Seroma or Normal Swelling 15 Weeks After Tummy Tuck?

Either is possible 15 weeks following a tummy tuck (or many similar operations that involve elevating tissues from there normal attachments, aka - dissecting between tissue planes).  The only way to tell for sure is by physical exam (preferably by the operating surgeon who knows exactly what he/she did in surgery) and occasionally ultrasound to verify a seroma.

Thank you for your question,
While swelling after tummy tuck is very common I recommend you meet with your board certified plastic surgeon with any post op concerns you have so they can examine you in person and address them. 
Best Of Luck!
Dhaval Patel 
Plastic Surgeon 
Double Board Certified 
Hoffman Estates, IL 
Oakbrook, IL
Orland Park, IL
Chicago, IL

Its impossible to diagnose a seroma with a photograph - if you and your doc perceive a 'fluid wave' when palpating the lowest part of your abdomen, then you've got a seroma .  Its quite likely that you have soft tissue swelling (edema) which is not a fluid collection, simply soft tissue water that has collected in the most dependant portion of your torso and stays there because of the disrupted lymphatic channels - this edema always resolves with time. An abdominal ultrasound is a good way to diagnose a seroma that might require drainage.

Dear 57,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

Hi,

  It seems that you have swelling in the area below the belly button.  This is normal and will be worse at the end of the day.  This is due to the vessels regenerating to the redraped tissue.

  If you did not have any fluid on aspiration, then you have fluid in the tissue like a "wet sponge". You need to be patient with this as it will get better over a years time.

  Also too is the fact that sometimes a secondary procedure is needed to decrease the fat in this area with liposuction but you would not anticipate this discussion until you are at least a year.  Then, if this area is still a question, find out what your options would be.