Does Having a Hematoma Post-op Increase Your Risk of Capsular Contracture?

An untreated hematoma would increase your chances of capular contracture significantly. However, in my experience once a hematoma is cleaned out the chance for capsular contracture is about the same. And for other patients reading this a drain may or may not be necessary after evacuation of a hematoma. So if you've had a hematoma and received no drain this isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Thank you for your question. A hematoma can be very mild or very pronounced in its presentation. A mild one may induce slightly more swelling and increased bruising and will likely resolve on its own. A more severe hematoma can result in dramatic asymmetry in terms of swelling, feelings of light headedness due to loss of blood, severe bruising, and can be rapidly growing. If you every experience the latter, then I would contact your surgeon immediately and if you have trouble, you may even go to the ER. Larger hematomas often have to be surgically drained.Unfortunately, hematomas can increase the risk of capsular contracture in the long run.

Yes, but only slightly, thanks to your surgeon. You plastic surgeon did exactly the right procedure by addressing and evacuating the hematoma early - the earlier the better. Blood soaks into the tissues if left too long, and the capsular contracture rate goes up significantly. The determination of whether the drain was necessary can only be made by your surgeon at that time. Follow his instructions. Massage exercises will be advised. Follow them closely, as they are important. Basically, you want the surrounding pocket to stay as large as possible and not contract down onto the implant. The massage exercises will help with this. Also a natural Vitamin E complex containing alpha, beta, gamma and delta tocopherol 400 to 500 mgm per day or twice a day seems to have been helpful through the years.