Tummy Tuck

Massage helps with general post-operative swelling, but it's not the primary treatment for an established seroma. A seroma is a discrete pocket of fluid that collects in the dead space created during tummy tuck dissection, when lymphatic and small vascular channels are cut and haven't yet healed. Gentle massage can encourage fluid to move through remaining lymphatic pathways and may help with diffuse post-op swelling, but once fluid has organized into a true seroma pocket, massage alone usually won't resolve it and can occasionally irritate the area. Most seromas are managed with in-office needle aspiration, sometimes repeated over a few visits, and compression garments help prevent recurrence. Persistent or recurring seromas may need a drain placed or, rarely, a small procedure to address the fluid pocket lining. Have your surgeon examine the area to determine whether you're dealing with simple swelling or a true seroma, since the management differs.