Seroma or Scar Tissue?

Your description is probably normal healing following seroma resolution. Often times there is edema that is persistent and slowly resolves. Use of  compression garment helps and sometimes massage once your plastic surgeon feels that this is warranted.

Seromas do have a tendency to recur, so seeing your surgeon is important, a recurrence can be aspirated, or a small drain can be inserted.

It is not uncommon to have prolonged swelling in the area that had a fluid collection, so it is still reasonable to expect it to resolve. 

Thanks for the question, best wishes.

 What you are experiencing sounds normal. If the seroma was adequately draned and has not requred then, you will have a period of time where the skin and subcutanteous tissue in the area of the seroma will have edema or swelling. Compression with a post operative abdominoplasty garmet or binder can help resolve this issue more quickly. Consider checking back with your surgeon who performed your procedure to make sure you are on the right post-operative course. Best,

 

 


Gary R Culbertson, MD, FACS

 

 

Usually after a seroma you can start getting scar tissue; you should get deep tissue massage to help break down that scar tissue. Applying a tight compression garment can also help. It’s only been 2 months since you surgery you are still swollen it takes 6-9 months for that to completely subside.