Can seroma be avoided after face and neck lift surgery?

Many thanks for posting this interesting question.A seroma refers to the build up of a collection of wound fluid at the site of surgery (similar to the fluid in a blister). It is possible that this can occur after any operation, including facelifts.As a rule, the more extensive the facelift, and the more extensive the skin elevation, the higher the chance of a seroma (which is still a low chance overall). If surgical drains are used, any fluid comes out of them, but a seroma can still occur in some people after drain removal.If a seroma occurs, it is usually simple to deal with in the office, with a short painless needle aspiration (sucking out of the fluid). This might need to be done on more than one occasion.In terms of reducing the risks, in my view, the less you do, the better in the first few days after surgery. If you overdo it, then you might increase the risks of seroma development.I hope this answers your question.

The  rate of hematoma/seroma  reported it the literature is relatively low for facelift and neck lift surgery. That being said it depends on the degree of hematoma/ seroma and the  accuracy of reporting data.   In full face and neck lift surgery some degree of hematoma and serum is often expected after surgery.  These common but  miner collections of blood or fluid can be dealt with by placing suction drains or reduced by use of tissue glue.  I typically use tissue glue in all facelifts to reduce dead space and fluid collection.   Small collections of fluid are often aspirated or expressed through small openings in the hair line incision behind the ear. 

A seroma is not very common after facelift surgery. When it does occur, it can take a few weeks to resolve, and there are different treatment options available from persistent drainage, to compression to application of botox to the area to decrease the production of the fluid.