AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2300 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Organizations belong to ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery); ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons); ACS (American College of Surgeons); Clinical Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York
Question I had vaser lipo on May 1. I have had a horrible time. I have what the doctors says is hemotoma. Huge, they went back in and broke it up with vaser again last wednesday and want to do it again next week. Should I do it again? Is this a normal complication? Should I be concerned?
Answer Hi Amy,
I'm sorry for the problems you're having.
It is, of course, difficult for me to address specific issues during the early recovery period via this format, but I would think that inserting drains would be an important part of your care at this point. I'm not so sure it's necessary to "break up" whatever you have. Blood typically clots and then liquefies after 10-14 days or so, at which point it can be evacuated. If it's truly large, you may need to be hospitalized and possibly have a blood transfusion; this is not necessary in most cases.
One way of assessing the area without doing surgery is with a CT SCan or ultrasound. They may even be able to insert one or more tubes under that guidance, although I usually favor two, larger drains than are normally used by radiologists.
Collections such as these normally can resolve if treated appropriately, but that means adequate drainage and compression. Simply breaking things up may not be the best approach unless the other parts are combined.
Again, though, I am limited in what I can say to you through this online format.
