Placing a Drain 2 Weeks After Breast Augmentation Help Hematoma?

Question

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

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.  A drain may be placed afterwards to help with clearance of inflammatory fluid and reduce swelling.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

A hematoma of the breast should be surgically drained. Afterwards the surgeon may choose to use a drain. However placing a drain only is inadequate treatment.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

drains for hematoma

	usually its necessary to drain a breast hematoma if it is larger enough to be visible or cause pain.

	the pocket is usually irrigate out, cleaned and a drain may or may not be placed at that time..

Joseph L. Grzeskiewicz, MD, FACS · Answer

One of the most widely recognized factors in capsule contracture is blood around an implant, and the only reliable way to clear all of the blood from around an implant is to open the pocket and physically remove all of the blood and wash the tissues.  Depending upon when the bleeding actually occurred and how long the blood has been there, this actually may be the only reliable way to get the blood out anyhow as if it has been there for more than a day or so, it will be clotted and firm and very hard to get out simply through a drain.  Once the blood is removed through an open incision, THEN a drain might be placed, but only after open removal of the blood.  In addition, this gives the surgeon a chance to inspect the pocket and see if a source of the bleeding can be identified and treated.  Unless your surgeon is considering placing the drain without making an incision, which is very risky from the standpoint of puncturing or damaging the implant, he will have to open the pocket anyway to place the drain.  Why not do things the right way and evacuate the blood completely?

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

The treatment of a hematoma is not placement of a drain.  The treatment is re-exploration of the breast implant pocket, control of the source of bleeding, irrigation of the surgical site, replacement of the implant and the possible insertion of a drain.

Placing a Drain 2 Weeks After Breast Augmentation Help Hematoma?

Answers (9)

Answer: Drains have no place being used alone to treat hematoma 2 weeks post-op

Answer: Drains have no place being used alone to treat hematoma 2 weeks post-op

Answer: Use of a surgical drain after treatment of a hematoma following a breast augmentation

Answer: Use of a surgical drain after treatment of a hematoma following a breast augmentation

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Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

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Placing a Drain 2 Weeks After Breast Augmentation Help Hematoma?

Answers (9)

Answer: Drains have no place being used alone to treat hematoma 2 weeks post-op

Answer: Drains have no place being used alone to treat hematoma 2 weeks post-op

Answer: Use of a surgical drain after treatment of a hematoma following a breast augmentation

Answer: Use of a surgical drain after treatment of a hematoma following a breast augmentation

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.