Post Op Seroma 15 Days After Full Tummy Tuck, How Can I Avoid Further Seromas?

Seroma is a common post surgical problem, and it is difficult to determine in advance when the fluid will not re-accumulate.  Avoiding excessive torso motion may help speed healing.  As long as the volume withdrawn by serial drainage at similar intervals is diminishing, the seroma is slowly resolving, and usually doesn't detract from the final result.

I usually find that I drain about half the amount of fluid compared to the week before. Therefore you can expect to have weekly aspirations over a period determined by the size of the original collection.

This is a 'complication' that is well-known to plastic surgeons - don't despair.

It is important to follow up closely with your surgeon to get the volume as close as possible to zero.

I also suggest wearing a compression garment as you appear to be doing.

It would be a very rare case that would require insertion of a catheter.

Good luck!

Once you have a seroma it may take several "aspirations", drainage with a needle to get it resolved. It sounds like your surgeon is on top of it. Continue to see him weekly until it is gone. I would continue with your compression garment and try not to be too active.

Thank you for your post. Seromas can be painful and cause a cosmetic deformity, as well as sometimes leak. The whole point of drains is to keep a seroma from happening in the first place. If a drainless procedure was performed, and you had a seroma, or you had drains that were pulled and you subsequently had a seroma, then you should be drained, otherwise a capsule builds around the fluid making it permanent. If a capsule builds around the seroma (pseudo bursa or encapsulated seroma) then the only way to remove the seroma is to surgically open the areas and excise the capsule, and close over drains to prevent another seroma from happening. If the seroma is encapsulated and is tight and painful, then it can be confused with just swelling or fat. An ultrasound is useful in distinguishing these and identifying the extent of the seroma. If the seroma is not yet encapsulated, then it is usually loose and has a 'fluid wave' or water bed type feel. Occasionally, a seroma can also become infected, especially if a permanent braided suture was used. This will have a hot, red appearance, and will eventually open up.Best wishes,Pablo Prichard, MD

If after 3 visits of seroma drainage over a few weeks than re insertion of a drainage tube is the next step. Best of luck.