Seroma - can it go away on it's own?

Dear Caroline, Based on your description, your "racquet ball" sized seroma probably needs to be aspirated with a needle by your PS. There is a small amount of discomfort involved. Small seromas are sometimes absorbed by the body if under they are under 30ccs or so. You probably should contact your PS and have him/her look at it as soon as possible. Sincerely, Joshua Kreithen, M.D. lakewoodranchplasticsurgery.com

Hi Caroline, Never to discount the doctor's comment's , he is the expert. But, are you sure it is a seroma and not a hematoma? Honestly, I am not sure about the difference? I had a hunk of meat (tennis ball size) under my left thigh on the incision, sort of rubbing and uncomfortable, it started to leak slowly, when the doc touched it very little liquid came out and now it is just about gone, flat, and not rubbing anymore. Looks like it is healing and no aspirating needed. Hope this helps, Lea (in Cali)

I had 3 seromas after my tt. My doctor aspirated all of them. It does depend on the size. Your's sounds VERY large and should be looked at by your doctor. The first time he drained it, I didn't feel anything (still numb after surgery). But the second time, I almost passed out on the floor!! The third time, he gave me a shot of novacaine to numb the area and I didn't feel a thing. Ask for the novacaine if he has to drain it. They just insert a needle into the area and draw the excess fluid out. I had a 4th seroma develop but I convinced my doctor to NOT drain it. I wore my tight panty girdle 24/7 RELIGIOUSLY and the following week when I went back, it was gone!! Compression garments DO help!!

Man, I was getting online just now to post about the same thing! That's why I love this site. We help each other so much since we have all had similar issues. I too have a huge question for all those with any info on this subject!! I had a hemotoma (by the way, does anyone know the difference?) And my doc drained it as much as he could. It was still there after draining and he said I required more surgery to get rid of it. I was much more swollen on my right side after the tt still one month later and that is what he said it was....a hemotoma. But from my science 101 days I remember a hemotoma is a bruise. So not sure what a serotma is. He told me that he could not drain anymore of the "old blood" since it was too thick or something so I had surgery. I was nice and flat and not swollen for a week and now it looks like its back to me. I am FREAKING out. I don't want more surgery. I remember when I posted about this problem before some people told me that thier doc told them to use massage and heating pads to get rid of it and it would just reabsorb into the body. I'm not sure what it is, but I am definately more swollen on my right side than my left. I was thinking I would try massage and heating pad until my next appointment (one week) to see if that helps. Any ideas on what massage and heating pads involve? Like how often and how long? If it is just normal "after tt swelling" and not a hemotoma do you think that heating pads and massage will be fine anyway? Did anyone else look bigger on one side after a tt? Did it go away? Thanks.

The nurse at my ps office explained to me that the difference from a hematoma and a sernoma is - a hematoma is a bruise from blood being hard and forming a knot, yes, appling heat could losen up the blood clot or knot, so do try using the heating pad. A sernoma is also blood that has formed but it is not just blood it is fluid and can be asperated during your office visit, and it is not usually painful because you are so numb. If the hematoma does not break up using heat, your ps may need to go in and take care of it. I had three senomas over a two month period, one of the senomas was thought to be a hematoma, but the nurse misjugded, and the doctor came in and asperated it, that is when the nurse told me the difference. Be sure to keep wearing your binder or compression garment, that will help with the swelling, I would use the heating pad as often as possible for the next wee****il you can see the ps. Good luck, let us know, Cindy

as I understand it a hemotoma is a collection of blood, a seroma is a collection of serous fluid, ( the clear yellow stuff you might see oozing if you get a scrape or from a drain)

After my hernia repair I had a seroma the size of a cantalope, probably 8-9 inches in diameter, and sticking out that far too. It indeed did go away on its own, but took about 4 months. the general surgeon said aspiration was a high risk for infection. It seems many PS do aspirate, but there may be other issues with plastics that are very different from a hernia repair. It did look creepy, I thought my hernia came back when it sprung up on me a couple weeks after surgery.

I have seroma also after hiatal hernia repair and removal of transverse colon stomach and esophagus from chest cavity. My seroma is size of grapefruit 2 months post op. It is in my chest cavity close to heart so not candidate for draining. Pain is nothing compared to pre op pain. I'm wondering if tumerick or Echinacea would help or taking otc meds like mucinex or Sudafed would help?

All I can say is Wow. I just looked at your journey and you have been through so much in the past few months. You look absolutely amazing and you are very beautiful. Did you bank roll the surgeries yourself or were you fortunate enough to have insurance that paid for it. Your site is amazing and inspiring.