After abdomanal hernia surgery I am left with this huge seroma that is as large as a melon. It is painful. Is this normal? The surgeon suggested a tummy tuck. Someone else would be doing the tuck. Should I as him to pay for this. I have limited income.
Answer: A Tummy Tuck is not a solution for a seroma
I agree with the other docs who said that something sounds fishy. A seroma is a collection of fluid. It needs to be drained, either with needle aspirations, placement of a drain, or open drainage. A tummy tuck is completely unrelated. Your surgeon (I presume a board certified general surgeon) should deal with with complication without suggesting that you undergo an elective cosmetic procedure. If your original surgeon is not willing - or capable - of dealing with this common complication, then you need to seek another doctor.
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CONTACT NOW Answer: A Tummy Tuck is not a solution for a seroma
I agree with the other docs who said that something sounds fishy. A seroma is a collection of fluid. It needs to be drained, either with needle aspirations, placement of a drain, or open drainage. A tummy tuck is completely unrelated. Your surgeon (I presume a board certified general surgeon) should deal with with complication without suggesting that you undergo an elective cosmetic procedure. If your original surgeon is not willing - or capable - of dealing with this common complication, then you need to seek another doctor.
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Seromas Not Uncommon It’s unusual for patients to develop seromas when they undergo abdominal hernia repairs. Occasionally seromas may be seen following this procedure when the soft tissue has been extensively undermined for exposure.Under these circumstances, treatment of the seroma is necessary before secondary procedures should be considered.Treatment usually requires serial percutaneous aspirations.In some cases, CT guided drain placement is appropriate.If patients continue to have loose skin following wound healing and seroma resolution an abdominoplasty is a consideration.Abdominoplasty shouldn’t be considered a treatment for seromas, but instead a treatment for loose skin.Under these circumstances, it’s appropriate to consult a board certified general surgeon.This surgeon should be able to manage both your hernia repair and your seroma.If residual aesthetic deformities are present after complete wound healing, abdominoplasty may still be an option.
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Seromas Not Uncommon It’s unusual for patients to develop seromas when they undergo abdominal hernia repairs. Occasionally seromas may be seen following this procedure when the soft tissue has been extensively undermined for exposure.Under these circumstances, treatment of the seroma is necessary before secondary procedures should be considered.Treatment usually requires serial percutaneous aspirations.In some cases, CT guided drain placement is appropriate.If patients continue to have loose skin following wound healing and seroma resolution an abdominoplasty is a consideration.Abdominoplasty shouldn’t be considered a treatment for seromas, but instead a treatment for loose skin.Under these circumstances, it’s appropriate to consult a board certified general surgeon.This surgeon should be able to manage both your hernia repair and your seroma.If residual aesthetic deformities are present after complete wound healing, abdominoplasty may still be an option.
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January 12, 2012
Answer: A tummy tuck is not necessary to resolve seroma
Thank you for your question. It is not necessary to have a tummy tuck to resolve a seroma. If you indeed have a painful seroma as a result of your hernia repair, then you should return to see the surgeon who did the hernia repair to address the seroma through surgical or non-surgical drainage. I hope this helps.
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Answer: A tummy tuck is not necessary to resolve seroma
Thank you for your question. It is not necessary to have a tummy tuck to resolve a seroma. If you indeed have a painful seroma as a result of your hernia repair, then you should return to see the surgeon who did the hernia repair to address the seroma through surgical or non-surgical drainage. I hope this helps.
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January 5, 2012
Answer: Seroma after hernia repair by general surgeon who now advises tummy tuck.
Many plastic surgeons are fully trained general surgeons (I was certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1986) prior to their plastic surgical training and certification, so we can offer proper advice regarding your situation.
If you have fluid under your skin following hernia repair, this could be a seroma, or it could be an indication that your hernia repair has partially or completely broken down, allowing peritoneal fluid (the fluid around your intrabdominal organs) to collect under the skin through what may be a recurrent hernia opening in your abdominal wall.
Difficult hernias are sometimes referred for specialized reconstructive procedures performed by a plastic surgeons (fully-trained ABPS-certified plastic surgeons are experts in reconstructive surgery as well as cosmetic surgery), but this is not elective tummy tuck cosmetic surgery.
Your general surgeon may be trying to deflect responsibility for your present troubles, or may simply be advising referral to a specialist with more surgical tools to attack your problem. It could be that he was simply trying to describe a plastic surgical reconstructive approach in terms he hoped you would understand (since most lay people have heard about tummy tucks), but is really saying he needs help from a reconstructive plastic surgeon consultant in your care. Insurance should cover continued care of your hernia-related problems and additional surgery (by either kind of surgeon--General or Plastic).
Often small or asymptomatic hernias are repaired by a plastic surgeon during the course of an elective cosmetic tummy tuck, but this can and should be part of your original hernia care. Talk to your general surgeon; if he really wants you to see a plastic surgeon, it's not for a "cosmetic" tummy tuck; it's for hernia reconstruction by different means. Also, be careful about any surgeon sticking needles into this "fluid-filled" cavity--it could be bowel!
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CONTACT NOW January 5, 2012
Answer: Seroma after hernia repair by general surgeon who now advises tummy tuck.
Many plastic surgeons are fully trained general surgeons (I was certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1986) prior to their plastic surgical training and certification, so we can offer proper advice regarding your situation.
If you have fluid under your skin following hernia repair, this could be a seroma, or it could be an indication that your hernia repair has partially or completely broken down, allowing peritoneal fluid (the fluid around your intrabdominal organs) to collect under the skin through what may be a recurrent hernia opening in your abdominal wall.
Difficult hernias are sometimes referred for specialized reconstructive procedures performed by a plastic surgeons (fully-trained ABPS-certified plastic surgeons are experts in reconstructive surgery as well as cosmetic surgery), but this is not elective tummy tuck cosmetic surgery.
Your general surgeon may be trying to deflect responsibility for your present troubles, or may simply be advising referral to a specialist with more surgical tools to attack your problem. It could be that he was simply trying to describe a plastic surgical reconstructive approach in terms he hoped you would understand (since most lay people have heard about tummy tucks), but is really saying he needs help from a reconstructive plastic surgeon consultant in your care. Insurance should cover continued care of your hernia-related problems and additional surgery (by either kind of surgeon--General or Plastic).
Often small or asymptomatic hernias are repaired by a plastic surgeon during the course of an elective cosmetic tummy tuck, but this can and should be part of your original hernia care. Talk to your general surgeon; if he really wants you to see a plastic surgeon, it's not for a "cosmetic" tummy tuck; it's for hernia reconstruction by different means. Also, be careful about any surgeon sticking needles into this "fluid-filled" cavity--it could be bowel!
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January 5, 2012
Answer: Seroma After Hernia Repair
Something does not sound right. Your hernia surgeon should be able to deal with the seroma or refer you to a plastic surgeon for treatment of the seroma. No one should talk you into a tummy tuck unless that is what you want. Perhaps you should get a second opinion. Also, if insurance covered the hernia repair, it should cover treatment of the seroma.
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Answer: Seroma After Hernia Repair
Something does not sound right. Your hernia surgeon should be able to deal with the seroma or refer you to a plastic surgeon for treatment of the seroma. No one should talk you into a tummy tuck unless that is what you want. Perhaps you should get a second opinion. Also, if insurance covered the hernia repair, it should cover treatment of the seroma.
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