What is a solid lump under a scar?

Author: Florian Reichert II  |  Last update: Sunday, April 27, 2025

This is called a hypertrophic scar. Sometimes scar tissue grows over the boundaries of the original wound, creating a puffy, round protrusion called a keloid. Hypertrophic scars and keloids may be itchy, tender, or painful.

Why do I have a hard lump under my scar?

Have you recently noticed a lump or a bulge in the area of a previous surgical scar? Chances are you have what's called an Incisional Hernia. Incisional hernias can occur in up to 50% of surgical incisions.

Will a hard seroma go away?

The good news is that, unless the seroma becomes huge & debilitating (which is rare) it will eventually calcify & slowly break down. It takes a long time, mine was 8 months before it had completely disappeared, but it hasn't returned since (that was 9 years ago).

What does a seroma look like?

A seroma typically looks like a swollen, raised area near your surgical site. The swelling usually forms a distinct bulge or lump under your skin that feels firm to the touch, kind of like a water balloon. You might also notice some mild redness in the area.

Does hardened scar tissue go away?

Not exactly. While some scar tissue will never go away, oftentimes, if treated properly, the injured tissue can be remolded to resemble normal, healthy tissue.

Lipoma Explained - Lump under the skin

Does scar tissue go hard?

Scar tissue may become hard and raised. Massage is a way of softening and flattening scars and reducing the adhesions between the different layers of the tissue, making the scar tissue more flexible. It can also help alleviate any itching and over-sensitivity of the scar.

How do you get rid of hard scar tissue under the skin?

Cortisone injections.

These types of injections can help soften and then shrink hard scars. Keloids and hypertrophic scars often soften after intralesional steroid injections.

What does a suture granuloma look like?

These granulomas tend to look red and swollen, and in some cases, the body tries to remove the material through the skin's surface, creating what looks like a boil or pimple.

What does a hematoma look like?

With a hematoma, the leaking blood will pool and clot, or form clumps of blood. This can cause a hard and tender mass. When it is closer to the skin surface, a hematoma may look like a painful red, black, or blue lump. As it breaks down, the skin will eventually change to a yellow or brown color.

Can you massage a seroma out?

Advanced massage techniques are used to stimulate and boost your lymphatic system and with light pressure and pumping techniques over the seroma and around the area with help manually drain the excess fluid and guide it to the lymph nodes where it will be filtered and eliminated.

What cream is good for seroma?

Topical Tranexamic Acid Safely Reduces Seroma and Time to Drain Removal Following Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction.

What is dehiscence?

Dehiscence is a partial or total separation of previously approximated wound edges, due to a failure of proper wound healing. This scenario typically occurs 5 to 8 days following surgery when healing is still in the early stages.

What happens if a seroma is left untreated?

What happens if seroma is left untreated? While you may not require treatment for a seroma, if it causes strain at the site of the incision, then it can cause the wound to open up and leak seroma fluid. You can also develop an infection with a seroma.

When is it too late to massage scar tissue?

For best results, you should perform scar massage for at least 10 minutes, twice a day, for six months. You should only stop sooner than that if the scar starts showing signs of infection or you experience intolerable discomfort.

What is the fastest way to heal a seroma?

The area may experience hardening once the seroma heals. Heat can be applied to the area to help it heal more quickly. A heating pad or hot compress can be applied for about 15 minutes every few hours. This helps with fluid drainage while providing additional comfort to the incision area.

Why is there a hard lump under my scar?

A seroma is a buildup of fluid called serum that collects beneath the skin after surgery. Typically located near the incision site or where tissue was removed, seromas can often be easily managed by your cosmetic surgeon or may resolve on their own; it is one of the most common postoperative complications.

What does a calcified granuloma look like?

Noncalcified granulomas do not contain calcium deposits. They have a diffuse appearance. Because of this, they are often misdiagnosed as cancer growths. Calcified granulomas are denser and will therefore appear more brightly than the surrounding soft tissue on an X-ray or CT scan.

What happens if a granuloma goes untreated?

Treatment might clear the skin gradually, but the bumps tend to come back. Untreated, the condition might last from a few weeks to decades.

What is a hardened seroma?

A seroma is a build-up of straw-coloured bodily fluids in an area where tissue has been removed at surgery. The fluid can make the area feel hard and this can become uncomfortable.

What is a hard calcified lump under the skin?

Calcinosis cutis usually looks like lumps on the skin. These can come slowly over time and have no other symptoms or they can come suddenly and be severe. They can be skin-colored or white and hard or soft. Some might leak a white fluid and be very painful.

Is a heating pad good for a seroma?

Seromas don't need to be treated unless they're causing problems such as pain or pressure, or if they're growing. Applying heat via a heating pad or warm, moist compresses can help encourage the fluid to drain, speed the healing process, and reduce pain.

What is hardened scar tissue called?

A keloid scar is a thick raised scar. It can occur wherever you have a skin injury but usually forms on earlobes, shoulders, cheeks or the chest. If you're prone to developing keloids, you might get them in more than one place. A keloid scar isn't harmful to your physical health, but it can cause emotional distress.

Why does scar tissue get hard?

Scar tissue's random layering — typically in crisscross patterns — results in a tough, fibrous tissue that doesn't move as freely, have as much blood flow and is structurally weaker. The resulting stiffness creates a physical barrier to natural movement and can cause discomfort.

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