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Is the fluid in my stomach after tummy tuck normal?

I had a tummy tuck with Lipo done on July 22. Today when I touched my tummy it felt like a water balloon jumped from one side of my tummy to the other. It isn't hard but my tummy is a little but distended. Plus there are a couple of harder lumps that feel like they are about the size of a lemon along mu incision line. I tried to call my doctor but since it is Sunday the office is closed. It did say they check messages throughout the day. I waiting for a call back but very concerned.

Doctor Answers 14

Fluid after tummy tuck

May 9th, 2017
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Thank you for your question. It sounds as though you have fluid collection which is called Seroma & that need aspirations. Contact your physician to discuss the best next steps as soon as possible. 

Web reference: http://www.asaadiplasticsurgery.com/newjerseynewyorkcity/before-and-after/tummy-tuck.aspx

Mokhtar Asaadi, MD
May 9th, 2017

Fluid after tummy tuck

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Thank you for your question. It sounds as though you have fluid collection which is called Seroma & that need aspirations. Contact your physician to discuss the best next steps as soon as possible. 

Learn more: http://www.asaadiplasticsurgery.com/newjerseynewyorkcity/before-and-after/tummy-tuck.aspx

Mokhtar Asaadi, MD

Post Surgery appearance in Melbourne, FL.

January 17th, 2017
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Thank you for your question about the appearance of your abdomen after your tummy tuck.  What you are describing could be consistent with a seroma, but it is important to see your board-certified plastic surgeon as soon as possible to determine whether there is a fluid collection and possibly whether it is needs to be drained.  I hope this is helpful to you.  Best of luck!

Web reference: http://www.clevensfaceandbody.com/body-contouring

Amy Ortega, MD

Amy Ortega, MD
Melbourne Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 40 reviews

January 17th, 2017

Post Surgery appearance in Melbourne, FL.

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Thank you for your question about the appearance of your abdomen after your tummy tuck.  What you are describing could be consistent with a seroma, but it is important to see your board-certified plastic surgeon as soon as possible to determine whether there is a fluid collection and possibly whether it is needs to be drained.  I hope this is helpful to you.  Best of luck!

Learn more: http://www.clevensfaceandbody.com/body-contouring

Amy Ortega, MD

Amy Ortega, MD
Melbourne Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 40 reviews

Fluid collection

November 20th, 2016
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Thank you for your query. I would agree that this appears to be a fluid collection which is not uncommon after a tummy tuck procedure. You are now 3 weeks after the procedure and need a full evaluation. Typically this would involve a full consultation with your plastic surgeon followed by possible ultrasound scan guided removal of fluid.

This will generally resolve but may need further care including appropriate garments, antibiotics, pain killers and close followup.

Sometime the problem will persist and then requires an operative procedure to deal with it comprehensively. 

In the meantime feel free to post any further questions and best of luck for a great result.

Sanjay Azad, MS, FRCSEd

Sanjay Azad, MS, FRCSEd
Thunder Bay Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars 8 reviews

November 20th, 2016

Fluid collection

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Thank you for your query. I would agree that this appears to be a fluid collection which is not uncommon after a tummy tuck procedure. You are now 3 weeks after the procedure and need a full evaluation. Typically this would involve a full consultation with your plastic surgeon followed by possible ultrasound scan guided removal of fluid.

This will generally resolve but may need further care including appropriate garments, antibiotics, pain killers and close followup.

Sometime the problem will persist and then requires an operative procedure to deal with it comprehensively. 

In the meantime feel free to post any further questions and best of luck for a great result.

Sanjay Azad, MS, FRCSEd
Thunder Bay Plastic Surgeon

Seroma

August 25th, 2016
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Dear Jamie_L, What you are describing is a seroma under the abdominal flap. This is treated with either intermittent aspirations or placement of a small drain under local anesthesia for continuous drainage. That latter usually resolves the problem more quickly. Keeping your activity level low and wearing a compressive band will also help with that. I hope this has been helpful. Robert D. Wilcox, MD
Robert D. Wilcox, MD
August 25th, 2016

Seroma

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Dear Jamie_L, What you are describing is a seroma under the abdominal flap. This is treated with either intermittent aspirations or placement of a small drain under local anesthesia for continuous drainage. That latter usually resolves the problem more quickly. Keeping your activity level low and wearing a compressive band will also help with that. I hope this has been helpful. Robert D. Wilcox, MD
Robert D. Wilcox, MD

You should have seen your surgeon

August 18th, 2016
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by now and had an aspiration for your seroma.  You can anticipate repeated aspirations until this is resolved.  And if it doesn't resolve, there are procedures that can help with resolution.  Best of luck.
Curtis Wong, MD
August 18th, 2016

You should have seen your surgeon

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by now and had an aspiration for your seroma.  You can anticipate repeated aspirations until this is resolved.  And if it doesn't resolve, there are procedures that can help with resolution.  Best of luck.
Curtis Wong, MD

Fluid after tummy tuck

August 16th, 2016
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an unusual complication if you had a drain for 4-5 days postop, but not a big problem. It should be drained in. Office, may need to be done several times, and will benefit from a snug garment. This is more common after lipo done with tummy tuck in my practice.

