Question
I had a fall about half a month ago, and after the bruising on my face faded, I noticed a small lump under the skin on my cheek. It’s not visible from the outside, but it’s painful when pressed. How should I handle this?
Answer
Hematoma is often caused by external force that breaks the subcutaneous capillaries, leading to bleeding. The blood then leaks out from the broken capillaries into the subcutaneous tissue, causing the visible bruise on the intact skin. It is best to make a small incision for drainage, allowing all blood clots to come out and apply pressure bandaging. Early treatment is better; delaying it may lead to the formation of something similar to a bursa, which would be troublesome. It is recommended to decide on treatment based on the severity of the swelling.