How Long Will a Seroma Last After Tummy Tuck and Liposuction procedures? Tri Valley Plastic Surgery

I had tummy tuck surgery combined with liposuction done 40 days ago, and although I am pleased with how I look as I have got my body back to what it used to be, I have also developed a seroma. One week after surgery my doctor determined I had a seroma and for the two weeks following he has been taking this fluid away by syringe every day. It has now been three weeks since he took the last syringe of fluid and my doctor has now advised me that my body will remove the small amount of remaining fluid itself. It's now been six weeks since my surgery and although I feel well I am still worried that there may be some remaining fluid, which could be harmful to me. Can anyone tell me how long a seroma should last and how I should examine myself to ensure there is no remaining fluid?

Seroma duration

Thanks for the question. Seromas are a common problem after tummy tuck. Drains that are typically placed at the time of the surgery help reduce the amount of seroma. Even in abdomens that look flat after abdominoplasty there is typically some amount of fluid under the flaps. When this fluid is palpable or visible then it can be treated through aspiration. Typically as your body heals less fluid will be recruited into the area and your lymphatics regenerate. Small seromas can be persistent for a very long time (even years). Symptomatic seromas (ones you can see or feel) can be treated by serial aspiration or by injection of sclerosant (typically antibiotics) with aspiration. I hope this helps.