What Can I Do About the Fluid After Tummy Tuck?

Dear Tacobell, As we all know, our bodies react to injury by swelling. Surgery is a sterile, organized short term injury to the body in exchange for improvements later on. After an injury, our vessels become leaky and fluid seeps out. Normally, as the original inflammation subsides, the vessels become normal, the leakiness stops and our lymphatics carry such fluid away resulting in tissue softening. All surgeons have preferences how to drain abdominoplasties and for how long. Some of us are... more

For recurrent sermomas (fluid collections) it may be necessary to have a small drain placed rather than have repeated aspirations performed. This can be done under ultrasound guidance if necessary or if clinically apparent, in the office under local. I also recommend wearing a compression garment until the fluid subsides. If the hardness that you are experiencing is in your suture line, this may represent some fat necrosis and may have to be removed later under local (very minor procedure).... more