"Coagulum suction": a simple trick for the reduction of postoperative hematoma associated with facelift.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Facelift is currently one of the most requested procedures among consumers of aesthetic plastic surgery. Like any operation, it is accompanied by a variety of potential complications, with postoperative bleeding probably the most frequent. Hematomas can cause hyperpigmentation,contour changes due to subcutaneous scarring, prolongation of healing, and necrosis of the skin flap. The most common treatment is manual expression of the blood coagula. Needle aspiration sometimes cannot be used because of the viscosity of the coagula. METHODS: Seven patients underwent a new method of hematoma removal from wounds. One to two sutures were removed above the hairline under local anesthesia and a short liposuction cannula, 2.5 mm in diameter and 10­15 cm in length with one or two openings, was used for coagulum suction. RESULTS: All treated patients had the hematoma suction procedure without complications and with satisfactory outcomes and no subsequent bleeding. CONCLUSION: Coagulum suction is a simple and fast method that can shorten the recovery following a facelift.This method cannot replace surgical revision in cases in which there is substantial and/or persistent bleeding.However, it can reduce hematomas that are large enough to delay healing and interfere with convalescence, yet too small to warrant surgical revision.