside your blood vessels, so the tissue needs to calm down and all the swelling subside. Usually, you have to wait 3 to 6 months before the implant can be inserted, or risk developing a capsule.

Douglas Taranow, DO, FACOS · Answer

Bleeding is a rare but known complication of breast augmentation (it just happens, no ones fault usually).  I usually remove the implant, clean it off, irrigate the pocket, cauterize any bleeding if present and re-insert the same implant adding a drain just to be safe.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

If you have a sudden henatome a full month after augmentation, it was caused by something you did, and is not the doctor's "fault." Most times the implant is reinserted the same day as the hematoma so you will need to ask what it was you did and why they didn't replace the same day. All questions for your doctor.

Hematoma after breast implant - when will it be safe to have my implant put back in?

Answers (5)

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