I've Had a Hematoma for 4 Months. Above the Belly Button and Upper Stomach That Bulges Out. Will Lipo Help This Area? (photo)

This is tough to tell from the photos, but I doubt that four months later the collection is drainable.  If a needle aspiration of the fluid is possible, then you may consider leaving in a drain percutaneously placed by a radiologist.  Otherwise, i would let this settle and then bring you back and perform a more definitive correction of this in the OR.

Good luck

Dr. Vasisht

South Shore Plastic Surgery

It sounds like you have had a rough go of things.  My next step would be to figure out from the ultrasound or other imaging including a CT scan, how big is the hematoma and whether any of it is liquid or not.  If the blood is still mostly liquid, it can be removed with lipo or simple aspiration in the office.  If it is a thick organized collection of scar tissue, liposuction may not remove it and you may need to have a revision tummy tuck. I would discuss these options with your physician.  Good luck.

      If the ultrasound showed hematoma, the next question should be : how large is the collection?  If this is large enough to drain or remove, then this should be done.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

If there is still a bulge 4 months out and it is firm you could also consider heat,massage and ultrasound which should help this resolve without surgery.

Dr. Swift had great comments as you tummy bulge could be from laxity of your upper abdominal wall so you do need to have it carefully and thoroughly evaluated before jumping in with liposuction.  I find this problem in patients who have a very large, protuberant tummy that does not go flat when laying supine.  Tightening of the bottom pushes it out on top.  If this is the case, a reoperation will be needed, assuming your tummy does go flat when laying down supine on your back.