Tummy Tuck Seroma? Fluid Won't Drain.

3 weeks post FTT. Drains removed one week ago and swelling worsened. Yesterday, I noticed when I push on a large lump in my pubic area, I can see the fluid displace and come up in my lower left abdomen. I can see the "waterbed effect" when I lie down and push on parts of my lower abd. and the hard spot in my pubic area disappears and is flat again. PS tried aspiration (placed syringe in lower left abdomen) but nothing would come out. Could it be something else? What can I do?

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fluid seroma

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by TheBabycakes in Phoenix, AZ

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Seroma aspiration after tummy tuck is common

It is common to experience a seroma after a tummy tuck. often if your plastic surgeon can't aspriate from one area he can try aspirating from another area. also it is very important to keep your activity level to a minimum and wear a tight binder to keep pressure over this area. best wishes, sean younai, MD

Seroma after tummy tuck

It is usually very, very straightforward to aspirate a seroma. Reschedule an appointment with your board certified plastic surgeon and have the seroma aspirated.

Seroma (fluid) after tummy tuck

Historically, seromas have been the most common post operative complication of abdominoplastys. They generally respond to serial aspirations which, if the accumulation is substantial as it appears in your case, is not overly difficult to perform succesfully. It generally takes several aspirations and will require diminished activities along with compression. Other options involve placement of a seroma catheter - which is in essence replacing your drain to allow a continuous removal of the... more

Tummy tuck seroma; aspiration attempt failed. What to do now?

What needs to happen immediately (so this seroma cavity does not become permanent) is another attempt at aspiration. After over two decades of doing tummy tucks, I have had my fair share of seromas (and even a few after drains have been removed), but I have only failed to successfully aspirate 1 or 2 patients with extremely small seromas, or extremely thick subcutaneous fatty layers. Seromas large enough to have a visible fluid wave are able to be aspirated in virtually all patients, though... more

Seroma after Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty

Yes, it sounds like you have a persistent seroma or fluid collection under your skin. In most cases, the fluid can be drained by your plastic surgeon in the office by numbing the skin and then draining the fluid with a needle. However, sometimes it requires a radiologist to drain the fluid. In this procedure, the radiologist uses an ultrasound to look through the skin and see where the fluid collection is located. The radiologist can then place a drain directly into... more

Seroma after Tummy Tuck

Hello The Babycakes, I am sorry you are having this very common but frustrating problem known as a seroma. I understand that your PS tried to aspirate it but was unsuccessful, however that doesn't mean that there isn't fluid there. It is important to remove the fluid, so please return to your doctor for a second attempt. If unsuccessful, you will need an ultrasound to find the fluid and perhaps have it drained at that time. I am sure that this problem will... more

Seroma in abdomen 1 week after drain removal

What you are describing is typical for a seroma of the abdomen. There clearly is a significant amount of fluid present that should be able to be aspirated. If allowed to continue untreated, not only will the deformity become larger and more symptomatic, but this could develop into a chronic problem with a persistent enclosed and lined seroma cavity. This would then require surgery to treat. I recommend that you re-contact your plastic surgeon and have him/her make another attempt at... more

Tummy Tuck Seroma? Fluid Won't Drain.

Sometimes when you have a seroma, it can be difficult for the surgeon to get the needle exaclty into the correct spot to drain the fluid. I would go see him/her again, and if the attempt is unsuccessful, perhaps an ultra-sound guided aspiration would be recommended- or replacement of the drain. Good luck!