How Can You Tell if You Have a Seroma or Just Swelling? I Had a TT 17 Days Ago and Very Puffy Under my Incision

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12 Doctor Answers | Asked by San Francisco4746

Doctor Answers (12)
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Post-operative Swelling Versus Seroma

Please see your surgeon ASAP, as only he/she can make that determination. In general, seroma will act like a water bed so that if one taps on the skin, small waves will be seen under the skin. But a small seroma may be difficult to diagnose and only your surgeon can make that determination.

Your surgeon should know

Please discuss this with your surgeon, he should be able to tell you and reccomend treatment as indicated, good luck.

Seroma after Tummy tuck

As a patient you may be able to distinguish seroma from swelling by feeling for a fluid wave. If you place your hand on one side of the area of concern and you feel a “wave” sensation with your other hand (on the other side of the area of concern) you likely have a seroma. Your surgeon will be able to make the diagnosis; often, several aspirations may be necessary to resolve the problem. I hope this helps.

How Can You Tell if You Have a Seroma or Just Swelling? I Had a TT 17 Days Ago and Very Puffy Under my Incision

No posted photo, not enough medical info stated. Best to return to your operative surgeon to re evaluate if there is a seroma/hematoma.

"Puffy" abdomen following a tummy tuck

Seromas as well as significant swelling of the abdomen are very common during the period of time that you are at following your abdominoplasty. Typically a seroma will appear as an undulating fluid wave whereas swelling is more firm and fixed. You should contact your plastic surgeon who can then assess your situation and take appropriate action if indicated.

Seroma after tummy tuck?

Your surgeon is the best person to consult - you need a physical exam. Swelling below the incision line or in the pubic area is fairly common following tummy tucks, and this may take a while to completely resolve (but it will!)

A FLUID WAVE

A fluid wave is what we use to determnine a free fluid collection. It is difficult to determine if you are not trained in this clinical exam. You must go to your plastic surgeon and he can tell immediately. If a seroma he will need to remove the fluid.

Swelling post tummy tuck

See your surgeon. the surgeon is the one to decide what they expected and what is possibly wrong post surgery. it may be normal, it may be fluid that needs to be drained. get to it soon.

Rick Rosen, MD

3 reviews

Norwalk Plastic Surgeon

Please see your surgeon

I would agree with both Dr's.Rand and Commons.You need to see your surgeon for further evaluation and possible treatment.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Swelling Versus Seroma

Go see you doctor. Its easy to tell. If seroma you will get fluid waves like in the ocean when you tap on one side. Look in a mirror. Tap The right side. Do you see a wave. Little seromas are hard to see but are insignificant so it does not matter anyway. Wear a tummy binder as much as you cah on lower abdomen. This corrects either problem. If seromadont worry. They go away 99.9% of time. Sometimes draining a... more

Diagnosing a seroma after a tummy tuck

You are in the right time frame for a seroma. It can be differentiated from tissue swelling clinically by tapping on one side of the abdomen and seeing a water-bed like fluid wave rumble across to the other side. If that doesn't happen, it is probably just tissue swelling. An ultrasound can also be done to be sure but the need for that is rare.

Sometimes its difficult...

The main way that the physician tells is if a fluid wave is present - think of tapping one edge of a water bed and feeling the wave come to the other side (I think that shows my age!) Soft tissue swelling is a little more firm with no wave. Basically, you need to see your surgeon for an exam. Good Luck!