Seroma at inner knee

It was 5 weeks ago today that I had medial thigh lift, TT with muscle work, BL with silicone implants. I was out of work (desk job) 4 weeks, returned last Wed for half days. I noticed Sunday an egg size hard lump on my inner knee at the base of my thigh lift incision. My final 2 drains had been removed 5 days before I noticed the seroma. I called my doctor, being a Sunday they
assured me I would be ok til the next day and I did get it drained by their on-call service (an MD) yesterday. I was in agony before the draining......OMG.....the draining helped and the doc said to stay off my feet for 48 hrs and elevated. I spoke with my PS's office today and I will be seen again by my own doctor this Friday, unless any issues develop. The seroma is not painful when I am in bed, but very tender if I try to walk. It is smaller, size of a golf ball today, warm, but I have no fever. I imagine I will need to have it redrained on Friday...or sooner if it gets worse.

Has anyone had this experience and did you find that bedrest was very helpful? I am only comfortable when I am in bed with the leg elevated. How long is bed rest advisable for a knee seroma? This has been my only complication.....I have had the usual pain, discomfort, a few teary days,...but overall this is really the only problem.

If there are any other things I can be doing to help this seroma resolve, I'd love to hear from others. thank you.

I developed an egg sized seroma in exactly that place right at the 5 week mark.  I started walking again at 5 weeks and then BAM! there it was.  My surgery was December 9th and I still have the seroma today.  My plastic surgeon is in mexico and said not to drain it.  In February I saw my bariatric surgeon and he said to leave it alone in hopes that it would absorb on it's own.  If it does need draining, he said he would do it for me.

I haven't experienced the pain that you are experiencing.  I can hike 3-4 hours and it becomes irritated but not painful.

I hope this resolves quickly for you so that you're not in pain.

I had a seroma in the same spot as yours and Lee's.  One left leg and one right.  My PCP said that is is best to not drain them, if they are not causing problems, since the ones near the joints can get infected easily once they are drained.  I had one near my elbow after my brachioplasty also.  My right leg seroma lasted a few months and then one day it just disappeared.,  It never caused me any discomfort, wasn't warm to touch and no discoloration.

I hope you can get your's resolved.  It sounds horrible.  Make sure your doctors stay in touch with you and if you start to feel ill or develop a fever, you call them asap.

Good luck!  Sorry you are having to deal with this!

you had lots done. How are you feeling today

These types of collections need to be aggressively treated when identified or they can become intractable problems.  Undrained collections can promote the development of a "pseduobursae" which can make these things recollect indefinately.

Standard of care is aspiration and compression. Sometimes the ones near the armpit, knee, or elbow are actually lymphaceles (lymphatic leaks) which can be very difficult to get  resolved. Your doctor suggesting you sit on this is not someone familiar with treating these I'd suspect.

My doctor is very cautious when caring for me and my issues with my plastic surgery.  He's been my physician for many years.  He consults with a plastic surgeon before making any decisions on my post care.  He called and consulted with a plastic surgeon in his office, the plastic surgeon stopped by and assessed my seromas and felt it would be best for them to absorp on their own.  I am not a doctor, but I have been an RN for over 22 years and I know that there are several ways of handling the same thing.  I do know several who have had seromas that have become infected requiring surgery and wound vacs.  I know they can be serious, but I trust my physician and I trust the doctor who consulted on my case - they handled my situation well.

Thank you everyone for the feedback. I've been home and off my feet for 2 full days. I'm suposed
to see my PS tomorrrow, but I think I will try to get an appt for this afternoon. The pain is gone, but the lump is there...a bit smaller.