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Fluid Build-Up After Tummy Tuck

asked 1 year ago by Ladyjay in Plant City
Latest answer by Naveen Setty, MD
Question viewed 1,417 times
Tags: fluid

I had a tummy tuck Feb 07,2011 and i have had fluid build up since i got my drains taken out about a week and a half ago. My stomach is like a water bed and i am bigger now than before i got the TT. I went to the doctor out of concern and they told me it would go away on its own but from what i read it can take years or be uncomfortable to let the body do it alone. The fluid doesn't seem to be going down at all and i look pregnant. What should i do?

16 answers to Fluid Build-Up After Tummy Tuck

Fluid build up(seroma) after a tummy tuck

It sounds like you have a seroma, which is an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen which can occur after the drains are removed. This can happen in about 5-10% of all tummy tucks. The fluid can be removed in the office by aspirating (sucking out) with a small needle. Occasionally certain medications can be injected into the area to minimize the fluid accumulation. You should follow up with your plastic surgeon for treatment of this seroma so that the fluid does not become... more

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.williambrunomd.com

Fluid Build-Up After Tummy Tuck

From you description, you have a seroma. This needs to be drained. I typically do this with a needle and syringe and follow my patient every few days until it is completely resolved. If it is as significant as you state "like a water bed" it is unlikely that it will resolve on its own any time soon!

Amy T. Bandy, DO
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck Seroma

Although I cannot tell for sure from your photo, it sounds as if you may have a seroma developing. I usually treat this with aspiration in my office with application of a very tight garment afterwards. This process often needs to be repeated a few times. Occasionally it is necessary to put a drain back in, but I find this necessary very infrequently.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Seroma

It is likely that a seroma can Occur after drain removal You need to get additional drains to keep your fluid build up in check for now

Edward J. Bednar, MD
Charlotte Plastic Surgeon

Seroma after tummy tuck

Seroma that late and as significant as you described will require drainage. It is best accomplished with percutaneous draim.

Erel Laufer, M.D.
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

Fluid or seroma after tummy tuck

With tummy tuck techniques that still require a drain, a seroma can develop after the drain is removed and present the full and pregnant feeling that you are now experiencing. The heavy water bed sensation is typical and the fastest way to resolve the issue is to replace the drain. Sounds awful though you will do better and feel better immediately. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Seroma after tummy tuck must be drained.

Hi. This is potentially a serious problem. What we do is have an interventional radiologist insert a new drain under ultrasound control, and leave it in for about a week. That almost always works well. see video

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Seroma after Tummy Tuck.

This is not unusual after a Tummy Tuck. A small amount of fluid may be reabsorbed by the body. If you notice a fluid wave, however, this may indicate a more substantial volume that could require a drainage procedure in the office. If a significant volume of fluid is left untreated, it may form a lined cavity or pseudo cyst that might require surgical treatment. Contact your plastic surgeon to address your concerns.

Stephen Delia, M.D.
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Post operative seroma

You are describing a post operative seroma. It is a somewhat common complication, even with use of drains. Your surgeon is right i that most small seromas can resolve on their own. However, if you have a "waterbed" look to the overlying skin you likely will need to have your seroma drained. This is a simple procedure done in the office in which a needle and syringe is used to remove the fluid. This is followed by use of a compression garment and may need to... more

Delio Ortegon, MD
San Antonio Plastic Surgeon

www.sacs-sa.com

Postoperative Seroma after Tummy Tuck

Ladyjay from Plant City, You appear to be describing a postoperative seroma, which is a known complication from tummy tuck surgery. It can result from persistant fluid accumulation after drain removal or a retained fluid collection that was not adequately drained. Depending on the size of the collection, you may require a percutaneous drainage. If the drainage recurs, a seroma catheter (small drain) can be placed until the drainage... more

Paul S. Gill, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Fluid collection after a tummy tuck

Your description seems to indicate a seroma (fluid collection) has occurred after the drain removal. Drains are placed after surgery to help minimize fluid collection that naturally occurs when the abdomen has been contoured as it has in a tummy tuck. If a small amount of fluid collects after drain removal, your body will often absorb it without difficulty. However, if there is a significant amount of fluid, it does need to be drained to prevent long-term complications.... more

Naveen Setty, MD
Plano Plastic Surgeon

Fluid buildup after tummy tuck

Your condition is consistent with a seroma, which is a collection of fluid underneath the abdominal flap. This should be addressed as it can be more difficult to resolve if it is left untreated early. Usually it will respond to needle aspirations in the office in conjunction with a pressure garment. You may require a number of aspiration sessions to completely resolve it. At times seromas can persist and require more aggressive treatments such as drains, sclerosing agents, or even... more

David A. Bottger, MD
Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon

Seroma after tummy tuck

Hi Ladyjay, Sounds as though you have a seroma, which is a common complication after tummy tuck. A seroma is a collection of watery fluid - the same fluid which your drains dealt with. A seroma can serve as a significant nuisance postoperatively, and can interfere with the re-draping of the abdominal skin. Seromas are usually treated by repeated aspirations of the fluid over several weeks after surgery; sometimes, they require placement of a drain many weeks after surgery. It's... more

Sam Jejurikar, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Problems with allowing a seroma to reabsorb on its own

Dear ladyjay, If you have a fluid collection (seroma) that makes your tummy feel like a 'water bed' and you 'look pregnant' it means that it is fairly large. The problem with allowing a larger seroma to go away on its own: It can take weeks or even months to resolve the longer the seroma exists, the harder it is to resolve on its own if the seroma does resolve on its own, the skin overlying the seroma will pucker and become 'sucked in'.... more

Lawrence Tong, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Fluid collection after a tummy tuck / abdominoplasty

If there is fluid like you describe (waterbed), then it needs to be drained. We often do what we call a wave test. If you can push on the skin in one area, and the rest of the skin moves in waves, then there is fluid beneath the skin. Draining the fluid is a simple office procedure. If the fluid persists, then you may need to have the drain left in again and removed a week or so later. Good Luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Fluid accumulation after tummy tuck

It is not uncommon to have some fluid retained after the drains come out. However if are finding that the size is increasing or there is a fluid wave, then the fluid may need to be drained. Contact your surgeon.