Purplish-Colored Mons Pubis After my Tummy Tuck. Is This Normal?

Question

My mons has turned a dark purplish color. My drains were placed in this area. I am 1 1/2 weeks out from surgery and have had one drain removed. I am really tender at the drain site and I did have some lipo done in this area. I am so tender it is hard for me to deal with the drain. I also have hardness in the whole mons area. What does this mean? Is the tissue turning necrotic? How do I relieve the painful tenderness?

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

This is bruising, pure and simple! It is aggravated by the fact that this area was liposuctioned, making lots of tunnels for fluid and blood to collect in, and this location is lowest for gravity to pool the blood and fluid into.

	Your only (minimal) worry is that this area is susceptible to infection if the drain site is not kept clean (and perhaps protected by a dab of Bacitracin). Follow your doctor's advice and return for recheck sooner if you note increased pain, redness, swelling, or purulent (pus) drainage! If you are a smoker, circulation and skin healing problems can occur, but this is usually above the incision, not below!

	Male patients who have bleeding after vasectomy (or their own tummy tuck and liposuction) have a similar problem with penile and scrotal swelling with major purple discoloration! They are uniformly terrified until they muster up the courage to ask if they might lose their genitalia!

S. Ozan Sozer, MD · Answer

Bruising, swelling and tenderness are normal findings after liposuction of the mons pubis. Because it is a dependent area the swelling may last longer. But discoloration can also be a sign of other complications such as infection or necrosis which requires follow up with the surgeon.

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD · Answer

It is not unusual for patients that have undergone abdominal contouring, via liposuction or a tummy tuck, to develop swelling and bruising in the mons region. Aftre surgery, alot of the swelling and edema will settle into that region. making it appear swollen and often bruised. This will go away with time, generally in a few weeks. It is alwys good to check with your surgeon, but this is not an unusual occureence afterwards. I hope this helps.

Scott E. Newman, MD, FACS · Answer

There is swelling and bruising after an Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) as you would expect.  Bruising tends to settle with gravity so it's not unusual to see swelling/bruising of the mons or even the upper thigh area. Using Arnica after the surgery can help this to resolve faster.

Mark Preston, MD · Answer

It is very common to have bruising, swelling and tenderness in the area you describe after tummy tuck and liposuction. If you are uncertain whether what you are seeing is normal, you need to revisit your surgeon for an examination to be sure.

Purplish-Colored Mons Pubis After my Tummy Tuck. Is This Normal?

Answers (5)