Tummy Tuck: Q&A
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How Long Will a Seroma Last After Tummy Tuck and Liposuction?
I had tummy tuck surgery combined with liposuction 40 days ago, and although I am pleased with how I look as I have got my body back to what it used to be, I have also developed a seroma.
One week after surgery my doctor determined I had a seroma and for the two weeks following he has been taking this fluid away by syringe every day. It has now been three weeks since he took the last syringe of fluid and my doctor has now advised me that my body will remove the small amount of remaining fluid itself.
It's now been six weeks since my surgery and although I feel well I am still worried that there may be some remaining fluid, which could be harmful to me. Can anyone tell me how long a seroma should last and how I should examine myself to ensure there is no remaining fluid?
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25 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
Ludmila
in Poland
+16
A seroma is mainly a nuisance and not dangerous
A seroma is not rare after a tummy tuck. In fact, it is the most common complication in some series (10%). In order to minimize these numbers, it is always best to leave a drain in you for long enough until the output is less than 25cc per day. This usually takes 7-10 days after surgery and longer in patients who have had massive weight loss. Doing this, I haven't had to drain a seroma in the last three years.
Seromas are harmless and won't alter your result as long as they don't get...
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+8
Duration of a Seroma after Tummy Tuck and Liposuction Surgery
Seroma is the most common complication to occur after tummy tuck surgery. It is not a serious complication and is usually prevented by the placement of drains during the surgical procedure. The drains are removed when the drainage is less than 25cc for a 24hr period of time. The small amount of serous fluid that accumulates after this will be absorbed by the body.
Even with the placement of drains a seroma may develop. It is treated with serial aspiration just as your...
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+7
Seroma duration
Thanks for the question.
Seromas are a common problem after tummy tuck. Drains that are typically placed at the time of the surgery help reduce the amount of seroma.
Even in abdomens that look flat after abdominoplasty there is typically some amount of fluid under the flaps.
When this fluid is palpable or visible then it can be treated through aspiration. Typically as your body heals less fluid will be recruited into the area and your lymphatics regenerate.
Small seromas can be...
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+5
Seroma after abdominoplasty
As other physicians have said here, seromas are not uncommon after surgery. Those of us with low rates of postoperative seromas usually leave drains in following abdominal surgery for a longer period of time. Once a seroma forms, percutaneous aspiration is the usual therapy as you've described. It is also true that your body contributes to seroma resolution by absorbing the fluid over time. Sometimes chronic seromas can form where the wall of the seroma becomes thicker and better absorption...
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+4
This is a common problem
Seromas occur fairly commonly after abdominoplasty and are usually treated just as your doctor did. The can either be drained with a needle over and over until they go away or a drain can be placed. The very small amount of fluid that your doctor told you would resolve should absorb rather quickly. Occasionally a seroma can be persistent and require other procedures to remove them. 40 days is certainly not in the "unresolving" category. If it does not continue to improve an ultrasound...
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+2
Seromas after abdominoplasty surgery
Aspiration of a seroma once it is seen is the correct procedure to be following. I think your Plastic Surgeon is following you properly. A small remaining seroma may take several weeks to resolve, possibly as long as a month or two, but I want to add one note of caution- if a seroma remains for too long of a time it will form a bursa or sac around it( a sac or bursa is made of scar tissue just like the capsule of scar that surrounds a breast implant). If this were to occur,...
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+2
Seroma after Surgery
Your surgeon did a great job of diagnosis and treatment. Tapping a seroma aggressively is the only way to keep the tissues from contracting and forming a ridge at the scar. Once your tapped volume is around 10 cc your surgeon will be able to stop the process. We are pleased when patients have good results. you will be just fine.
+2
Seromas after tummy tuck
Seromas can happen with tummy tucks and more so whent hey are combined with liposuction. They usually "burn out" so to speak after repeated aspirations. I usually have my patients wear compression for several weeks to months if they develop a seroma after the repeated aspirations. Just go on for periodic check-ups to your doctor.
+2
Seromas and Tummy Tuck Surgery
Seromas are a common complication of Tummy Tuck surgery. As long as the elevated skin/fat component has not completely adhered to the underlying muscle surface, the body continues to produce a varying amount of fluid. Most of the fluid IS absorbed by the body but when the ability of the body to absorb the fluid is slowed or over-passed fluid collections (Seromas) form and need to be drained. The drainage is done BOTH to allow the surfaces to stay in contact and stick together and to prevent...
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+2
Seroma after tummy tuck
Seroma after tummy tuck and liposuction is common, more common with the combination surgery.
Drains are used to remove the fluid and kept till the daily output is 25-30cc for two consecetive days. Then the drains are removed.
Recurrent seroma can be aspirated, but if it continues to accumolate a drain may need to be inserted. The risks of aspiration and drains is infection.
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
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