Vaser and Blood seepage. Should I be worried?

Question

Hi. I am getting vaser lipo next week (saddle bags, flanks and kness). I am concerned about the amount of blood you leak. I am taking folic acid pills because my blood level was a bit low. (Due to my heamhorroid problems where I somestimes see a bit of blood) Will this ponse a problem for the procedures' s outcome? Doctor ordered 10mg Vitmin K for 3 days before op since I bruise a lot. Thanks Joan 44 year old female

Jason M. Petrungaro, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello Joan,This is a good question.  First of all please make sure that your doctor is a board certified Plastic Surgeon.  We are trained not only to do the surgery, but to make sure you are cared for appropriately both before and after your procedure.When you say you bruise a lot, it is important to know exactly what you mean.  In the worst case scenario, you could have a bleeding disorder which could put you at risk for significant postoperative bleeding.  Folic acid deficiency is not really that common because we typically get enough folic acid in our foods.  Deficiency can be caused by kidney disease, medications, or sickle cell disease.  It is also interesting that you are taking vitamin K preoperatively.  Vitamin K deficiency will prevent your blood from clotting.  Just be sure that you and the surgeon are on the same page and that he or she is not concerned about a bleeding disorder or significant vitamin deficiency.To address the surgery itself, Vaser liposuction is an excellent procedure, and I use it almost exclusively for my liposuction.  Prior to the liposuction, your doctor will inject tumescent, which is a mixture of fluids containing numbing medication (lidocaine and possibly marcaine) and epinephrine.  The epinephrine is important because this medication causes the small blood vessels within your fat to "clamp down" for many hours after the surgery, which significantly decreases the amount of bleeding the procedure will create.  It is the same concept as pinching off a garden hose until no more water comes out.Some surgeons place a small stitch in each little cut made for the procedure, and some leave the little cuts open on purpose to drain.  If they are stitched shut, you shouldn't have much leakage.  If they are left open then it is expected that you will have a decent amount of leakage for a day or two.  Most of this will just be the tumescent fluid that didn't get sucked out with the liposuction.  Important for you to know -- the fluid that leaks out will likely be reddish or pinkish (think Hawaiian punch at first) because there will be some blood mixed in with the fluid.  This is completely normal.  The color should fade to pink and even clear over 24-48 hours.  If you have what appears to be pure blood soaking through multiple gauze from one or more of the cuts or if you notice that there is a significant amount of hard swelling that accumulates rapidly in one or more spots then this could signify a blood collection (hematoma) below the skin.  If this happens call your doctor immediately.I certainly hope this answer helps!  Please make sure your bruising is appropriately addressed prior to your surgery.  Safety is the absolute most important factor here!  Best of luck to you!

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

I will echo what has previously been said.Make sure you're in the hands of an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon.It would be unusual for someone to lose enough blood from hemorrhoids so as to see a significant drop in hemoglobin or hematocrit values. Rather than taking supplements, I would rather see you have a formal assessment of why your blood levels are low.Consider working together with your plastic surgeon and primary care doctor or an internist.This is also true in regards to anyone who has a history of excessive bleeding.Typically, very little blood drains from the incisions. Any bleeding that occurs during liposuction is generally converted to solid blood clots. It may take many days to gradually dissolve.By this time, the incisions should be healed. When the incisions are sutured closed, drainage is typically minimal.Let your primary care doctor know you're having surgery and share all of your concerns with him or her as well as you with your plastic surgeon.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.

Vaser and Blood seepage. Should I be worried?

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Vaser and Blood seepage. Should I be worried?

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