For those that have had a seroma?

I have one about the size of a golf ball right now where my belly button used to be. The surgeons office wants to wait and see how it goes, if it gets bigger maybe goes away on it's own.

It sounds like every surgeon is different on how they want  to treat it. They didn't want me to use any compression on it wear an abdominal binder since it already formed. I thought wearing one would help the body reabsorb it.

What has worked for you guys and gals?

Thanks

I had a seroma after my tummy tuck, my whole belly was swollen - it was like touching a waterbed!  My plastic surgeon was on vacation so I went to my bariatric surgeon (who had also done my hernia at the same time as my tummy tuck)  he discussed pros and cons of draining and decided not to drain it - I was wearing the compression twenty four hours at that point.  I am just four weeks out now, and stil wear compression most of the time, especially on the arms because it is supposed to help with scarring.  (i.e. the scars will heal tighter the more the arm is compressed) 

I had seromas with my BL. Dr drained them twice and then I had to go back to the hospital to have a drain surgically inserted on the one side. Mine was much bigger than a golf ball though. The other side was about that big and healed fine afer the first draining.
Good Luck!!

I hope they will drain it at some point but it's the surgeons call will have to wait and see.

 I had seromas develop 6 weeks out from surgery. I was cleared for normal activity but apparently sitting in a car for 13 hours 2x in a week and swimming off a boat and other vacation fun were more than I could handle. My body created a sinus drainage tract at the intersection of my anchor incision and I drained heavily for a week. I have stopped draining now but I am also really taking it easy and the hole seems to closing well with packing it etc ... I think I'm lucky because I didn't have to have the seromas drained with a needle but still it sucked to be healing AGAIN. (I had complications from the first surgery with an infection and basically had a redo of my entire incision - you can search for my long story - I posted it recently) 

The thing that I think makes the biggest difference is rest. I was told that the fluid is created between pockets of tissue that are not healing well (in my case because of too much abdominal pressure from sitting so long and from twisting and swimming etc) So giving yourself time to be horizontal for 30 min intervals throughout your day was what they recommended to me and I believe it is what made the difference 

Good Luck!

I'll try the 30 minute deal I take 2-3 naps a day anyways(I work nights) so along with massage and some warm heat is my battle plan right now.

 Oh Bubba! I am so sorry you have another seroma.

I developed a hard golf ball seroma when I was five weeks post op.  Dr. Sauceda said it should go away by itself.  At 12 weeks my Bariatric surgeon looked at it. He didn't want to drain it because he said it might open my entire thigh lift incision or cause an infection in my knee joint.  At five months Dr. Sauceda took a look at it and suggested draining.  I was still resistant  because it's hiking season.  I decided to wait until fall.

At six months I was hiking 35-40 miles a week.  Then I went on vacation for a week and didn't exercise. One morning on vacation I was massaging the seroma like I had everyday for six months. Magically the seroma was smaller.  A little smaller again the following day. Today, six months after it showed up, it's about gone.

So the question becomes, was it the 40 miles of hill hiking, or taking a week off?  

Well I think I will try the week off first. Hiking in this heat is not my cup of tea right now, not exercising much easier.
 
I guess there is no good place for a seroma but right where my hernia/belly button used to be is a B**** right now. I don't know if I can be patient that long it doesn't hurt but is uncomfortable just doing daily stuff so far. Fortunately I don't have to work real hard at work so I can take it easy. Did you use compression on it or a little heat to help move along?

Maybe this is all part of paying dues to look this beautiful/healthy I guess.

On a side note my mom just had the DS 3 weeks ago. It was an open procedure so we were in the hospital at same time getting our gallbladders out too funny. But her incision became infected and they VNA is bringing out a woundvac in a couple days to help move her along. She's already down 35 pounds in 3 weeks. So I guess neither of us can catch a break right now.

Talk later
Bubba

 Oh Bubbz, I hate that this is hurting you.  Get them to fix it!

I remember you saying that your mama got a DS.  35 in 3 weeks is amazing!  I'm really sorry she needs the wound vac.  You two need some good luck sprinkled on you!

Keep us update!

Little update I made a appointment with my plastics surgeon a month ago had that today. Wanted to talk to her about a revision on right side, scar is to high and to tight it feels very uncomfortable at times but doesn't hurt. So she agreed to talk to her board YEAH! and waive her fee we'll see what happens, will get an answer in a few weeks.

Asked her about how to deal with seroma she should know more than the guy who did my gallbladder. She said give it 4 weeks to heal incase there is blood in there or it will just come back. Then if it doens't go away in this time frame then have them aspirate it. But skip the heat and just massage & use my old binders so that made me feel better just have to grin and bear it till then.