Seroma 1 year post op

I had a fistulectomy, perioneoplasty, and spinchteroplasty last year. It took a very long time to heal. Last month, I noticed a seroma in that area – it was very small, smaller than a pencil eraser. Anyway, I had it aspirated and it kept trying to come back. I would squeeze it and fluid would leak out. I did this for a few weeks and it hasn’t come back and I haven’t had to squeeze it on over a week. My surgeon says that seromas are very common when you have surgeries that separate tissue, muscle and skin…. and, it can happen at any time ... even years later. I think mine happened when I started exercising and the muscle strain caused something to pull apart and create a space for fluid to accumulate. I told him I was having PS and asked what I should do to help prevent seromas. He said that he was not a PS, but, in his opinion, I should keep my drains in until I am draining less that 15 cc per day, wear compression garments regularly ad take them off only to air out the skin and wash off. I asked him if lymphatic massage would help. He said as long as the area was healed enough so it wouldn’t cause damage.

So…. I would appreciate it if others could chime in here and give us their advice on how to reduce the chance of forming seromas and also how to keep their drains from becoming infected, etc.

I think might be able to add to your list ..
Get up and move around since moving improves blood circulation. Don't spend too much time in the bed. Also, rest enough since that reduces swelling and improves the body's ability to heal. I think you have to find a happy mediium here. And no smoking. My cousin's PS refused to operate on smokers due to the risk of complications since they don't heal well.  Here is a link to a good "wound care post TT" instructions that may be useful. http://www.drbutterfield.com/forms/TummyTuck%20_abdominoplas ty_.pdf
I hope other people have ideas too. I think this is a good thread. We all need to be proactive with our own health, right?

Did her recommend how long to wear compression garments??

It does seem like seromas are very common but usually reabsorbed with out problems.  I'll be six weeks out from PS surgery this Sunday and am hoping to go garment free at least during the day.  Even though I had a lot of lipo I've been lucky and avoided a seroma.  I have laid fairly low and have been wearing my garment 24/7.  My lower abs and lower back are still swollen but I am planning to start exercising again and hoping my luck holds out!

Moving around sometimes causes MORE swelling in an area where you've had PS, like a TT. You will have had muscle and skin pulled apart and then put back together to heal. So not putting too much strain on the area may be better.
I had a seroma and open wound for a long time, partly due to lack of blood flow and a sensitivity to sutures. The wound was due to lack of blood flow, not the seroma. That was probably due to the TT!!
I had my TT revised to remove some dead tissue, and to resew the incision line to try and heal. Eventually I did.
I think many times a seroma is just the luck.