What is the difference between a seroma and lymphocele?

Question

Hi, could I have seroma? Or something else at 22 days post tummy tuck. Yesterday, I started leaking brown fluid through the lower incision. I then had a blister on my hip with fluid that was starting to seep out. Today, my surgeon has opened my incision at both of my hips, pressed on my tummy and a lot of fluid, was expelled from both hips - this does not appear to be typical aspiration of seroma? Is this a seroma? Would it really be that large to span my whole stomach area? What is the difference between a seroma and lymphocele? I forgot to ask questions!

Matt Erdmann, MBChB, FRCS(Eng), FRCS (Plast) · Answer

This sounds more like  a haematoma which has now become liquid (liquefied) and is starting to ooze out - if there are still red cells present it takes on a brownish colour. Normally your body will absorb this excess fluid, but it can be helped by the drainage which your doctor provided. A seroma is also a collection of fluid, but this is clear and is made up of blood without the red cells (which is why it has almost no colour) - again this is typical of a haematoma which is slowly being resorbed by the body.

What is the difference between a seroma and lymphocele?

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