Internal Bleed After Full TT, Lipo, MR. 2 Wks PO and Still Super Hard, Swollen. Normal? (photo)

Your surgeon is certainly aware of the collection of blood within your tissues, and the location you have marked (thanks for including photos) seems to correspond to the hip roll area liposuctioned rather than beneath the abdominoplasty skin flaps. Since liposuction creates tunnels and tracts within your fatty tissues, bleeding in this area creates a stiuation much like a saturated sponge, rather than a blood-filled cavity.

In other words, this can act more like a "black eye" bruise (albeit a larger one) than a blood collection which can simply be drained or aspirated. That being said, at 2 weeks post-op, this size of hematoma may well be starting to liquefy, and a needle aspiration as my partner and other colleagues have suggested is certainly a reasonable, straightforward, quick, and not very difficult (or painful--you may still be partially numb here from your surgery) option to try. Any blood removed will be that much less your body has to remove, and your body does so molecule by molecule rather than by aspiration of an ounce or two all at once.

Massage therapy and ultrasound treatments can also help speed your recovery (we offer this to all our patients post-op at no additional charge), but you may still end up with some residual fullness or firmness in this area. Once everything has softened and matured for 6-12 months, revisionary surgery may be considered to improve your final result if needed.

Even when there is no hematoma or seroma after tummy tuck, it can take 6-12 months before the final result is seen, and having a hematoma does indeed slow the process of softening, settling, swelling resolution, and scar maturation.

For now, see your plastic surgeon and follow his/her advice. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

   Dear Shazaam333,

       Hematomas after liposuction are possible, but not very common. Your photos and descriptions are consistent with a hematoma on your left side. It is very difficult to aspirate a liposuction hematoma right after surgery and if it is not expanding (and yours wasn't) conservative management is warranted. However, you are now almost 2 weeks after surgery and many hematomas will have liquified by now and aspiration with a needle through the skin may be successful. This can make you feel better and will most likely improve your healing process. Good luck.

Sorry for the issue. I might ask for a scan to see if the "blood" is in an amount that would require operative removal. Otherwise try external ultrasound therapy. Please follow up with us