Robert V. Mandraccia, MD
August 16th, 2016

Fluid after tummy tuck

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an unusual complication if you had a drain for 4-5 days postop, but not a big problem. It should be drained in. Office, may need to be done several times, and will benefit from a snug garment. This is more common after lipo done with tummy tuck in my practice.

Robert V. Mandraccia, MD

Fluid wave

August 16th, 2016
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Hello and thank you for your question! What you are describing sounds like there is fluid under the abdominal tissue. This is something that the body produces and sometimes can accumulate in areas where there is a significant amount of empty space. As long as there is no infection present this is not something that is an emergency but it should be drained as soon as possible. If you notice redness, warmth, pain, fever and any other signs of infection, then this is something that should be addressed immediately. A seroma can be a common complication after tummy tuck. If this happens in my practice I usually aspirate the fluid with a needle and then place a compressive dressing so as to apply pressure in the area that I drained. Then I have the patient come back a few times during the week to check if the fluid re-accumulates (which is usually the case) and then I repeat the above steps. The fluid usually decreases in volume with each drainage and eventually stops accumulating. You should definitely be seen by your plastic surgeon as soon as possible. I hope this helps and good luck!
Ankur Mehta MD
Ankur Mehta, MD
August 16th, 2016

Fluid wave

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
Hello and thank you for your question! What you are describing sounds like there is fluid under the abdominal tissue. This is something that the body produces and sometimes can accumulate in areas where there is a significant amount of empty space. As long as there is no infection present this is not something that is an emergency but it should be drained as soon as possible. If you notice redness, warmth, pain, fever and any other signs of infection, then this is something that should be addressed immediately. A seroma can be a common complication after tummy tuck. If this happens in my practice I usually aspirate the fluid with a needle and then place a compressive dressing so as to apply pressure in the area that I drained. Then I have the patient come back a few times during the week to check if the fluid re-accumulates (which is usually the case) and then I repeat the above steps. The fluid usually decreases in volume with each drainage and eventually stops accumulating. You should definitely be seen by your plastic surgeon as soon as possible. I hope this helps and good luck!
Ankur Mehta MD
Ankur Mehta, MD

Tuck Tuck Question

August 16th, 2016
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Good question! You have fluid that needs to be drained. Your doctor or nurse should be able to aspirate most of the fluid off of your abdomen. This procedure should not hurt.  You will probably need to be aspirated 2-3 times a week until your fluid stops building up. Keep tight compression on your abdomen at all times to help your skin stick back down to your muscle layers. Keep massaging your incision line daily to help with buildup of scar tissue underneath your incision. Good luck! 
Ed Breazeale, Jr., MD
August 16th, 2016

Tuck Tuck Question

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Good question! You have fluid that needs to be drained. Your doctor or nurse should be able to aspirate most of the fluid off of your abdomen. This procedure should not hurt.  You will probably need to be aspirated 2-3 times a week until your fluid stops building up. Keep tight compression on your abdomen at all times to help your skin stick back down to your muscle layers. Keep massaging your incision line daily to help with buildup of scar tissue underneath your incision. Good luck! 
Ed Breazeale, Jr., MD

Seroma

August 15th, 2016
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Hello,You have a seroma, the number one complication after a tummy tuck. It is not dangerous, but you will need to get it drained soon. Continue trying to get an early appointment with your surgeon.Best of luck!

Web reference: http://www.drminniti.com

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 90 reviews

August 15th, 2016

Seroma

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Hello,You have a seroma, the number one complication after a tummy tuck. It is not dangerous, but you will need to get it drained soon. Continue trying to get an early appointment with your surgeon.Best of luck!

Learn more: http://www.drminniti.com

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 90 reviews

Is the fluid in my stomach after tummy tuck normal?

August 15th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
What your describing sounds like a seroma. This is a collection of fluid under the skin. It typically needs to be drained. Hopefully you are now able to get in contact with your surgeon, so that they can see you in person and make definitive recommendations.

Web reference: http://www.drhayescosmeticsurgery.com/tummy-tuck-portland-or.html

Austin Hayes, MD
August 15th, 2016

Is the fluid in my stomach after tummy tuck normal?

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
What your describing sounds like a seroma. This is a collection of fluid under the skin. It typically needs to be drained. Hopefully you are now able to get in contact with your surgeon, so that they can see you in person and make definitive recommendations.

Learn more: http://www.drhayescosmeticsurgery.com/tummy-tuck-portland-or.html

Austin Hayes, MD

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.