After minimally invasive breast nodule surgery, the surgeon will tightly wrap a bandage around the patient and instruct that it must be kept on for 48 hours and not removed without permission. What is the reason for this? What is the reason for the indentation of the breast after the dressing change? Here we will answer these concerns of postoperative patients. Postoperative pressure bandage to prevent hematoma formation The postoperative bandage is to prevent hematoma. As we mentioned earlier, during minimally invasive breast surgery, the rotary cutter enters the patient’s body through a puncture, so it cannot be ligated or electrocautery wounded to stop bleeding like traditional surgery. After the nodule is cut off, the surrounding area may bleed continuously and form a hematoma, so postoperative compression with a bandage is used to stop the bleeding. One should not open the gauze to view it in advance out of curiosity, as this may increase the probability of hematoma. Early postoperative compression is very important. After the bandage is tied, the patient should be observed in the hospital for 20-30 minutes to ensure that there is no blood seepage before going home to recuperate. And no strenuous exercise should be done for 2 weeks. How can I tell if a hematoma is present? What should I do if there is a hematoma? Under normal circumstances, the incision will gradually become painful after 1 to 2 hours of surgery, but it will not be too serious. However, if the pain gets worse and the swelling slowly increases, it is a sign that a hematoma may have developed. Small hematomas usually do not require treatment and most can be absorbed within three months. However, if the hematoma is large and the blood leaves the blood vessels and quickly forms a solid tofu-like mass that cannot be extracted at that time, you will need to wait 2 to 3 weeks for the clot to liquefy and then have it aspirated by a needle. Post-operative breast indentation and sclerosis Mostly recovered after six months After the nodule is removed a cavity is left, and after pressure bandaging a indentation will appear, which is more obvious especially at the first dressing change. This is because after the nodule is removed, the fibrous tissue and blood vessels repair themselves by proliferation, and a scar will form, with varying degrees of indentation and sclerosis. However, you do not need to worry, most of this condition will return to normal after the plaque gradually softens in about six months. If the mass is particularly large and superficial, the residual cavity will be larger after excision, then the doctor will not press the central part so solid when dressing, otherwise it may form a permanent depression. At this time, there will be a small amount of oozing in the middle of the residual cavity, do not worry, in the future the normal tissue will gradually fill the gap back to normal.