The answers already posted are useful and good advice. If you feel there may still be some seroma tummy tuck (and by now,after all the needle aspirations you probably know the vague symptoms of heaviness and fullness) and your surgeon is suspicious there may still be some fluid, it may be useful to have an ultrasound, and if the ultrasound reveals a significant remaining accumulation, to have it drained under ultrasound guidance.
That drain can be then left in place until the seroma cavity is closed and healed. It is true, however, that small remaining amounts of seroma fluid will resolve on their own, as the bodies system for collecting and draining the fluid (the lymphatics) is restored with post op healing.
Seromas are for the most part a nuisance rather than serious, as others have written. But they can result in a chronic fluid filled cavity which may resolve by scarring and contracting in rare occasions, and marr an otherwise good result. In 25 years I have only once, had to re-operate on a patient to remove a chronic seroma cavity. (Benjamin Gelfant, MD, Vancouver Plastic Surgeon)
Seroma after a Tummy Tuck can occur but is not harmful
After your Tummy Tuck a small percentage of patients can have some mild fluid accumulation under the skin called a seroma. This is usually drained by the surgeon on a regular basis until resolved. It can take several weeks in most cases and even up to 2 months in rare cases.
Very rarely people have had to go back to surgery to remove some scar tissue around the area filled with fluid. This is rare. The primary treatment is the drainage, rest, minimizing any activity and wearing a really good compression garment. (Kouros Azar, MD, Thousand Oaks Plastic Surgeon)
How long will a seroma last after a tummy tuck?
Seromas are one of the most frequent complications of a tummy tuck procedure. The literature states that seromas after tummy tucks occur approximately 20-30% of the time. Most plastic surgeons will place drains after tummy tucks to reduce the incidence of seromas. Some plastic surgeons utilize multiple sutures in a quilting fashion to eliminate the use of these drains.
However, all techniques are aimed at minimizing space between the abdominal skin and the “muscle layer” until it heals back together. If a seroma occurs after the drains are removed, the most common technique is to use a needle to drain the fluid at weekly intervals. If the seroma persists after two months, I will be concerned that a “seroma cavity” has developed and will require going to the operating room to remove the capsule to allow the abdominal wall to heal back down to the muscle layer. (Robert Najera, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)
If you have an established seroma tummy tuck it can potentially go on for quite a long time and may be dependent on the extent on the seroma. Most seromas do resolve in 6 weeks, but occasionally, you may have problematic seromas that may persist thereafter.
Usually, we aspirate them. A series of aspirations will bring that to a complete resolution. (Glynn Bolitho, PhD, MD, FACS, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)
Seroma’s are a fluid collection which occurs under the skin above the muscle and is not harmful unless it becomes infected. Most seromas can be prevented with the use of drains, compression and activity and water restriction. If a
Seroma tummy tuck occurs it is treated by serial aspirations in the office, drain placement or return to the operating room if it persists. (Christopher J. Kovanda, MD, Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon)
Seromas can occur following a tummy tuck. Visiting your plastic surgeon frequently following your tummy tuck surgery will help your plastic surgeon to identify a seroma in the early stages and address a seroma or any concerns.
It sounds like your plastic surgeon has managed this issue very well. Placement of a seroma cath or regular aspiration are the best methods fro treating seromas. Seromas are not dangerous but they can be an annoyance. (Michael Law, MD, Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon)
Seromas are very common after a tummy tuck. The drains remove the fluid the first 1-2 weeks. After the drains are removed the body may continue to make fluid. Your body will eventually absorb all the fluid. It is important to continue to remove the fluid every few days to prevent infection and break down of the incision.
It is extremely important you continue to wear your compression garment to help resolve the fluid quicker BUT ALL seromas do eventually resolve! Be patient see your plastic surgeon often. (Michele Koo, MD, FACS, Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon)
Seromas are the number one complication after a tummy tuck. In my practice, and probably for most surgeons, they occur AFTER the drains were removed. This makes sense becasue while the drain is in place, it should be removing hte fluid. However, sometimes the body keeps making fluid after the drain is removed and at a rate greater than the body’s ability to re-absorb it.
I found going to a “drainless” technique has been the best way to avoid the seromas. With this technique, there is much less fluid accumulation to begin with. I have even had ultrasound examinations done on my patients after this technique and was suprised to see how little fluid accumulation there was.
I don’t like seromas and I believe that it is best to get rid of them. A chronic seroma tummy tuck can interfere with the adherence of the abdominal skin to the abdominal wall and result in a chronic problem and contour deformity. Removal of a seroma can be done in the office or under ultrasonic guidance.
Often times, it needs to be repeated several times. I like the latter because it is more efficient at identifying and removing the most amount of the fluid. As I stated earlier, since going drainless, seromas are almost a thing of the past! (Mark D. Epstein, MD, Stony Brook Plastic Surgeon)
Seroma after tummy tuck and liposuction
Seromas are a common possible complication after tummy tuck. Most surgeons use a couple of techniques to prevent them, but if you get one it’s not often a huge risk to you. The only major concern is if that fluid gets infected. It sounds as though you have had fluid removed completely as it would have reformed over the past three weeks.
You would know if you had fluid build up again as it would be a fullness in one part of your abdomen or you would develop drainage somewhere. Rest assured that it is probably gone and your body did its job as is most often the case. (Kendall Roehl, MD, Houston Plastic Surgeon)