Hematoma after facelift? How urgent is it? (Photo)

An expanding hematoma (meaning it is getting larger by the minute) is an absolute medical emergency. Small hematomas after a facelift are not unusual; however, you should make your surgeon aware and let him/her decide when they want to see you for follow up. All surgeons will have an after hours line that will patch you through to them and they will NOT be upset that you called them. Best,Mehdi Sina, MD

I recommend following up with your Doctor today. Even when the office is closed, there should be a way to reach your Doctor to discuss possible complications. If it is a hematoma, it will need to be drained. I hope this helps. 

While the treatment necessary to correct this situation will vary, that is a decision that will need to be made by your plastic surgeon (or his/her covering physician) as soon as possible.  Whether it's a weekend or a holiday, this situation requires a phone call made today.  The treatment can vary from none needed, to aspiration of the fluid, to opening of the incision to drain some of the fluid, pr even a trip back to the operating room, but only an experienced plastic surgeon can make that decision, and waiting will not help here.  In this situation never hesitate to call your surgeon's office, and good luck!

Hi and thank you for your question. My recommendation is to call your plastic surgeon's office and speak to him/her or another doctor/provider who is answering his/her after hours calls. It is critical to communication with your surgeon regarding anything that feels or looks unusual beyond what was discussed in your preoperative conversation about what can be expected. Your surgeon will likely be able to determine the nature of your concern based on your answers to targeted questions as well as reviewing any photos you might be able to send. He or she may even determine that a visitation is required to get a better sense of what is going on. It is always better to be safe than sorry, and your surgeon should feel the very same way so never think of raising your concerns as an inconvenience to your surgeon. Hope that helped and best of luck! Best, Dr. Roy. 

An area of acute swelling could very well be a hematoma or fluid collection.  This should be considered an emergency and should be seen by your surgeon.  I recommend you get in touch with your surgeon (he/she should have a number you can call to talk to them directly after hours), regardless of whether or not the office is open.  Your surgeon should not be upset if you have concerns and need to be seen even if the office is not open.The treatment of a hematoma or fluid collection is to drain the area under the skin and rinse is out with saline.  You may also need a pressure dressing or head wrap for a few days to ensure that it does not recur.  With close following and prompt treatment, hematomas and fluid collections most often heal well without any negative effect to your final result.Best of luck!