Discharge After Tummy Tuck an Infection?

What you're describing is a small wound breakdown likely secondary to blood supply, serum and surgery. Don't worry this is not uncommon. The fluid is normal serous or body fluid that is coming out of the wound that developed due to tissue breakdown. Long and short of it is you will be fine as only as you continue to use the Newsprint or Bestirring and wait for the tissue to heal. In fact these wounds usually don't scar any differently than the original incision. So take heart, you'll... more

Unless you are having fevers of more pus like drainage, this is likely serous fluid coming out of an incision.  Keeping gauze on it and changing it when needed will usually allow this to dry up.  Of course, these are all issues your doctor would want to know about.

Drainage after a tummy tuck is not a common occurrence. Drainage 10 days after the procedure could indicate an infection or a seroma (fluid build up). An infection typically presents with some or all of the following: fever, redness, increased pain around the area, yellowish discharge that is usually thick, hardness of the tissue around the area, an opening in the wound. A seroma typically presents with some or all of the following: redness, hardness around the area, thin yellow or clear... more

Go back to your surgeon. You can get 100 different opinions from the web, but your best bet is to have your surgeon examine the area. This discharge after Tummy Tuck is not uncommon.

Sounds like you might have a small collection of serous fluid under the skin flap. This is not dangerous, but should be drained by your plastic surgeon. Its a good idea to contact him/her as soon as possible and let them know whats going on. I would continue with the neosporin untul you see your surgeon.

You did not specify where this is coming from? The belly button or the incision. In either case, you can have clear discharge which typcially comes from one of two sources: If it is clear, yellow and slightly oily, it may be a sign of some fat necrosis which does occur particularly in the central portion of the incision. This is associated with firmness of the surrounding tissues but is NOT a sign of infection If it is clear and yellow orange, it also could be a self draining seroma, a... more

Hi.   Drainage and redness after abdominoplasty is definitely not normal. In New York City, we would culture the drainage, put you on antibiotics, and possibly get a sonogram. If you had your diastasis repaired with permanent stitches, the drainage could even indicate a deep infection.

If it is clear yellow fluid coming out of a drain hole, it is probably serous fluid. It is a good thing that it is coming out rather collecting inside. This is normal for a few days after a drain is pulled. If it is more like chicken broth with fat droplets, it could be a little liquified fat. Infection is usually opaque white or green. In any case, do not rely on email advice. Go see your surgeon.

Hello, I would certainly keep your doctor informed, but clear or thin, yellow discharge from a small opening does not always mean infection. Infection usually has an accompanying fever, thicker discharge and redness over the skin. Clear discharge may just be serous fluid that has not been reabsorbed. Do get checked out by your doctor to make sure you also don't have a seroma, an accumulation of that serous fluid that needs to be aspirated.

Thanks for your question - There can be some drainage associated with abdominoplasty in the immediate recovery. Most plastic surgeons use drains for a portion of the immediate post-op period to control some of this fluid and remove it from the space created during an abdominoplasty. If there is no redness, warmth and if you're not having fevers these argue against infection but you should ALWAYS see your plastic surgeon with issues like this. An in person evaluation by your treating... more