Recurring Hematoma 2 Weeks After Tummy Tuck

asked 11 months ago by bih
Latest answer by Vivek Bansal, MD
Question viewed 387 times
Tags: 2 weeks post-op, blood, drainage, fluid, hematoma, options, recurrence, swelling

i had a tummy tuck 12 days ago, drains was taken out 7 days post op, 2 days later, fluid started to build up, on day 10, it became extremely uncomfortable and the drain site started to ooze lots of blood..approx 500ml oozed out. this gave me some relief, now 2 days later, its starting to swell again, i can see that its a hematoma accumulating again.. approx 150ml already, whats the best way to treat this, aspiration or surgical intervention to identify the source of the bleed?

5 answers to Recurring Hematoma 2 Weeks After Tummy Tuck

Tummy Tuck

Talk to your surgeon about the cause of the bleed. This is not common and very unlikely. Be certain to keep your activity intensity at a low level.

Vivek Bansal, MD
Danville Plastic Surgeon

Hematoma versus seroma

You most likely have a seroma that contains a small amount of blood. It doesn't take much blood to make it all look like blood. You could also have an old hematoma that is breaking down, not actively bleeding. Either way you need to see your surgeon soon for an evaluation. You may need surgery and/or a drain put back in to resolve the problem. Don't wait another day.

Lori H. Saltz, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.ljcsc.com

Fluid build up after tummy tuck

This is not a problem you should ignore. You need to contact your surgeon urgently to determine the nature of the fluid, and that will determine what treatment you need to have. Don't delay getting hands-on evaluation of this problem!

Hugh McLean, MD
Mississauga Plastic Surgeon

Recurrent fluid build up after tummy tuck- what is "normal"?

Recurrent fluid build up after tummy tuck is usually "serous or serosanguineous" In other words, the fluid is composed of blood serum and a certain amount of whole blood. This problem is typical of older (less expensive) techniques of tummy tuck surgery where the surgeon does not close the wounds on the inside (using quilting sutures that close the pocket so that there is no space for the fluid to accumulate). Only a small amount of blood is necessary... more

Claudio DeLorenzi, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Exploration

I suspect that the fluid accumulation is either a blood clot that is becoming more liquid or a seroma. Either way, it is likely that you will need an exploration to remove the residual blood clot and fluid. It also sounds as if you will need drains again. See your surgeon asap. Good Luck.

Brian Klink, MD
Sacramento Plastic Surgeon

www.solanoplasticsurgery.com

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