Will my seroma 6 years after breast surgery go away with aspirations?

Question

I had breast enlargement surgery in 2010 and had no problems. Last month I woke up and my left breast had enlarged 3 times the size. I was not in any pain. After tests it showed there's a build up of clots and breast fluid around the implant and no infection. The implant was fine. I had 2 fine needle aspirations and 350ml of fluid has been taken. However 2 days after my last one the breast is increasing in size again. Will further aspirations help me? I'm so upset will I need surgery again?

Manish C. Champaneria, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.Late occurrence of seroma after breast augmentation is not common. If this occurs, the fluid and part of the capsule should be sent for testing for ALCL. ALCL is not common, but late seroma is associated with this. You should definitely follow-up with our surgeon so that he or she can assess and monitor you. If seroma continues to recur, then a capsulectomy may also need to be performed as well. Best of luck!

Ajay Mahajan, MD, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

It is not normal to develop a seroma six years down the line. It is important that ALCL is ruled out as a cause for the seroma. It is equally important for you to understand that I am not trying to scare you as ALCL is a very rare condition but can occur following use of implants for breast augementation. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin 
lymphoma (NHL), a cancer involving the cells of the immune system. ALCL 
in the breast is rare; approximately 3 in 100 million women per year in 
the United States are diagnosed with ALCL in the breast. In total, the 
FDA is aware of approximately 60 case reports of ALCL in women with 
breast implants worldwide. The total number of implants worldwide is 
estimated to be between 5-10 million. FDA believes that women with 
breast implants may have a very small but increased risk of developing 
ALCL in the scar capsule adjacent to the implant. Because the risk of 
ALCL appears very small, FDA believes that the totality of evidence 
continues to support a reasonable assurance that FDA-approved breast 
implants are safe and effective when used as labeled. (source: U.S. Food
 and Drug Administration, Jan 2011)It is important that you ask your surgeon to send off the seroma fluid for analysis, within 2 to 4 hours of aspirating it, to the lab to be analysed with Immune staining for CD 30. If your sugeon is not aware of this please do not hesitate to give him this information.

Tania Medina de Garcia, MD · Answer

Hello
dear, thanks for your question and provided information as well… 
I have to say that you are still early on healing process, it is too soon to
determine how your results are going to be, per now, they look very nice and
beautiful, you can have one bigger than the other, feel swollen and also have
bruises and open wounds, it is normal and that can happen Hello dear, thanks for your question
and provided information as well..

Adrian Richards, MBBS, MSc · Answer

Thank you  for your question.Late seromas can occur following Breast augmentation but if it recurs after aspiration it is important to exclude the possibility of ALCL.I would discuss this possibility fully with your Plastic Surgeon when you next see them and it might be worth doing an internet search on this prior to your consultation. Good luck

S. Allan Kane, MD (retired) · Answer

The complication can happen, but it is extremely rare.  One needs to consider any trauma to the breast in question.  The inquiry says that clots were found in the breast fluid which may be indicative of bleeding around the implant.  Rarely, just the irritation of the implant against the adjacent tissue can also cause this.  Repeated aspirations without resolution usually require re-operation to determine the source of the seroma. Additionally, and not to worry you, but the aspiration fluid should be checked for cancer cells as a precaution.

Will my seroma 6 years after breast surgery go away with aspirations?

Answers (5)

Answer: Important to find out cause of Seroma

Answer: Important to find out cause of Seroma

Answer: New onset seroma 6 years after breast augmentation.

Answer: New onset seroma 6 years after breast augmentation.

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Lift with Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Will my seroma 6 years after breast surgery go away with aspirations?

Answers (5)

Answer: Important to find out cause of Seroma

Answer: Important to find out cause of Seroma

Answer: New onset seroma 6 years after breast augmentation.

Answer: New onset seroma 6 years after breast augmentation.

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Lift with Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.