Hematoma

A hematoma is a localized collection of blood that has escaped from damaged blood vessels and pooled in tissues or a surgical site. It commonly appears after trauma or an operation and can present as swelling, pain, bruising, firmness, or skin discoloration; hematomas may develop immediately or over several days depending on the source and size of bleeding.

Diagnosis is usually clinical and may be supported by ultrasound or CT for deeper or unclear collections, and treatment ranges from observation and compression for small, stable hematomas to needle aspiration or surgical evacuation for larger, expanding, or symptomatic ones. In plastic surgery, timely recognition and management are important because an untreated hematoma can increase the risk of wound healing problems, infection, implant complications, or tissue loss, and prevention focuses on careful intraoperative hemostasis and appropriate management of blood-thinning medications.