Vomited 1 Day Post-Op Tummy Tuck, I Believe I Busted the Sutures, Could this cause Seroma?

asked 9 months ago by Zoe1002 in Jersey City, NJ
Latest answer by Alan Engler, MD
Question viewed 298 times
Tags: 2 months post-op, infection, seroma, sutures, vomiting

I had a tummy tuck at the end of July. The evening post op, I violently vomited. I heard and felt a major pop. I immediately felt my tummy tuck was looser. By the next morning I could stand straight. Over the next 9 days I then developed a seroma and infection which then resulted in wound dehiscence and suture rejection. Could I have completely undone the muscle repair from vomiting and could the vomiting cause damage for a seroma to develop?

9 answers to Vomited 1 Day Post-Op Tummy Tuck, I Believe I Busted the Sutures, Could this cause Seroma?

Vomiting and seromas

I'm sorry that you have gone through a rough patch healing from your tummy tuck. It is often very hard to definitely pinpoint a cause for a postoperative complication, since seromas-infections-wound breakdown can happen without a history of vomiting. It is possible that trauma caused by violent vomiting could have caused internal injury such as bleeding or sutures breaking, but there is really no way to know for sure. I hope you are recovering well and happy with... more

Michelle Spring, MD
Marina Del Rey Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck - Vomited 1 Day Post-Op Tummy Tuck, I Believe I Busted the Sutures, Could this cause Seroma?

Unfortunately, you may well have ripped your sutures. Although it is rare it can happen and the scenario you describe is completely consistent with that. If that is, in fact, what happened, you would not have the extent of repair, particularly with respect to the tightness of the abdomen, that was originally intended and achieved surgically. Seromas can occur with or without any complications, but they are more likely when there has been some excess bleeding...and that may... more

Alan Engler, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck Complications?

Thank you for the question. I'm sorry to hear about the complications experienced after the tummy tuck surgery. Based on your description, it is very likely that the “violent vomiting" has caused disruption of the muscle plication sutures. However, it is more difficult to blame the vomiting for the other complications you have experienced. I hope you are continuing close follow-up with your plastic surgeon. After a period of time, if... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Vomiting After a Tummy Tuck

Sounds like you must have heavily vomited if you busted your sutures. You should consult your surgeon and have them take a look at your incision site to make sure that you do not have any openings. Also as far as muscles needing repair, that is something that will have to be determined by your surgeon. There isn’t a concrete correlation between vomiting being the only post operative issue that causes seromas, but if a seroma is to develop, as it has, your surgeon will most... more

Siamak Agha, MD, PhD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Can vomiting disrupt sutures after a Tommy tuck operation.

Post op vomiting is never good after any operation, but by itself, vomiting should not disrupt your sutures in the muscle layer. If it did there would be a lot of suture dehiscences. If the sutures cut into the tissues it could cause bleeding which could cause a hematoma. Old hematomas eventually become a seromas. Infections are possible in hematomas and seromas, especially after multiple aspirations. How are you doing now. Is everything ok now?

Farhad Rafizadeh, MD
Morristown Plastic Surgeon

Violent vomiting after tummy tuck

It sounds like you have had some less than desirable issues. Bouts of intense vomiting immediately following surgery for an abdominoplasty can potentially cause breakage of the muscle repair due to the powerful muscle forces breaking the sutures or causing them to tear through the tissues. Was your plastic surgeon aware of this violent vomiting as well as the pop that you heard? Do you have an abnormal bulge that is present which is why you are concerned about this issue? This however... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Vomited 1 Day Post-Op Tummy Tuck, I Believe I Busted the Sutures, Could this cause Seroma?

Yes very possible. But how are you now 3 months + after operation??? Are you healed? What are your results? Please determine your next step carefully.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Vomiting after tummy tuck

You could very well have ruptured your sutres, that is what the pop likey represented. Did you inform your doctor at the time? This has nothing to do with a seroma, spitting sutures, or infection. This is a huge operation and complications do happen from time to time. Please discuss your concerns with your doctor. Show him any changes in contour.

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Coughing after tummy tuck

While it is possible that you disrupted your sutures, it is very unusual. However, from you description, it sounds like that may be what happened. Hopefully you have been following closely with your surgeon in the post-operative period. Good Luck.