Small seroma that won't drain or go away. What should I do?

Seromas can become permanent after about 2 months. I have operated on patients years after their original tummy tuck and found seroma cavities. The only way to truly eradicate a permanent seroma is to excise it. Please return to your surgeon and review your options. All the best,Dr. ResultsMiami, FL

Thank you for your questions.  I am sorry to hear about your seromas, but it looks as if your physician's office is doing the right things to get you completely healed. I would definitely see your surgeon, he may have better luck at getting to your seroma, or if it is available, may be able to ultrasound your abdomen to better localize the collection.  Your physician will also be interested in examining you to ensure that you are otherwise healing well.   

I would return to your plastic surgeon and discuss your concerns. He or she may want to drain it, do further testing, or try different modalities of treatment. Let her know you are concerned and he/she may want to try something different. Speka directly to the doctor, not just the nurse.

If the seroma is small enough, sufficient compression on the effected area should be enough to allow your body to reabsorb the fluid. Be sure to follow up with your board certified plastic surgeon with any and all complications.Thank you for your question!Melinda Lacerna, MD FACS

SEROMA is  one of the most common postoperative problems after a
cosmetic procedure are Seromas. Consisting in inflammatory fluid accumulation
in a specific area, because there is a dead space between skinand adjacent tissues. In Tummy Tucks the seroma occurs worldwide 5-10% of
cases. And it is more common when drainage is removed before the time required
that has to be removed. (It has to drain less than 50 cc in 24 hours for 48
consecutive hours to be removed) and if the patient don’t use the compression
needed after surgery (because that increases dead space).To reduce the risk of Seroma, the drainage must remove
in the required time, use your Faja 24 hours a day for 3 months orthetimeyour doctor tells you (if
the patient is from another country, has to stay with the drain and keep using
the Faja the time required by the doctor in the country you’ve done surgery).
It is important to the patient to have the drain removed by the doctor who had
performed surgery.After removing the drainage, the patient has to wear
the Faja for two consecutive days to decrease the dead space, remember that
your skin was detached from the deeper tissue, don’t get massages for 10 days
to prevent the skin blisters and always keep a close relationship with your
doctor.The Seroma is not a major problem, itis important to drain theliquid in time to prevent this from ruining their
aesthetic results, because if this is not drained a capsule is formed around
(pseudobursa) it will look like a bulge in the area that requires subsequent
surgical procedure for correction.

Why not let the surgeon attempt aspiration instead of a ? Nurse!!!!You paid for appropriate care after all the surgeries you had, demand MD INTERVENTION. 

Thank you for the question.  A seroma is usually diagnosed by exam but on occasion an ultrasound or a CT scan may be helpful to make sure.  A long-standing seroma may develop scar tissue around it resulting in a pseudo-bursa which can be thought of as a pocket of tissue almost like rubber ball.  When this occurs, the feeling of a seroma may be there but in fact just the scar tissue exists.  A CT scan may not see the scar tissue and only report that no seroma is present.  Pseudo-bursa treatment involves removal of the entire pseudo-bursa which requires a surgery.  If the pseudo-bursa is present and located near the incision it can be removed fairly easily.  If the pseudo-bursa is located further up a full tummy tuck revision may be needed to gain access and remove the entire pseudo-bursa.All the best,Dr. Remus Repta