How long will a seroma take to absorb in breast? What can I do to help it heal? Should I massage?

 I am sorry to hear about the problem you are experiencing.  Your plastic surgeon will be your best resource when it comes to advising "treating modalities such as massage etc. I would suggest that you seek more frequent follow-up than what is already scheduled. Best wishes.

Hi dear, thank you for your question. Seromas will gradually be re-absorbed by the body. However, this can take many days or even weeks. Sometimes a ‘knot’ of calcified tissue remains after the seroma has dissipated. This calcification may show up on follow-up imaging studies, but is of no health concern whatsoever. However, sometimes the accumulation of fluid in a seroma can be excessive, causing the skin to stretch and to sag. This can be uncomfortable for the patient and prolong the recovery time. In these situations the seroma might be drained by needle aspiration, but this can take several visits. good luck and best wishes.

A seroma normally needs to be removed to help facilitate the the breast recovery. An untreated seroma can increase the risk for capsular contracture. It is worth addressing this with your doctor in person and, although this may improve with time, it might be beneficial to act more aggressively. Continue to follow up with your surgeon to ensure that you progress as planned.

Best of luck,

Vincent Marin, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon