Above Tummy Tuck Incision Line. Swelling? Fluid? Sponge Like Fluid? I'm Confused.

It is possible that the fluid collection (seroma) is there even if it is difficult to aspirate with a needle.  Although it can take some time, your body will absorb this fluid and the swelling should resolve.

Sincerely,

Martin Jugenburg, MD

Thank you for the question.

Some swelling after tummy tuck surgery is to be expected and may continue for several months after surgery. It may take up to a year to see the final results of surgery. Localized swelling  (for example the “bulge” above the belly button)  may be a seroma  or hematoma. Since your surgeon has tried to aspirate the area several times it is likely that the swelling is in the soft tissues as opposed to the space between the tissues and the underlying muscle.

I would suggest continued follow-up with your surgeon as you have planned.

I hope this helps.

When I see this in my patients I refer them to the Interventional Radiologists at my main hospital (Baptist of Miami). They preform a scan with radiographic guidance needle aspiration and possible insertion of a drain. 

At only two weeks post op the most likely cause of fullness in the area you describe after tummy tuck is fluid. The other potential cause is fat. Fluid can be pooled in the space between the muscle layer and the skin and fat layer, or it can also be present within the tissues. I think this is what your surgeon refers to as a sponge effect. Swelling is simply that:  fluid distributed within the tissues. It may take several months for swelling to completely resolve, so you and your surgeon need to be patient.

Hello,

Thank you for your question.  It sounds like you have accumulated a seroma (collection of helaing fluid) just above the incision line which is the most common place for it.  If the amount of fluid is dispersed over a larger area it can be a fairly thin layer of fluid and therefore can be difficult to successfully drain the fluid with a needle since the needle must be directly into the thin layer of accumulated fluid.  Sometimes leaning forward a bit a pressing on the sides will allow the fluid to pool in the center and can make draining it easier.  You may have to do this several times and wear the abdominal binder fairly snug to get the two layers of tissue to heal together and prevent the fluid from accumulating.  

Hope this helps

All the best,

 

Dr. Repta

Phoenix/Scottsdale plastic surgery