Is there a better way to help drain a seroma than surgery I've been doing the heating pad 15 min on 15 off for weeks. (Photos)

Hello,
The bad news is that despite meticulous surgical efforts to prevent them (tension sutures, avoiding bleeding, placement of drains) and postoperative compression, seromas can happen after a panniculectomy. The good news is that they treatable. There a many techniques to treat seromas, and often many are used to ensure complete treatment. If your doctor has not tried non-surgical methods such as steroids and antibiotic injections, it may be useful to suggest them. Generally surgical excision of the seroma cavity is used as a last resort. Further discussion with your surgeon may reveal plans for additional non-surgical interventions to try before resorting to surgical treatment.
Best wishes for your recovery,
Dr. Moein

Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, seromas are the most common complication after a panniculectomy or abdominoplasty. It is caused by shearing or rubbing of the tissues as we move and lymphatic disruption. Multiple maneuvers are done during the surgeries to try and prevent the seromas from forming but often times they still do. Treatment involves needle aspiration of the seroma. Frequently this has to be done multiple times before the tissues stick together thus preventing the fluid from forming. Follow up with your surgeon regularly until the seroma is completely healed. Good luck with your recovery!