Fluid Retention on my Belly After Lipo, Do I Really Need to Get It out with a Syringe??

Question

20 days p/o. Surgery done abroad. Last day overthere, 16 day p/o, while having my ldm they found a few little pockets of fluid.They removed 2 of them but the last one was very painful so I didn't let them touch it. Now 3 days later I have another pocket of fluid and it's much larger than the other ones and I still have the little one I didn't let them touch. What could happen if I don't get that fluid out? And it's possible to use anesthesia in the area to get it out? Where can I go to do it?

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

Alhough observation of your seromas may be performed by some surgeons, most advise aspiration to minimize the potential for a pseudocyst formation and/or the possibility of secondary infection. Either of these complications may need to be treated with surgery. Therefore ongoing needle aspirations are typically carried out and usually performed without anesthesia. You could consider asking for an oral anxiolytic or topical anesthetic to diminihsh the pain and anxiety associated with the aspirations

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

I am going to leave out the lecture on Medical Tourism.  It advisable to have your seromas removed before they either become infected or become persistent/permanent.  Local anesthesia can be used on the skin decrease the discomfort.  Drains may need to be placed over a period of time to resolve the issue.

	Dr. ES

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

If there is a true pocket of fluid in the subcutaneous cavity, it should be drained to prevent the possibility of infection. Often a culture is taken of the fluid as a preacaution. If it doesn't stop draining, a drain may be inserted, a fluid may be injected to "sclerose" the cavity and eventually surgery may be needed to close up the space so fluid doesn't tend to reaccumulate. See a plastic surgeon here.

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

This needs to be done, and local anesthesia can be used if aspiration is painful. Leaving the seroma in does allow a pseudobursa to form, which can require an incision (scar) and can lead to irregularities in the final result. Trust me, a needle is the smaller of the two undesired treatments. If you simply ignore this, I would anticipate a firm area of scar fibrosis to develop. This is not good, and can lead to contour deformity, permanent firmness, or re-operation.

	Since you can't go to your surgeon for follow-up, you will have to find a local plastic surgeon who will be kind enough to deal with your problem, although you rejected him/her as worthy of doing your surgery. Good luck.

Jeffrey Weinzweig, MD, FACS · Answer

After liposuction fluid may develop and collect. Compression garments are necessary to reduce swelling and fluid collection.

Fluid Retention on my Belly After Lipo, Do I Really Need to Get It out with a Syringe??

Answers (10)