What does a seroma look/feel like?

I am  exactly 4 weeks out from a number of procedures. Yesterday my right arm right at the inside of the elbow joint became very swollen. It is hard to the touch. The area that is swollen feels like a golf ball. No other part of that arm seems to be swollen and the other arm also seems to be fine. Wondering what a seroma looks and feels like and how critical is it to have it taken care of if it is one. My surgeon is on vacation this week and frankly I'm not too impressed with his colleague and would like to avoid going in. I have an appointment for a check with my surgeon on Monday.

My seroma after my BR/BL was more like a water bed than a golf ball, not hard but squooshy (yes, I just made up a word). However, I have heard others describe them as golf balls so that is probably what it is. The treatment seems to vary depending on the Dr. Some like to leave them and see if they will self absorb so they don't run the risk of infection by draining it. Others go ahead and drain so I can't answer that one. My Dr. drained mine twice and then I ended up having to back in and get another drain placed at two months out. NOT FUN!! Hopefully others with experience directly related to the arms will chime in and be more helpful. I would think, as long as it isn't warm to the touch and you aren't running even a low grade temp, you would be fine to wait until Monday. But, I am not a medical Dr and, like I said, your Dr might think you should have come in right away.

Good luck!!

I developed a seroma on the middle of my upper arm. It was hard and round. I just massaged it as much as I could (every time I remembered). It's basically gone (tiny little pea), with no problems.
Eileen

Even if you don't like your doc's colleague, you need to go see them. If it is a seroma, it could put you at risk for infection. Many doctors will put people on antibiotics if they have seromas, because those collections of fluid are like little bacteria magnets. You can try putting some compression on the area, if it's fluid compressing it can help it reabsorb. and pay attention if the 'golf ball' changes size throughout the day, that's another sign it could be a byproduct of fluid swelling.