Have my inner stitches popped or do I have seroma. (photos)

If you feel fluid that you can push from one side and feel from the other side, you have a seroma.  I would return to your surgeon to be sure.  A little swelling below the belly button is normal for a few months after a tummy tuck.  Best Wishes!!

Your symptoms of fluid moving under the skin is highly suggestive of seroma fluid trapped under the skin. You should contact your plastic surgeon  and get an appropriate diagnosis. Best wishes, Dr. Aldo

Hi.  At this point, it could mostly likely either be seroma, or significant generalized swelling.Best to return to your surgeon for a seroma check and possible aspiration of any fluid.

Thank you for your question and series of photographs and I am sorry that your results have not been what you anticipated.  It is difficult without an in-person examination to determine what may be taking place.  Most commonly this is residual swelling from surgery which will spontaneously resolve but it would be important to voice your concerns to your surgeon to ensure that other issues are not taking place - discrete fluid collection, muscle laxity, or residual adipose tissue. Your surgeon is your best source of advice and assistance.  Hope this helps.

It is difficult to say without an exam. If you feel a fluid shift/wave then it is likely a seroma.  Best to see your surgeon.  Good luck.

Thank you for the question.

As always, it is best to be seen in person ( by your plastic surgeon) for precise diagnosis and treatment.



Abdominal wall "roundness" after tummy tuck may be related to:



1. Swelling in the soft tissues.  This may take several months to resolve and may worsen with increased activity  or at the end of the day.   Patience  is required to allow for resolution of the swelling. The swelling occurs because of the interruption of venous and lymphatic channels that occurs during the tummy tuck operation.



2. Fluid accumulation in the space between the skin and the abdominal wall muscle.  this may consist of blood ( hematoma)  or serum (seroma).  This fluid accumulation can generally be diagnosed by physical examination ( occasionally ultrasound  may be helpful).  Treatment consists of aspiration;  several episodes of aspiration may be necessary. 



3. Separation of the abdominal wall muscle repair may lead to a swelling/bulge appearance. This may be diagnosed on physical examination  with your surgeon examining you in different bodily positions. One of the steps of a tummy tuck procedure involves reapproximation (plication)  of the rectus muscles.  These muscles have spread apart during pregnancy and/or weight gain. Bringing them together again in the midline helps to “tighten” the abdominal wall as well as to narrow the waistline.



4. Residual adipose tissue may be confused for swelling. Again this is most easily diagnosed by physical examination. Additional liposuction surgery maybe necessary to improve the results of surgery.



Generally, it takes many months for swelling to resolve after tummy tuck surgery and it may take up to one year  (or greater)  for complete skin redraping  to occur.



I hope this helps.

This could be a seroma, but you would need to be evaluated by your plastic surgeon to know for sure.  If a seroma is diagnosed, treatment typically consists of aspiration of the fluid with a needle and syringe in the office.  Muscle separation would be less likely.  Best of luck in your recovery!

Hello,

Swelling is absolutely to be expected after an abdominoplasty and takes several weeks to months to resolve completely. While it is possible for your muscles to have separated from sutures releasing, this is less common than the development of a fluid collection (or seroma) after an abdominoplasty. If you are concerned about either of these potentials, the best thing to do is to see your plastic surgeon so they can perform a physical exam and get to the bottom of it. If it is a fluid collection, it will likely be drained by poking a small needle into it. This is typically very well tolerated since the skin is typically numb there anyway.

Good luck!

A seroma is a collection of fluid (serum) under the skin.  Many patients know they have a seroma when they experience a sensation of "sloshing" inside.  Seroma is not uncommon after a tummy tuck and can usually be addressed by drawing out the fluid (aspiration) with a needle and syringe.  Local anesthesia makes the procedure painless.  I recommend a return trip to your Plastic Surgeon's office so he/she can do an assessment and recommend the best treatment.Best of luck. 

A Fluid collection under the skin following abdominoplasty is pretty common. Drains are usually placed during surgery to remove this fluid that normally collects after tummy tuck surgery. Some surgeons try to prevent this accumulation of fluid by using various internal suturing techniques . Others use different types of sealant sprays to theoretically "glue" the skin back down to the muscle. Regardless of technique used to prevent excessive accumulation of fluid, not everyone avoids seroma formation. Timing of drain removal has been the mainstay in helping decrease that occurrence of seroma in our practice however some collections occur after the timeliest drain removal. Having said that, you are describing a seroma. Usually one feels a "fluid shift" or wave when you push on the abdomen. In some cases the skin simply feels tighter. 

Check with your surgeon. You may need an aspiration of the fluid. They will also be able to better assess whether or not it is in fact a seroma vs a suture problem