Preventing Hematoma after Breast Augmentation

The results of breast augmentation surgery make the journey well worth it, but it’s important to take good care of your body during recovery to avoid any complications. There are a few potential risks with every surgery and it’s important to plan and prepare for them.

One risk associated with breast augmentation surgery is a hematoma or a collection of blood inside the body. We can identify a hematoma to help patients understand its causes and to advise them on the precautions.

How Do I Know if I Have a Hematoma?

A hematoma is a collection of blood around the breast implant after surgery. You can identify a hematoma by the discoloration around the skin from the blood leaking from the blood vessels into the nearby skin tissue.

You may experience this anywhere from one day to three weeks after surgery, so it’s important to be careful throughout the whole recovery process.

What Causes Hematoma After Breast Augmentation?

There are various factors that may increase the chance of getting a hematoma. Patients who have taken blood thinners such as aspirin have a much higher risk of getting a hematoma. Because of this, you should avoid any blood thinners before and after your surgery.

Consuming alcohol before surgery can also have a similar effect, so make sure to eliminate the consumption of alcohol before surgery. Also, patients with either coagulant disorders or high blood pressure are at a higher risk of developing a hematoma after surgery.

What Precautions Can I take to Avoid a Hematoma?

Patients can do the following to minimize the risk of hematoma after breast surgery:

• Follow your doctor’s advice
  We will give you a set of instructions to follow both in preparation and recovery from surgery. These instructions will include a list of certain medications, herbs, and vitamins to avoid before and after surgery, and strict instructions about how to conduct yourself after surgery. Take these instructions seriously.
  Also, make sure to discuss your health history in detail with your surgeon. If you have a history of high blood pressure, coagulant disorders, or other blood problems, make sure to inform your doctor in advance.
• Avoid excessive heat after surgery
  Being exposed to excessive heat after surgery can also be a trigger for hematomas. Stay out of the sun, hot tubs, and away from heating pads until your doctor has had a chance to consult you about your progress.
• Keep your heart rate down
  Another great way to decrease your risk of getting a hematoma is to keep your heart rate down. You may be tempted to jump back into exercising as soon as you feel better, but your body still needs time to heal on the inside.
  Make sure to give yourself at least four weeks before returning to your full workout schedule. Relaxing and taking it easy after surgery is a great way to make sure you fully recover and avoid any harmful side effects of surgery.
• Compression bandages or garments
  Compressing the skin on the treatment will minimize or prevent the bleeding that causes a hematoma.
• Surgical drains
  Surgical drains will draw out any fluid that has collected under the skin.

Keeping a Safe Recovery

Immediately after surgery, patients provided with instructions for post-operative care. These instructions ensure that each patient recovers with zero complications from surgery. And because the procedure itself is incredibly invasive, the amount of care taken during the recovery period will ultimately play a pivotal role in the way your new implants will settle in your body.

Aside from the expected discomfort, a lot of care must be extended during the recovery period. This means taking a break from activities such as driving and exercise until you’ve been cleared by your board-certified plastic surgeon. Frequent follow-up visits will allow your surgeon to assess where you are in your journey, what you can do, and what steps can be taken to ensure your breasts recover free from complications such as hematoma.

*The content in this blog is developed to spread the awareness towards plastic surgery. Our blog is not intended to serve as a replacement for an actual in-office consultation with Dr. Marin. As such, the information within this blog reflects the unique cases of our individual patients.