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40 days post op, How Long Will a Seroma Last After Tummy Tuck and Liposuction?
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.
Clinical Context
Not all swelling after surgery is a seroma. Bruising and pain within the first week or two point more toward a hematoma, while redness, warmth, or fever suggest infection. A true seroma usually feels like a soft, fluid-filled pocket that isn't painful. Your surgeon can confirm this by exam or ultrasound, and aspiration is often used both to diagnose and treat it. If you notice new redness, warmth, fever, or worsening pain at any point, contact your surgical team promptly rather than waiting.
