I am almost four weeks post op now from tummy tuck.i had to see my PS partner beings my doc was out of town for the week. the doctor aspirated one spot on my left side and came out with very very very little fluid. he did not attempt to aspirate any other area but i still have the waterbed effect on my lower abdomen. he said to keep my regular appointment and just wait to see what my PS says about it. should i be worried? how do i know if it is hematoma, seroma or pseudo-bursa.
Answer: You have a seroma. It needs to be aspirated.
Even if you had some old blood, you do not have an actively-enlarging hematoma. This is either old blood and serum, or seroma, both of which require the same treatment--aspiration one or more times, compression, and if not resolved in this fashion, replacement of drain, sclerodesis, and (rarely) re-operation for pseudobursectomy.
After a month, if these tissues haven't "stuck-down" yet, they become progressively less likely to do so, so there is some degree of urgency here. That being said, if your surgeon's partner was unable to hit the seroma, this is understandable since he did not do your surgery and does not know the exact thickness of your subcutaneous fatty layer. Most of the time seromas are easy to tap, but not always! Of course, your surgeon's partner did not want to stir up bleeding or go too deep and hit an intra-abdominal organ! So congratulate him for his caution.
Once your doctor returns, you should see him promptly and have this aspirated. It will be done through a mostly or completely numb area, so you need not be worried about discomfort. But it does need to be drained, especially if there is enough fluid for a waterbed effect. Best wishes!
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Answer: You have a seroma. It needs to be aspirated.
Even if you had some old blood, you do not have an actively-enlarging hematoma. This is either old blood and serum, or seroma, both of which require the same treatment--aspiration one or more times, compression, and if not resolved in this fashion, replacement of drain, sclerodesis, and (rarely) re-operation for pseudobursectomy.
After a month, if these tissues haven't "stuck-down" yet, they become progressively less likely to do so, so there is some degree of urgency here. That being said, if your surgeon's partner was unable to hit the seroma, this is understandable since he did not do your surgery and does not know the exact thickness of your subcutaneous fatty layer. Most of the time seromas are easy to tap, but not always! Of course, your surgeon's partner did not want to stir up bleeding or go too deep and hit an intra-abdominal organ! So congratulate him for his caution.
Once your doctor returns, you should see him promptly and have this aspirated. It will be done through a mostly or completely numb area, so you need not be worried about discomfort. But it does need to be drained, especially if there is enough fluid for a waterbed effect. Best wishes!
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
Answer: Excess fluid after a tummy tuck
As long as you're not having fevers or severe abdominal pain, it's okay to wait 5-7 days before attempting another drainage of the fluid. A low salt diet and compression garments may help in the meantime. However, in my experience seromas resolve after 4-6 weeks of serial aspiration of the fluid.
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Answer: Excess fluid after a tummy tuck
As long as you're not having fevers or severe abdominal pain, it's okay to wait 5-7 days before attempting another drainage of the fluid. A low salt diet and compression garments may help in the meantime. However, in my experience seromas resolve after 4-6 weeks of serial aspiration of the fluid.
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January 6, 2014
Answer: Seroma after tummy tuck. Seroma is fluid underneath the skin that can accumulate after tummy tuck. It usually means that the abdominal skin has not stuck down to the underlying abdominal wall. Compression and drains help prevent Seroma in the early post operative period. It sounds at this point as though you may have a persistent Seroma. Frequent drainage is the best way to go. Sometimes these will resolve with multiple drainages, but on occasion they can require reoperation to get rid of the scar tissue shell that surrounds the fluid. If it has gotten worse since use saw your doctor's partner then I would ask to go in again and have him look at you once more. If you think it is better or stable see your surgeon as soon as he returns. Good luck to you.
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January 6, 2014
Answer: Seroma after tummy tuck. Seroma is fluid underneath the skin that can accumulate after tummy tuck. It usually means that the abdominal skin has not stuck down to the underlying abdominal wall. Compression and drains help prevent Seroma in the early post operative period. It sounds at this point as though you may have a persistent Seroma. Frequent drainage is the best way to go. Sometimes these will resolve with multiple drainages, but on occasion they can require reoperation to get rid of the scar tissue shell that surrounds the fluid. If it has gotten worse since use saw your doctor's partner then I would ask to go in again and have him look at you once more. If you think it is better or stable see your surgeon as soon as he returns. Good luck to you.
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February 20, 2012
Answer: A seroma after a tummy tuck
It sounds like you have an ongoing seroma problem. If you are asking should you be worried about this being dangerous, then the answer is no. You can safely wait until your plastic surgeon returns.
Sometimes the layer of fluid is so thin that it is very difficult to aspirated and then it's better to just let it be rather than keep trying and increase the risk infection or injury to one of the surrounding structures.
While you wait continue to wear your compression garment.
Helpful
February 20, 2012
Answer: A seroma after a tummy tuck
It sounds like you have an ongoing seroma problem. If you are asking should you be worried about this being dangerous, then the answer is no. You can safely wait until your plastic surgeon returns.
Sometimes the layer of fluid is so thin that it is very difficult to aspirated and then it's better to just let it be rather than keep trying and increase the risk infection or injury to one of the surrounding structures.
While you wait continue to wear your compression garment.
Helpful
September 1, 2015
Answer: Seroma after Tummy Tuck?
Thank you for the question.
Given your description, it is possible that you do have a seroma present. It may be that the plastic surgeon missed the full collection on the single aspiration attempt. It would behoove you to request another follow up visit in the near future to again rule out/aspirate a seroma if present.
Rarely, a seroma cannot be located clinically; an ultrasound guided drainage procedure may be indicated.
Best wishes.
Helpful
September 1, 2015
Answer: Seroma after Tummy Tuck?
Thank you for the question.
Given your description, it is possible that you do have a seroma present. It may be that the plastic surgeon missed the full collection on the single aspiration attempt. It would behoove you to request another follow up visit in the near future to again rule out/aspirate a seroma if present.
Rarely, a seroma cannot be located clinically; an ultrasound guided drainage procedure may be indicated.
Best wishes.
Helpful