When will a hematoma go away? (photos)

Question

I had a seroma after just having liposuction. It was aspirated about 7 times (no drains) The last time the nurse drained it it formed into a large lump. No bruising at all. It's on my lower abdomen. Ps says it will resolve. It hurt the first day right after aspiration but no longer hurts. Wondering if it will absorb and if so how long. My PS said a X-ray is not needed and put me on medrol bactrim and cipro. Told me to just wait it out should take about a month.

Leonard Miller, MD · Answer

There are a number of possible causes for the persistant lump in the right lower abdomen. There could be a persistant loculated seroma,or an accumulation of old blood under the abdominal skin flap or in the abdominal wall fat and then there could be just inflamed ,swollen fat.  The swelling should gradually resolve in all cases but can take weeks to months to occur.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

It sounds like you had a serum. If it persists, then you  might either need ablation with ultrasound guidance or surgery.  Keep close watch on it with you surgeon.

John J. Bandeian, MD · Answer

A hematoma is a collection of blood. A seroma is a collection of serum, straw colored fluid. From what you wrote, you have a seroma, not a hematoma. With the use of small diameter liposuction cannulas, seromas are extremely rare. I have not had a seroma following liposuction in over 25 years. However, rarely, my patients have developed seromas following other surgical procedures, such as a tummy tuck. My practice has always been to aspirate the seroma whenever it is large enough for me to be able to successfully withdraw fluid. What typically happens is that with repeated aspirations, the volume of the seroma gradually decreases until I can no longer detect any seroma. If I were not to aspirate the seroma, I would be concerned that a synovial lining might form that would prolong the seroma indefinitely. Furthermore, the seroma is preventing the overlying skin from adhering to the  underlying muscle, which is an important and normal part of the healing process following liposuction. If you have enough fluid that it can be safely aspirtated, I would encourage you to ask your plastic surgeon to continue to aspirate it.

When will a hematoma go away? (photos)

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When will a hematoma go away? (photos)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Liposuction

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