What does the light red and yellow color mean? - Draining after a Hematoma, 2 weeks post BA. (photo)

Question

I had a BA on Jan. 25th 2018. I was doing so well and even started massages until my right incision started dripping out dark red blood at Week 2. I let my surgeon know and he told me it was in fact a hematoma, internal bleeding. Due to this, my surgeon took me back to the Operating Room and took out the implant, cleaned everything and took out excess blood and gave me a drain for my right breast. My color started at red but now has stayed at light pinkish/reddish and yellow. What does it mean?

Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  The fluid in the drain tube is appropriate.  Continue to follow the specific instructions given to you by your plastic surgeon.  Best of luck.

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello,
I'm not saying implant massage caused your hematoma, but I also can't say that it didn't. Drainage from an implant pocket does not necessarily mean anything. However, the use of drains in breast implant surgery is controversial, due to the high risk of implant contamination, which in turn leads to capsular contracture. My recommendation is to have your surgeon remove them as soon as possible, and no later than 3 days after surgery. Your risk of capsular contracture is much higher than average, due to the hematoma and the use of drains (and possibly the use of a periareolar incision). Regardless, massage does not offer benefit in either prevention or treatment of capsular contracture, nor does Singulair/Accolate or high dose vitamin E. As the years go on, fewer surgeons are recommending it because of the lack of benefit and possible risk of complications. If your surgeon isn't an ABPS certified/ASAPS member surgeon who specializes in revision breast surgery, you may want a second opinion from a few if you have problems after being fully healed, around 6 months. Best of luck.

Roberto Gonzalez, MD · Answer

What you are describing coming out of the drain is normal, initially may be more red since the hematoma was drained and the pocket rinsed.  As the edema and fluid start decreasing,  and there is less residual hematoma, the body fluids become yellowish.  Continue to f/u with your surgeon regarding the management of your drain. Hope this helps.

Himansu Shah, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and photo. That is completely normal what you are draining is called serous fluid and it does not have blood. This means that based the volume it drains if it is low enough the drain will be removed soon. It is to have a close follow up with your board certified plastic surgeon. Good luck.

Francis Johns, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.
The drainage you are describing is serous drainage, its a pinkish-yellow color. This is completely normal. At first the drainage was red because it was draining any residual hematoma.  Serous drainage is normal and a part of the healing process.

Pejman Aflaki, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for the question. As the hematoma goes through a maturation phase, it changes to light purple and then yellow before complete disappearance. This process can take a couple of weeks. It sounds like your surgeon is doing the right things. I would trust your surgeon and make sure you see him/her frequently. Best,Pejman Aflaki, M.D.Johns Hopkins-trained plastic surgeon

Richard J. Brown, MD · Answer

Those are just the normal changes of a bruise and will resolve with time. Not anything to worry about at all really.

Robert H. Hunsaker, MD · Answer

It means all is well and your drain is getting closer to being able to be removed. The old blood remnants have cleared and you are transitioning to serous drainage, that is the normal tissue fluid - like blister fluid. Once your surgeon is satisfied that the daily volume of drainage is low enough, he/she will remove the drain in the office.

Derek Rapp, MD · Answer

The appearance of the fluid is normal.  The yellow fluid you see is called serous fluid.   You can think about it kind of like the part of blood that isn't make of red cells.  This is the same fluid you may have seen if you had a rug burn when you were a kid.  
It is also common to have a little residual blood staining in the fluid that can give a mild pink tone.  You should, of course, follow up with your surgeon but this appears to be normal.

What does the light red and yellow color mean? - Draining after a Hematoma, 2 weeks post BA. (photo)

Answers (9)

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