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?
Answers (3)
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 persistent for a very long time (even years). Symptomatic seromas (ones you can see or feel) can be treated by serial aspiration or by injection of sclerosant (typically antibiotics) with aspiration.
I hope this helps.
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 infected. Serial aspirations and occasional replacement of a drain will almost always resolve them.
You know if you still have a drainable seroma if you tap on the side of your lower abdomen and a fluid wave like a water bed flows across the abdomen to the other side. If you aren't sure, just go back to your doctor and they will take care of you.
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 can be done to assess how much, if any, fluid is still present. I would continue to see your doc frequently to keep an eye on this issue. As long as the fluid is not infected (and most seromas are not) it should not be harmful.
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