After 4 Weeks Discovered I Had a Seroma

asked 6 months ago by Brooksie in Georgia
Latest answer by David Bogue, MD
Question viewed 391 times
Tags: 1 month post-op, drainage, frequency, results, seroma

After 4 weeks post op from a tummy tuck, I was told I had a seroma at my 4 week post op appointment. The PS had to drain the area using a needle and syringe. The Doctor ended up draining 600cc of fluids. A week later, I see the fluid has come back and it looks like it is going to be quit an amount that needs to be drained again. How many times will I need to get this drained? will this effect the outcome of my Tummy tuck results? IS this slowing my healing process? What am'I doing wrong?

10 answers to After 4 Weeks Discovered I Had a Seroma

It should be drained frequently

Hello, A seroma is just a collection of healing fluid but if present for large periods of time it can form a pseudo-bursa which is essentially scar tissue that can result in fullness in the area. I would have it drained 2-3 times per week and wear your abdominal binder religiously. The other option is to have your plastic surgeon place a seroma catheter or drain. You should be wearing your abdominal binder essentially around the clock except for showers. Doing so... more

Remus Repta, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

Seroma drainage

If you have a postop seroma, it may need to be drained on more than one occasion. The alternatives are to drain during office visits or to place a catheter. Each plastic surgeon has his or her own protocol as to how to handle drainage. You haven't indicated whether drains were initially placed during your operation. I always use the drains to reduce the risk of seroma. Obviously, the drainage is a nuisance but it should not affect the outcome of the abdominoplasty. Please be patient... more

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Seromas after tummy tuck

600cc is a lot. 4 weeks after surgery is late to find this out. You should probably be returning to office even twice a week to get a handle on this. If it doesn't dramatically improve within 2 weeks I would put in a drain. If a seroma is not adequately treated the undersurface of the skin may never "stick" back down, in which case you may always have a bit of fluid, and therefore fullness which remains.

Ronald Schuster, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.drschuster.com

Seroma after Tummy Tuck

Thank you for the question. Seromas are a relative frequent occurrence after tummy tuck surgery. It appears that your plastic surgeon is treating it appropriately with the repeat aspirations. Often larger volume seromas like yours may require several aspiration treatments. The presence of the seroma does not necessarily mean you're doing anything “wrong” and it will not necessarily affect the end results of your tummy tuck surgery. I would suggest continued... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Seroma after tummy tuck.

A seroma after a tummy tuck is a common complication. Because the abdominal skin is lifted off of the abdominal muscle wall, there is a space between them where fluid can collect. Shearing forces can disrupt the scarring process which reattaches these two layers and the result is typically a seroma or fluid collection. The fluid may need to be aspirated multiple times over several weeks before it goes away. Wearing a compression garment can help prevent or reduce reaccumulation of this fluid... more

David Bogue, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Late seroma after tummy tuck

This is a very large seroma volume. If you were my patient I would place another drain rather than aspirating the seroma 2 or 3 times a week. But if you do not mind the repeated aspirations that is certainly a reasonable option.

Ann F. Reilley, MD
Baton Rouge Plastic Surgeon

www.plasticsurgerybr.com

After 4 Weeks Discovered I Had a Seroma

You might request to have a drainage system placed operatively to alleviate the need of needle aspiration. Just a thought.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Large seroma first noted 4 weeks after tummy tuck

Seromas are a frequent occurrence with tummy tucks and the majority of plastic surgeons use drains to reduce their incidence. However, 600cc is a massively large seroma that took a relatively long time to accumulate. Depending on several factors, this can be treated with repeated but frequent aspirations that should be performed 2 - 3 times per week - once a week is inadequate. If the amount of aspirations each time doesn't show a trend to significantly reduction then placement of a... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Seroma treatment after a tummy tuck

One of the more common complications after any body contouring operation is a seroma. Seromas are fluid collections that develop because of the potential space that can arise secondary to undermining. Most plastic surgeons treat seromas with serial aspiration (with a needle and a large syringe) in the office, often on a weekly basis. For large seromas (more than a couple hundred cc's) a drain is sometimes inserted in the office or the operating room... more

Kelly Gallego, MD
Sioux City Plastic Surgeon

www.drgallego.com

Tummy Tuck Results - Post-operative seroma

It is not uncommon to have a seroma after a tummy tuck. I usually place drains in my standard tummy tuck procedures and remove them after them drainage is significantly decreased. This may take up to ten days after surgery. A seroma may develop inspite of the use of drains. If a seroma does develop, I see the patient frequently, sometimes every other day, and the patient continues to wear their post-operative compression garment 24 hours per day. If the seroma... more