Seroma after tummy tuck

[DNiki]

I had a tummy tuck 3 months ago. I am still evenly swollen from under the breasts all the way down. How can a person feel or see the difference between swelling and a seroma? Does anybody know? When i email the medical assistant, she just says the swelling is normal but i have not gone back for my 4 month check up yet. All the doctor said at 2 months was that the swelling was part of the deal. It just seems awfully long to still not be able to button my pre op clothes yet.

You should be going for follow ups more often than every 2 months. Call and make an appt, don't call the asst.

I had hernia surgery to repair areas that occurred around old incisions very high on my stomach, using a large mesh. I was wearing a size 6 the day after the surgery. Afterwards I looked pregnant..very swollen and with alot of pain. It's been two months and I've gone down to where I can almost wear a size 8 and still look pregnant...I cant see my feet when standing. When I asked the Dr. he said I was probably eating too much. I'm still in alot of pain which he said might last another year.

I had my gall bladder removed in early november of 06. This was performed with 4 small incisions about an inch long. The incision at the belly button was tender and looked a little swollen (not discolored or bruised) at the time of the check up six weeks later, but the doctor didn't think anything was odd.
Now, it's mar of 07 and that spot is now swollen to the size of my hand (this past couple of weeks) and feels solid to the touch. I have trouble with pain off and on and now becoming more frequent, especially when I am sitting.
I no longer pick up anything.

Any ideas? Will it get better on it's own? Will I need more surgery?

Thanks.

The surgery was fine for 9 days and then I was sitting on the side of my bed and felt a running liquid on my leg. Looked at my hand (upon wiping it) and saw a clear looking liquid. Went to the bathroom for better lighting and saw pinkish flow of liquid coming out of the staple site of my surgery. Immediately went to the Emergency Room (by that time a white bath towel was totally wet with the secretion) and while waiting to be seen, wet another bath towel. E.R. physician looked at it and said it was not abnormal and put clean large surgical pad and gave me a prescription for Levofloxacin tablets. Filled the RX and came home. It has been 5 hours and the seepage is still there. Not in such a large amount but still there. Will see how the night goes and determine whether or not to return to E.R. It appears that wherever the liquid came from has screted most of the build up of liquids. Today is Friday and I was told to see my surgeon Monday during regular hours. My staples run from 2" above my belly button to about 2.5" above the pubic hair line. I t is a very long incision for this repair.

Hi I just had a tummy tuck 2 weeks ago, after years of thinking about it. To be honest I am so happy as ,I can see a better look already. I am very much swollan, but that is normal. I would like to ask if there is anyone who has had a tummy tuck and how long did it take for the swolling to do down. I also went to abroad to have it down, as the price was much much cheaper. And the service was great. Please feel free to email me at yankkey@hotmail.com

many thanks

[Nikomedes]

I had a tummy tuck with liposuction 8 days ago. Drains were removed on day 2 and I noticed severe bulging/swelling and tenderness around my pubic bone (right underneath the holes for liposuction). My doc thinks it's normal. It doesn't look or feel normal to me. Another complaint: I can't stand up straight to walk comfortably--thus, suffer from very severe lower back pain since the surgery. I can't walk comfortably. In fact, I need to sit down most of the time with supports to my back. Wearing an abdominal support binder but it doesn't help. Anyone out there with these symptoms? Should I force myself to try to stand straight? When I do, my insides hurt (sharp pains with a burning sensation), and my tummy skin feels like it can't stretch far enough to give me a straight posture. I'm in pain. Are these normal after surgery, like my doctor says, or should I seek a second opinion? Thanks.

[Nikomedes]

I had a tummy tuck with liposuction 8 days ago. Drains were removed on day 2 and I noticed severe bulging/swelling and tenderness around my pubic bone (right underneath the holes for liposuction). My doc thinks it's normal. It doesn't look or feel normal to me. Another complaint: I can't stand up straight to walk comfortably--thus, suffer from very severe lower back pain since the surgery. I can't walk comfortably. In fact, I need to sit down most of the time with supports to my back. Wearing an abdominal support binder but it doesn't help. Anyone out there with these symptoms? Should I force myself to try to stand straight? When I do, my insides hurt (sharp pains with a burning sensation), and my tummy skin feels like it can't stretch far enough to give me a straight posture. I'm in pain. Are these normal after surgery, like my doctor says, or should I seek a second opinion? Thanks.

[villafiori]

Originally Posted by DNiki

I had a tummy tuck 3 months ago. I am still evenly swollen from under the breasts all the way down. How can a person feel or see the difference between swelling and a seroma? Does anybody know? When i email the medical assistant, she just says the swelling is normal but i have not gone back for my 4 month check up yet. All the doctor said at 2 months was that the swelling was part of the deal. It just seems awfully long to still not be able to button my pre op clothes yet.

I hope that your swelling has gone down by now, or at least decreased . I had a tummy tuck 2 months ago and also am suffering swelling from the bottom of ribs down to the pubic incision and a little lower and side-to-side swelling. It is miserable as you know, and worrisome. Ice packs on my tummy do not help at all. My belly is distended and so I, like you, cannot button the top button of my jeans. I'm sorry I have no answers for you. I also have lumps, three of them, about the size of chicken eggs, above my incision. I'm told it is pockets of fluid build-up and that my body will eventually absorb the fluid. Eventually? Well, I'll pray for both of us to get well and heal up real soon! Elaine @villafiori@yahoo.com.

[stephanie7/10/07]

Originally Posted by DNiki

I had a tummy tuck 3 months ago. I am still evenly swollen from under the breasts all the way down. How can a person feel or see the difference between swelling and a seroma? Does anybody know? When i email the medical assistant, she just says the swelling is normal but i have not gone back for my 4 month check up yet. All the doctor said at 2 months was that the swelling was part of the deal. It just seems awfully long to still not be able to button my pre op clothes yet.

Hi Has your swelling gone down at all yet?