I’m a 50yr old female. I had a tummy tuck and soon after pulling my drain I developed a seroma. It was drained at least 5 times until there was only 5cc. I continue to feel a lump above the umbilical are. I continued to hear your swollen n things will resolve. It has been 11 months and I had an ultrasound which proved to be a small seroma plus a wall of thick scar tissue that is hard to the touch. My plastic surgeon says leave it alone. Is there a risk in not removing it?
October 17, 2023
Answer: Likely no risk but it will persist The area has probably developed into a chronic seroma which is not likely to ever resolve at this point. Probably no risk to leaving it except the persistent lump. Unfortunately, the only way to resolve it now is to surgically excise it, which involves a surgical exposure similar to the tummy tuck dissection that you originally had. Removal may also result in a contour deformity--a depression where the lump is--which you might like even less than the lump. Hope that helps and good luck!
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October 17, 2023
Answer: Likely no risk but it will persist The area has probably developed into a chronic seroma which is not likely to ever resolve at this point. Probably no risk to leaving it except the persistent lump. Unfortunately, the only way to resolve it now is to surgically excise it, which involves a surgical exposure similar to the tummy tuck dissection that you originally had. Removal may also result in a contour deformity--a depression where the lump is--which you might like even less than the lump. Hope that helps and good luck!
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October 19, 2023
Answer: Pseudo seroma 11 months post op. Is there a risk in not removing it? Seroma fluid can become infect but very small collections are less likely to do so. Scar tissue may have developed in that area because of the seroma or because of the serial draining. Seromas are fluid collections that your body makes after surgery. You must do the following post op in order to avoid one: restrictions in your diet - no salt or seasoning on your food post op until 2 weeks after your drains are removed. At one week post op as long as your vitals are within normal limits, restrict all oral fluid intake to under 1500mL per day, no twisting at the waist, tight compression 23h + per day and continue lymphatic massages/endermologie until your doctor clears you to stop. The lump from the scar tissue could possibly improve with steroid injection (but that has its own risk/side effects). Doing lipo in that area again can break up the scar tissue and make a fresh wound bed for things to heal again. BUT you may develop a seroma again after that since your body has already been know to do that. Unfortunately, seroma is known entity after a tummy tuck especially when liposuction is done in combination.
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October 19, 2023
Answer: Pseudo seroma 11 months post op. Is there a risk in not removing it? Seroma fluid can become infect but very small collections are less likely to do so. Scar tissue may have developed in that area because of the seroma or because of the serial draining. Seromas are fluid collections that your body makes after surgery. You must do the following post op in order to avoid one: restrictions in your diet - no salt or seasoning on your food post op until 2 weeks after your drains are removed. At one week post op as long as your vitals are within normal limits, restrict all oral fluid intake to under 1500mL per day, no twisting at the waist, tight compression 23h + per day and continue lymphatic massages/endermologie until your doctor clears you to stop. The lump from the scar tissue could possibly improve with steroid injection (but that has its own risk/side effects). Doing lipo in that area again can break up the scar tissue and make a fresh wound bed for things to heal again. BUT you may develop a seroma again after that since your body has already been know to do that. Unfortunately, seroma is known entity after a tummy tuck especially when liposuction is done in combination.
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