Seroma from hell, 2 drains and a staph infection

Question

I had a tt with mr in Janurary, I told me doc something was not right , finally I had a X-ray done and it showed I had a Seroma a drain was put in ,then that drain came out , had another one put in, that’s when I found out I had a staff infection. Second drain is out. My Seroma was above my navel, now it seems to have gone below my navel, could the doctor possibly not want to do another surgery to just remove it because it would be on him as far as cost?

Jonathan Heistein, MD · Answer

I'm sorry you have experienced these complications.  Although it is not typical that this happens, it is also something that is recognized as a possibility.  The first consideration is always your overall health and safety.  Once any serious risk is dealt with, then the issue of how it feels and looks can be handled.  On some occasions, this means that a second operation is necessary to remove the lining of the cavity that has formed in your abdomen, so that proper healing can occur.  I would communicate with your surgeon so that he/she can come up with a plan that both keeps you safe and ensures the best cosmetic outcome possible.  Best of luck!

Paul Banwell, BSc, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

unfortunately serum and infection are well recognised complications following this kind of surgery but it is a shame this has happenedwe must accept that such complications can occur but the most important thing is to manage these in as best a way as possible. There are no right or wrong answers here in terms of the approach but I would suggest that you have a sensible discussion with your surgeon to discuss the best way forward. For persistent seromas, returning to theatre to debride the cavity is an oft used approach in such rare circumstances but do chat this throughGood luck!

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

I am sorry to hear about the complications you have experienced.  I would suggest that you communicate your concerns/questions directly with your plastic surgeon; it is okay to calmly and constructively question the rationale behind decision-making and recommendations. Generally, in cases where serums have become chronic  and/or infected, it may be in the patient's best interest to undergo exploratory surgery. This operation may involve removal of tissue that has developed around the seroma ("bursa"),  washing out of the entire space between the abdominal wall skin and muscle ("irrigation and debridement"),  progressive tension relieving sutures (sutures placed between the abdominal wall and underlined muscle to close off the space where fluid can accumulate), and placement of drains. Best wishes for a resolution of your concerns and for an outcome that you will be pleased with long-term.

Ahmed Ali-Khan, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

Hi thank you for your question. It is a shame you've had problems but seroma is a recognised risk after tummy tuck surgery, though in experienced hands it is rare.
From your account, the right things have been done so far. Unfortunately once a seroma has persisted for a while it encapsulates and it becomes unlikely that the two sides will stick together again. Once that stage is reached, exploratory and revision surgery becomes more likely.
I suggest you chat to your surgeon about your journey so far and what their opinion now is that non-surgical means will resolve things. If its unlikely you can both discuss the merits of surgical intervention.
Best wishes.

Seroma from hell, 2 drains and a staph infection

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Answer: Seroma after tummy tuck

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Seroma from hell, 2 drains and a staph infection

Answers (4)

Answer: Seroma after tummy tuck

Answer: Seroma after tummy tuck

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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